Henry Oscar "Beach" Nance was born March 28, 1898, at Romance to Solomon and Mary Ann (Miller) Nance. In 1924 Beach left Romance to work in Blanchard, Iowa, shucking corn. There he met Lena Johnson, born March 31, 1904, at Chillicothe, MO, the daughter of Logan and Cora Mae (Kerns) Johnson, who were farmers. Beach and Lena were married December 16, 1924 at College Springs, Iowa. In 1925 they returned to Romance and purchased a 160-acre homestead from his dad's brother, Burwell Nance, for $650. The property adjoined the Solomon Nance homestead. They farmed and operated a chicken hatchery. In 1937 they purchased the general store at Smackout (near Seymour) from his cousin, Tiny Miller. They lived there and ran the store until 1941 when they purchased the Willhoit store. Beach's banker had called his attention to the property, telling him that if he was looking for a money-making business, he knew of a store he could purchase for a song. So Beach went to Willhoit and purchased the store, house, and four-and-a-half acres (lock, stock and barrel) from Jess Jones for $1,500. The transaction took place in the middle of the gravel road where he was handed the key. He took the key home to Lena who had asways wanted either the Willhoit or the Romance store. Beach and Lena ran the store from 1942 until 1979 when they closed. Lena was postmaster during that time. Beach also hauled cattle weekly to Springfield, to the stockyards, and would haul feed and supplies back to the store. Beach and Lena celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in 1988 and Lena passed away September 2, 1989. She is buried at Jackson Cemetery, Romance. She was a member of the General Baptist church and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Beach and Lena had eight children; Charlene, born 1926, married Alton Thomas in 1946; Emogene, born 1928, married Dale Snell in 1951; Lyman, born 1933, married Pauline Brown in 1955; Annavee, born 1937, married Leland Loftis in 1955; Wayne, born 1939, died 1939 of summer complaint; Jack, born 1940; and Barbara, born 1942, married James Loftis in 1961. Beach and Lena's children all still live in Ozark County except Lyman, who lives at Rogersville, and Charlene who lives in Ava.
Henry Oscar "Beach" Nance was born March 28, 1898, at Romance to Solomon and Mary Ann (Miller) Nance. In 1924 Beach left Romance to work in Blanchard, Iowa, shucking corn. There he met Lena Johnson, born March 31, 1904, at Chillicothe, MO, the daughter of Logan and Cora Mae (Kerns) Johnson, who were farmers. Beach and Lena were married December 16, 1924 at College Springs, Iowa. In 1925 they returned to Romance and purchased a 160-acre homestead from his dad's brother, Burwell Nance, for $650. The property adjoined the Solomon Nance homestead. They farmed and operated a chicken hatchery. In 1937 they purchased the general store at Smackout (near Seymour) from his cousin, Tiny Miller. They lived there and ran the store until 1941 when they purchased the Willhoit store. Beach's banker had called his attention to the property, telling him that if he was looking for a money-making business, he knew of a store he could purchase for a song. So Beach went to Willhoit and purchased the store, house, and four-and-a-half acres (lock, stock and barrel) from Jess Jones for $1,500. The transaction took place in the middle of the gravel road where he was handed the key. He took the key home to Lena who had asways wanted either the Willhoit or the Romance store. Beach and Lena ran the store from 1942 until 1979 when they closed. Lena was postmaster during that time. Beach also hauled cattle weekly to Springfield, to the stockyards, and would haul feed and supplies back to the store. Beach and Lena celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in 1988 and Lena passed away September 2, 1989. She is buried at Jackson Cemetery, Romance. She was a member of the General Baptist church and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Beach and Lena had eight children; Charlene, born 1926, married Alton Thomas in 1946; Emogene, born 1928, married Dale Snell in 1951; Lyman, born 1933, married Pauline Brown in 1955; Annavee, born 1937, married Leland Loftis in 1955; Wayne, born 1939, died 1939 of summer complaint; Jack, born 1940; and Barbara, born 1942, married James Loftis in 1961. Beach and Lena's children all still live in Ozark County except Lyman, who lives at Rogersville, and Charlene who lives in Ava.
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