This is the gravestone of Orin Spencer (1801-1872) in Carverton Methodist Church Cemetery, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The photo was taken about 1987 and was provided by Orin's descendant Brent Smith of Georgia.
Part Four
By Jared L. Olar
October 2007-March 2015
Updated May 2022
Note: Part Four of this study tells the history of our Spencers from the early years of the Second American Republic down to the present day, a total of six generations.
15. ORIN SPENCER, son of Daniel Spencer, born 11 Sept. 1801 in Windham, Connecticut; died 21 June 1872 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, probably in or near Carverton; buried in Carverton Cemetery, Carverton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. According to old Spencer family tradition, earlier in his life Orin lived in New York State before coming to Luzerne County and settling in Kingston Township. Around 1820 he married ANNA AMEY ("Nancy"), born 11 Oct. 1801 in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, died 1 April 1871 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, probably in Carverton, daughter of George and Mary Magdalena (Hess) Amey. The 1912 Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Nicholas Hess, Pioneer Immigrant, page 84, says Nancy was born in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. However, other sources say Nancy was born in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, whereas in the 1860 U.S. Census, Nancy is said to be from New Jersey, and in the 1880 U.S. Census, Orin's son George said his mother was born in New Jersey.
Two brief biographical sketches of Orin Spencer are included in the History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, 1893, edited by H.C. Bradsby. The sketches were based on information supplied by Orin's children and grandchildren. In one place, Bradsby's history provides a biography of Simeon S. Spencer, son of Horace Spencer, who in turn was the son of
"Orin, who was one of the first pioneers of the county, coming from New York State, and locating in Kingston township. He was a hard-working, honest, industrious and upright man, and a consistent Christian. He died in the year 1879, having reared twelve children, all of whom came to maturity."
Note that this brief sketch gives an incorrect year for Orin's death -- According to the 1912 Hess Genealogy, Orin died 21 June 1872, not 1879. Bradsby's history provides additional details about Orin's life in a biography of Ziba Spencer, who was
"a son of Orin and Ann (Amy) Spencer, the former born in Connecticut, the latter in Easton, Northampton Co., Pa. . . . Orin, the father of [Z. Spencer], began life in Kingston township on the farm purchased by his father after he moved out of the Valley. This farm consisted of fifty acres of fertile land. Orin was a hard-working, honest and industrious man, whose life, like that of other farmers, was uneventful. In religion he was a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Politically he was a Democrat. He reared a family of twelve children, all of whom came to maturity, and eight of whom are now living."
The 1912 Hess Genealogy, pages 84-85, lists all 12 of the children of Orin and Nancy, as well as dates of birth and death, and names of spouses and children. That list is corroborated by U.S. census records. In the 1850 U.S. Census (dated 6 Aug. 1850), "Orrin Spencer," age 48, a farmer of Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, appears with his wife "Ann Spencer," age 48, and their children, "David Spencer, age 16, a laborer, "Samuel Spencer," age 14, "Isaac Spencer," age 12, "Weslley Spencer" (sic - "Charles Wesley Spencer"), age 8, "Elizabeth Spencer," age 5, and "Maryette Spencer," age 3. In the 1860 U.S. Census (dated 16 Aug. 1860), "Orren Spencer," age 58 (said to be born in Connecticut), a farmer of P.O. Carverton, Kingston Township, Luzerne County, appears with his wife "Ann," age 58 (said to be born in New Jersey), and their children, "Isaac," age 22, "Wesly" (sic - "Charles Wesley Spencer"), age 18, "Genett" (sic - "Jeanette," which was her middle name), age 15, and "Margaret" (sic - "Mariette"), age 13. All of Orin and Nancy's children had grown and moved out by the time of the 1870 U.S. Census. In that census (dated 4 July 1870), "Orin Spencer," age 68, said to be born in Connecticut, a farmer of Kingston Township, Luzerne County, appears with his wife "Anna," age 68, said to be born in Pennsylvania.
According to the 1912 Hess Genealogy, Nancy died 1 April 1871, while Orin survived another year, dying 21 June 1872. They are buried together in Carverton Methodist Church Cemetery, Carverton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where Nancy's parents reportedly are also buried.
This is the gravestone of Orin Spencer (1801-1872) in Carverton Methodist Church Cemetery, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The photo was taken about 1987 and was provided by Orin's descendant Brent Smith of Georgia.
