James Howard Nance was born February 28, 1864, in Nacogdoches County.  The Nance family came from Tennessee; J. H. came to Coleman January 13, 1900.  His first wife, Emma, died in 1899; they had one son Bennett, who was born in Marlin in 1891, and married Emma Alderson Gray, daughter of Oscar Gray and Addie Daniel.  Emma was born March 9, 1890, died May 31, 1977, buried in Coleman.  Their two children: Bennett, Jr., and Patsy (see Gordon family and L. J. Livingston).  Nance married (2) May E. (Parker) Swindell (see John Samuel Parker).  She had one daughter, Ala, who married Frank Harbour (see Jack Rambo).  May died, October, 1924.  He married (3) Mrs. Ethel Johnson of Coleman (see Moss Martin).

     He was a saddle maker and his store was located on the east side of Commercial in the first block.  He had a life size white horse, a replica of a horse owned by the original business owner, W. P. Rasco, who came to Coleman around 1877; this horse was good advertisement and a perfect mount for the little children who came to town with their parents on Saturday.

     J. H. had a small farm just north, across the railroad tracks, just off Colorado. He kept horses and had a large home with a large open porch across the front.  J. H. died June 20, 1937, buried in Coleman.  Bennett, took over the business he had grown up in and carried on the tradition of being one of the finest saddle makers in West Texas.  To prove that fact, the first three years, after he took over the business there were two hundred saddles produced.  Bennett died in Coleman, October 7, 1964.