Silas Frank Nance
Agency patch
Constable

Silas Frank Nance

Felonious
End of Watch December 22, 1914
Age 47
The Vigil Panel 29 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Silas Nance was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had shot several people in Ohley.

He was at home when he was notified of the shooting. He located the suspect in Eskdale, where he was shot and killed.

The man fled the area but was arrested by a posse in Boone County the following day. At the time he murdered Constable Nance, the subject was out on parole for a prior conviction of unlawfully carrying a pistol. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on July 9th, 1915.

Constable Nance was survived by his wife and son.

Survivors

Constable Nance was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-1FC4A5AD
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Nance served with the Kanawha County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Eskdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Nance.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Eskdale, WV
Platform Identity kccoedco.kanawha.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 22, 1914
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Constable Silas Frank Nance is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Kanawha County Constable's Office - Eskdale District
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
WV — Statewide
169
of 232 officers
72.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Silas Frank Nance's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Silas Frank Nance Compares

Age at Death
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Silas Frank Nance is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Silas Frank Nance was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Kanawha County Constable's Office - Eskdale District are honored on badge.nw.