The 12 children of Orin and Nancy were:
-- GEORGE A. SPENCER, born 23 Jan. 1821, married Harriet Dunham.
-- HORACE SPENCER, born 13 May 1823, married Hannah Rogers (Rodgers).
-- MARIA SPENCER, born 29 Sept. 1825, married Richard Ryman.
-- ZIBA SPENCER, born 28 Jan. 1828, married Sarah C. Kunkle.
-- MARY SPENCER, born 12 March 1829, died 8 Feb. 1846, never married.
16. JOHN WASHINGTON SPENCER, born 16 April 1832.
-- DAVID ANDREW SPENCER, born 18 March 1834, died 1917, married twice, or perhaps three times.
-- SAMUEL SPENCER, born 10 March 1835, married Elizabeth Hoover.
-- ISAAC SPENCER, born 1 June 1837, died 7 Dec. 1865, never married.
-- CHARLES WESLEY SPENCER, born 7 April 1841, married Sarah Hoover.
-- ELIZABETH JEANETTE SPENCER, born 7 Dec. 1845, twice married.
-- MARIETTE SPENCER, born 2 May 1848, married Almon Hoover.
16. JOHN WASHINGTON SPENCER, one of the 12 children of Orin and Ann Spencer, born 16 April 1832 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; died 6 Aug. 1909 in Dallas, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; buried 8 Aug. 1909 in Worden Cemetery, Dallas. The 1912 Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Nicholas Hess, Pioneer Immigrant, page 84, misstates the year of John's birth as "April 16, 1831," but the old Spencer Family Bible clearly shows John's date of birth as "April 16th. 1832," and his gravestone also says "1832." In the 1850 U.S. Census, "John Spencer," age 18, and his older brother "Horace Spencer," age 27, are listed as laborers on the farm of their brother-in-law Richard Ryman in Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
On 22 Oct. 1857 at the residence of Squire Woodhouse in Wyoming, Luzerne County, John married IRENE M. HALL, born 14 Feb. 1840, died 5 Feb. 1905, daughter of Miles and Elvira Hall. Squire Woodhouse solemnized their nuptials, which were witnessed by Harriet Montanye and Samuel Spencer. Samuel was John's younger brother, while Harriet was a close friend of John and Irene who seems to have been one of John's cousins. Harriet is almost certainly the Harriet Montanye who was born in 1841 in Luzerne County, younger sister of Washington Montanye. Harriet and Washington were children of William Montanye (or Montayne), who was born 23 June 1802 in Kingston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and died 2 Aug. 1854 in Carverton, Luzerne County. William's wife, who was the mother of Washington and Harriet, was Elizabeth Spencer, born circa 1807-10 in Pennsylvania, died 28 Feb. 1888, buried in Harding Cemetery, Exeter, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth was a daughter of ELAM SPENCER, younger brother of John's grandfather Daniel Spencer (No. 6 above) -- thus, her daughter Harriet was a second cousin of John W. Spencer. John and Irene evidently had great affection for Harriet and her family, as shown by the fact that John and Irene named their first child after her, and then, after little Harriet's death, named their very next child after Harriet's older brother, Washington Montayne/Montanye.
This is the map of Dallas Township from the 1873 Atlas Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The farm of "J.W. Spencer" is shown just to the west of the center of the township, across the road from the West Dallas School. Other Spencer farms owned by brothers and cousins of John Washington Spencer are also shown in this map.
John and Irene had four sons and three daughters, and their names and dates of birth and death are all recorded in John and Irene's old Family Bible. John and his family lived on a farm in Dallas Township that had a coal mine on it, and royalties and mineral rights from that mine provided them a decent income until the mine closed toward the end of the 1800s. In the 1860 U.S. Census, "John W. Spencer," age 27, appears as a farmer of Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, a neighbor of his brothers George and Horace. The 1860 U.S. Census shows John with a wife "Jane" (sic -- should be "Irene"), age 20, and a daughter "Harriet," age 11 months. According to the old Spencer Family Bible, Harriet died in Sept. 1861 at age 2, and thus does not appear among John and Irene's children in the 1870 U.S. Census.
