Vance L. Hargrove

Notes:

Sabine County Reporter, p. 7
November 13, 2002

Hargrove, third generation rancher, retires

Vance Hargrove's great-grandfather, Franklin Marion Hargrove, purchased his large farm/ranch around 1869 and his father, John Franklin Hargrove worked this land and owned cattle until his death in 1969. It was at that time that Vance took charge. Vance had his 90th birthday on Monday, October 28. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, he loaded up all his cattle and sent them to the auction to be sold, saying it was time for him to retire. The farm/ranch is located in the Rosevine community in Sabine County on FM 1, approximately 1 mile south of the San Augustine County line. Vance has served on numerous boards and committees in San Augustine and Sabine counties. Some of these being ASCS, Pineywoods Water Conservation, Rosevine Cemetery, Sabine County Farm Bureau Insurance Board, GM Water Board and Milam Settlers Day Organization. He is well known by young and old alike, having worked with many youth programs in years past. For years he was a very active member in the Sabine County Trailriders Association. Many will remember Vance and his old gray mare "Pat" which he rode in parades and trailrides. Vance states that he couldn't have stayed in the ranching business as long as he had without the help and support of his brother, Noble Hargrove. Noble came back to the homeplace to live in 1981 with his wife Jean. When asked what he is going to do in his spare time, he said he is going to live life to the fullest, have a good time, and visit with his friends and neighbors at Donald Griffin's Korner Grocery.

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Roland Fuller for collective information.

Obituary

Mr. Vance L. Hargrove, 101, longtime centenarian of the Rosevine Community in Sabine County, Texas, passed from this life late Thursday evening, December 19, 2013, in San Augustine, Texas.

Vance was born October 28, 1912, and lived most of his life in the Rosevine Community in Sabine County on Farm Road 1. He was very active in the Farming/Ranching and Cattle and Trail rides throughout East Texas. He was instrumental in establishing the Sabine County Jr. Livestock Show in the mid-1980's and served on its board of Directors for many years. He did the same with the Piney Woods Soil and Water Conservation District.

In the late 1920's and early 1930's he worked in a construction crew, blasting stumps from the highway right-of-way during construction of the section of Highway 8 between Bronson and Ford's Corner, which was paved in 1936 to become Highway 59, which was renamed Highway 96 in 1939, and then was later again renamed Farm Road 1 in 1951.
About six to seven years ago, while conducting a tour of Farm Road 1 for a news reporter from the Beaumont Reporter, who was doing a cover story on the Highway, they stopped at Vance's home.

For over an hour, Vance told stories of the construction of Farm Road 1,(or old number 8, as he called it). It was one of those times that was regretted not having a audio or video recorder.

Vance served in the US Army during World War II, his term of enlistment was from March 21, 1942 to December 24, 1945. He served in a tank unit and fought in the New Guinea, Southern Phillipines and Luzon campaigns.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 22, 2013, in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel in San Augustine. Interment will follow in the Rosevine Cemetery in Sabine County, Texas. Visitation will be from the hours of 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, December 21, 2013, at the Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine.

Those who are left to cherish include, Speical Friend, Sue Young of Milam; Nieces, Linda Hill and her husband, Tony of Arlington, Texas; Carolyn Lawson and her husband, Joe of Shelbyville; Mary Ann Ann Smith of Shelbville; Dayna Page and her husband, Mike of Livingston; Gina Jones and her husband, Bobby of Diboll; and Jan Farmer and her husband Ken of Pasadena, Texas; Nephews, Bill Hargrove and wife, Barbara of Abita Springs, La.; John Hargrove and wife, Connie of Shelbyville; Honorary Relatives, Becky Randy and Whit Michalec of Rosevine Community, along with numerous other relatives.

Pallbearers will include Perry Hill, Whit Michalec, Randy Michalec, Jordan Wesney, Travis Jones, and Trey Jones. and Jared Wesney.

Copied from Sabine County Reporter online,
Print edition in The Sabine County Reporter, January 1, 2014, page 12