Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA

 p521

    Captain JESSE PROVANCE is of English descent and commanded the first
steamboat that ever ascended the Monongahela River to Fairmont, W Va.  He
is a son of David Provance and Agnes Hartly Provance, and was born near
New Geneva, in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Penna, August 13, 1819.
    His grandfather Provance owned the celebrated "Provance Bottoms," which
are broad flats extending along the Monongahela River from the mouth of
Jacob's Creek down to the mouth of Catt's Run.  They are said to be the
most productive tracts of land in western Pennsylvania.  Mr Provance's
ancestors "were noted for their size and muscular powers, as well as love
of all athletic sports."
    His father David Provance was a native of Nicholson township; he was
a good farmer and a quiet, orderly man.  He had sixteen children, of whom
five sons and three daughters are living.
    Captain Jesse Provance was reared on a farm and attended the
subscription schools then in existence.  In 1839 he went on the
Monongahela River and engaged as a hand on steamboats and flatboats.  In
1864 he left the river, engaged in the hotel business in New Geneva, and
has continued in that line of business up to the present time.  He is now
the proprietor of the Provance house, and is well prepared to accommodate
the wants of the traveling public.  In 1840 he was married to Miss Hester,
daughter of Benjamin Miller; she died in 1845, leaving three children:
Elizabeth Provance, Joseph Provance (dead), Malinda Provance (dead).  In
1848 Mr Provance married again; his second wife was Miss Nancy, daughter
of John McCann.  Unto this union were born twelve children, of whom seven
are living: Sylvanus Provance, Minor Provance, Stewart Provance, Lazier
Provance, Amadee Provance, Frankie Provance and Fannie Provance.
    Captain Jesse Provance has always been an industrious and hard working
man.  He was the possessor of a remarkably good constitution which has
been very much impaired by excessive hard labor early in life.  He has
many good qualities of head and heart, and is a kind and obliging
gentleman.