The 1870 U.S. Census shows "John Spencer," age 38, a farmer in Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with his wife "Irene," age 30, and four children, "Ziba P.," age 9, "Washington M.," age 6, "Lillie M.," age 3, and "Horace," age 10 months. The 1880 U.S. Census shows "John W. Spencer," age 48, a farmer in Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with his wife "Irene M.," age 40, and five children, "Washington M.," age 16, "Lillie M.," age 12, "Horace J.," age 10, "Rosa A.," age 7, and "Louis E." (sic - "Lewis"), age 4. By 1880, the eldest son Ziba (a.k.a. William Penn) was no longer living at home. It also should be noted that the Spencer Family Bible spells the name of the youngest child "Lewis," although John's obituary and the U.S. census spell his name "Louis."
Shown at left is the house that John W. Spencer built on his farm about 1875. At right is a vintage photograph of the old one-room schoolhouse that formerly stood across the road from the Spencer farm in Dallas, Pennsylvania. The school was built probably in the mid-1800s and was still in use as late as the 1930s, but had been razed prior to the 1950s. Generations of Spencers attended school there, including Horace Greeley Spencer's daughter Mabel Spencer Whitesell, who went to school there in the early 1900s.
Both photographs were provided by Mabel's grandson Brent Smith of Georgia.
Brent Smith of Georgia, a descendant of John and Irene's son Horace, relates a family tradition that John and Irene moved to California for a short time, probably during the 1890s, but decided to return to Luzerne County. The 1900 U.S. Census shows "John W. Spencer" and his wife "Irene Spencer," age 60, as residents of Dallas Township. Irene does not appear in the 1910 U.S. Census, having died in 1905, but John survived until 1909, dying at the age of 77 of blood poisoning.
The published obituary of John W. Spencer reads as follows:
"John W. Spencer dies of Blood Poisoning, Aged 77 years
"At the advanced age of 77 years, John W. Spencer, an old esteemed resident of West Dallas, died yesterday after lingering illness of blood poisoning. The following children survive: William Penn, Bedford, Ia., W.M., Mrs E.B. Worthington, Dorranceton, Rose and Louis at home. Rev. Ben Jones of Idetown will conduct funeral tomorrow at 2:30 at the residence and interment will be in Worden Cemetery, Dallas. The four sons of the deceased will act as pall bearers."
Although the obituary mentions "the four sons of the deceased," it lists only three of John's four sons, skipping over Horace for some reason (no doubt a simple typographical error). Worden Cemetery, where John was buried, is properly called "Wardan Cemetery." It is named because it began as the burial ground for the Worden family, cousins of the Spencers -- Daniel Spencer's brother Elam had a daughter HANNAH M. SPENCER (1811-1853) who married ABRAHAM WORDEN (1804-1847) and had five sons and four daughters. Hannah and Abraham, along with many of their children and descendants as well as many of our Spencer ancestors and relatives, are interred in Wardan Cemetery.
These are the gravestones of John W. Spencer (1832-1909) and his wife Irene M. Spencer (1840-1905) in Wardan Cemetery, Dallas, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The photos were taken about 1987 and were provided by John and Irene's descendant Brent Smith of Georgia.
The seven children of John and Irene Spencer were:
-- HARRIET E. SPENCER, born 14 Aug. 1859, died Sept. 1861.
17. WILLIAM PENN SPENCER ("Ziba P."), born 17 Aug. 1861.
-- WASHINGTON MONTAYNE SPENCER, born 18 Oct. 1863, married Persis Hilbert
-- LILLIE M. SPENCER, born 24 June 1867, 3 Jan. 1951, married E.B. Worthington
-- HORACE GREELEY SPENCER ("Horace J."), born 9 Sept. 1869, died 28 Jan. 1960, md. Miranda D. Rogers.
-- ROSE A. SPENCER, born 16 June 1872, died 21 Nov. 1948, married Carl Anderson.
-- LEWIS E. SPENCER, born 24 Nov. 1876, died 30 July 1960.
17. WILLIAM PENN SPENCER ("Ziba P."), son of John and Irene Spencer, born 17 Aug. 1861 in Dallas, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; died 8 May 1934 in Taylor County, Iowa; buried in Hopkins Cemetery, Hopkins, Nodaway County, Iowa. Also known as W. Penn Spencer and Penn Spencer, he first appears in the 1870 U.S. Census with the name "Ziba P. Spencer." Assuming the census is correct about his name, presumably he was named after his father's older brother Ziba, and perhaps later his family changed his name to William Penn, or he chose to have his name changed later. Be that as it may, in the old Spencer Family Bible's entry on his birth, he is called "Penn K. Spencer" (the middle initial is uncertain, but appears to be a cursive "K."), while in the Family Bible's entry on his death he is called "Wm. Penn Spencer." Fascinatingly, the old Spencer Family Bible also shows a contradiction regarding the middle initial or middle name of Penn's younger brother Horace. The Bible's entry on Horace's birth clearly shows "Horace J. Spencer" (agreeing with the 1880 U.S. Census), but the Bible's entry on his death calls him "Horace Greeley Spencer."
