Obituary: Jamestown NY Post Journal, August 23, 1949
Fred Arrance, Blacksmith, of Steamburg Dies
Fred Arrance, 72, a 40-year resident, and blacksmith in the Steamburg area, died at his home on the Bunker Hill Road, at 2:15 P.M. Monday. He had been ill for several years.
Mr. Arrance, in addition to his duties as a blacksmith, also ran a dairy farm until his retirement in 1947. He was married to Katie Blood 48 years ago. For eight years he served as Justice of the Peace in the Cold Springs area, during which time he was well known as a violinist.
Surviving are his wife; six daughters, Mrs. Clarence Lanning, Sinclairville; Mrs. Hector Michielson, Kennedy; Mrs. Fred Fox. Portland; Mrs. Minnie Cowan, Kennedy; Mrs. Erling Carlson, and Mrs. David Case of Randolph; five sons, Bert Arrance, Cherry Creek; Paul Arrance and Fred Arrance of Steamburg; Leo Arrance of Randolph and Harry Arrance of Kennedy; a sister Mrs. Grace Gould, Napoli; 29 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The remains are at the Myers Funeral Home, Randolph. Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Thursday from the late home. Rev. Leo Hanson will officiate. Interment will be in the Bunker Hill Cemetery.

Funeral: Jamestown NY Post Journal, September 9, 1949
Deceased Blacksmith Noted for His Skill With Violin
Randolph — Funeral rites held for Fred Arrance, Sr., recently at his home in the Bunker Hill Road near Steamburg, not only paid the last earthly tribute to a good man but to a man of many skills.
Mr. Arrance, father of 12 children, 10 of whom are surviving, could wield the hammer and bellows of the blacksmith profession during a 12 hour day and finger a lively moving tempo of any jig you might name on his favorite "fiddle" with equal alacrity all night.
The quiet, unassuming manner of "Fred" was as taken for granted as the certainty of being well-fed during threshing season to the residents of this farming area.
Evidence of his popularity is attested by the fact that although he was a staunch "New Dealer" in a strongly Republican region, he acted as a public servant in the capacity of justice of the peace and tax assessor for the town of Coldspring for several consecutive terms. He also was elected Supervisor for the same township in 1935 but later resigned, due to failing health. He was swept into office by a nearly unanimous write-in ballot, although he had previously turned down the candidacy.
When the old-time fiddler hung up his bow in '47, it ended a series of real old-fashioned square dances in which he had participated for a span of 50 years. During this period, Mr. Arrance, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Katie Blood Arrance on the piano, played at impromptu and formal, private and public dances. One orchestra which received inspiration from Mr. Arrance's violin, was known as the "Gully-Jumpers" and presented its musical wares at a dance pavilion in Red House.
In 72 years upon this earth, Fred Arrance cut a wide swath of warm friends and harvested an abundance of happiness in being able to "get along with your neighbors."