Appears to be listed in the 1870-1871 City Directory as an “ice cream pedler” on “San Jacento” and illegible cross-street, but the digital image is very poor.

In 1880, he was mentioned favorably in a notice in the Houston Daily Post as a pillar of the new Trinity church being erected on Travis St. and the caterer for a major banquet held in conjunction with its completion.¹

In 1886, he invited members of the Houston Light Guard to come get ice cream at his place.²

In 1898, Vance announced the first observance of Decoration Day at Olivewood Cemetery.³

His death in 1910 was noted in the Houston Post.⁴ Earlier that very same year, he had made application for a permit to manufacture and sell ice cream at 1214 Pease Avenue, stating that “he has been engaged in business in Houston for forty-five years and that during that time not a single complaint has been made about his cream.”⁵

Harris County Deed Records

Vol. 2, p. 318 - Listed as one of the trustees who was granted Block 319 for the use of the African Methodist Church in February 1866.

Vol. 2, p. 345 - Election as a trustee of the church confirmed.

Vol. 9B, p. 592 - A deed from Ambrose Kelsey to “Trustees of the first Methodist Episcopal Church” (including Frank Vance, Jerry Smith, Peter Noble, Samuel S. Williams, Joseph Davis, Thomas Freeman, and John Graham. It transfers Lot 1 in Block 7 of the Hardcastle Survey “In Trust that said premises shall be kept used, maintained and disposed of as a place of Devine worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America subject to the discipline, usage, & ministerial appointments of said church, as from time to time authorized and declared by the General Conference of said Church, and the annual conference in whose bonds the said land and premises are situate.” Signed by Kelsey in presence of William R. Fayle and Jesse Shackleford, recorded September 4, 1871.

Vol. 14, p. 200 - Deed from Milton A. Baker to Vance for 160 acres, Lots 1, 2, 5, and 6 out of the J. S. ROberts Survey on Spring Creek, recorded May 11, 1875.