Penn moved to Iowa in 1889, but returned to Dallas, Pennsylvania, two years later so he could fetch his intended bride and bring her to Iowa. On 26 March 1891 at the Elmwood Hotel in Bedford, Iowa, Penn married EVA UNDERWOOD, born 4 July 1866 in Center Moreland, Pennsylvania, died 22 March 1943 in Taylor County, Iowa, daughter of Emanuel Lewis and Harriet Underwood. The minister who officiated at their marriage was Rev. J. H. Honswell. Their first child, ANDREW PAUL SPENCER ("Paul"), was born 26 Jan. 1892 in Taylor County, Iowa. Paul's obituary mentions a period of about a year when he lived in Pennsylvania as an infant, so Penn and Eva must have returned to Pennsylvania in 1892 before settling down in Taylor County, Iowa, where they remained for the rest of their lives. (Did they return to Pennsylvania to help tend the Spencer farm in Dallas Township while Penn's parents were living in California?) Penn's uncle David Andrew Spencer, known as Uncle Andy, also settled in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa -- Penn and Eva apparently named their first child after him.
In Iowa, at first Penn worked as a carpenter, then acquired a farm in Polk and Ross Townships in the general vicinity of Bedford, Iowa. Penn and Eva had four sons and one daughter -- the daughter and one of the sons were fraternal twins. The U.S. Census returns for 26 June 1900 show "William P. Spencer," age 38, a farmer, and "Eva Spencer," age 33, residents of Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with their children "Paul Spencer," age 8, "Lelund Spencer," age 6, "Lela Spencer," age 6, and "Fred Spencer," age 3. The census says William and Eva had been married for nine years. Also living with them at that time was Eva's father "Louis Underwood," age 66, a landlord.
William Penn Spencer, a portrait from the collection of Roy Eldon Spencer.
The William Penn Spencer family at their farm southeast of Bedford near the Missouri border. Shown from left to right are Eva (Underwood) Spencer, Lela Spencer, Leland Spencer, Andrew Paul Spencer, and Penn Spencer. In this portrait, an empty space was left for little Freddie, who had died tragically in 1900. This photograph, from the collection of Roy Eldon Spencer, was taken before the birth of Penn's and Eva's youngest child, John Howard Spencer, in 1904.
A genealogical account of our Spencers was published in the 1981 History of Taylor County, Iowa, written by the people of Taylor County and compiled by the Taylor County Historical Society, Bedford, Iowa. The following is on page 382, along with a small black-and-white photo that was cropped from the above shown portrait of William Penn Spencer and his wife Eva and three of their little children:
"William Penn Spencer, the son of John and Irene Spencer, was born August 17, 1861 at Dallas, Pennsylvania and passed away May 8, 1934. His wife, Eva Underwood Spencer, was born July 4, 1866 at Dallas, (sic) Pennsylvania and passed away March, 1943. They were married March 26, 1891 at Dallas, Pennsylvania (sic - Bedford, Iowa). Penn came to Iowa in 1889, then returned to Dallas where they were married, and then returned to Iowa to live the rest of their lives. They bought a farm in Taylor County, Polk and Ross Townships after he had done carpenter work building barns, houses, and other buildings. He had to clear all the land he bought so he could farm it. Also, he had to build himself a house and barns. They lived on the same farm for 38 years or more before he passed away. They did all their farming with horses as no one had tractors then. They had five children, four boys and one daughter: Paul, Lee and Lela (twins); Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old; and Howard. All the family is gone now except the daughter, Mrs. Lela Spencer Blake, who is in the Bethesda Nursing home at Clarinda as of December, 1980. Penn's family (mother, father, two sisters, and three brothers) lived on a ranch which had a coal mine on it, and all lived off the royalties of the mine until it closed in the late 1800's. Eve, Penn's wife, used to raise lots of chickens and churned lots of butter to sell. She and her children would drive ten miles to Bedford every week or so to sell the eggs and butter for 10 cents a dozen and maybe 10 cents a pound for butter. They drove a team of horses to a wagon to deliver the produce. Penn was a Mason of Siam Lodge and both were Eastern Star members for many years. Their farm is now owned by the Paul Brummett family. Submitted by Helen Spencer, as told to her"
As mentioned in the above genealogical sketch, on 16 Oct. 1900 Penn and his family suffered the heart-breaking loss of little Freddie, then the youngest child in the family. Freddie's death was reported (with a few slight errors) on page 4 of the Thursday, 18 Oct. 1900 Bedford Free Press as follows:
"Tuesday morning the little four year old son of Pen Spencer, living seven miles southeast of Bedford, while playing around a brush fire made by his grandfather, was burned to death. When found, the little fellow was dead. The funeral was held yesterday. This was indeed a sad occurrence for the loving parents."
It should be noted that the transcription of Freddie's death record in the Taylor County, Iowa Death Record, Book 1, Part 4 also has some errors. The transcribed record says Freddie Spencer was "male, white, 1yr, died 24 Jul 1894 Ross twp, born Iowa, buried Bedford Fairview cemetery." On the contrary, Freddie was 3 1/2 years old and wasn't even born until three years after the date in this transcription, and was buried in Hopkins Cemetery, Nodaway County, Missouri.
The U.S. Census returns for 12-13 May 1910 show "William P. Spencer," age 49, a farmer, residing in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with his wife "Elva U. Spencer" (sic), age 43, and children "Paul A. Spencer," age 18, a farm laborer, "Leland Spencer," age 16, a farm laborer, "Lela Spencer," age 16, and "John H. Spencer," age 5. Penn also appears in the U.S. Census returns of 28 April 1910, which show "William P. Spencer, age 50, as a married farmer in Polk Township, Taylor County, Iowa, but with no family members listed with him. Penn was double-counted in the 1910 census because his farm overlapped Ross and Polk townships. Five years later, on 14 Feb. 1915, William and Eva's daughter Lela married William Edward Blake, age 28. The following month, on 6 March 1915 in Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri, Lela's twin brother Leland, age 20, married Clara Faith Florea, age 15. The fathers of Leland and Clara had to give their consent to the marriage because Clara was still a minor. The U.S. Census returns of 8 Jan. 1920 show "William E. Blake," age 33, a farmer, living in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with his wife "Lelia Blake," age 25. The census returns on that date also show "William P. Spencer," age 58, a farmer, living in Ross Township, with his wife "Eva Spencer," age 53, and sons "Paul Spencer," age 27, farmhand, and "John H. Spencer," age 15.
The Iowa State Census returns of 1 Jan. 1925 show "Lee Spencer," age 30, a farmer, living in Clayton Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with his wife "Clara F. Florie Spencer," age 25, and their daughters "Helen R. Spencer," age 9, and "Margret E. Spencer," less than a year old. In the 1925 Iowa State Census, Lee's father Penn appears as "W. P. Spencer," and he names his parents as "John W. Spencer" and "Irene Hall." Five years later, the U.S. Census returns of 4 April 1930 show "Lee Spencer," age 35, a farmer, living in Clayton Township with his wife "Faith C. Spencer," age 30, and their children "Helen Spencer," age 14, "Margaret Spencer," age 5, and "William P. Spencer," age 3. The U.S. Census returns of 7 April 1930 show Lee's younger brother "Howard Spencer," age 25, a farmer, living in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with his wife "Helen E. Spencer," age 21, and their children "Howard Jr. Spencer," age 2 years 3 months, and "Mary R. Spencer," age 1 year 1 month. The U.S. Census returns of 11 April 1930 also show the parents and brother of Lee and Howard, "William P. Spencer," age 68, a farmer, "Eva Spencer," age 63, and "Paul Spencer," age 38, a farmer. Finally, the U.S. Census returns of 21 April 1930 show "William E. Blake," age 43, a farmer, living in Jefferson Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with his wife "Lela Blake," age 35, and their son "Robert L. Blake," age 7.
Penn died in 1934. Eva survived her husband Penn by about nine years, dying in 1943. Penn's obituary, which was published on page 8 of the 10 May 1934 edition of the Bedford Times-Press, is as follows:
"W. P. Spencer, Valley Resident Is Dead"
"W. P. Spencer, 72, died at his home in the Valley community southwest of Bedford Tuesday evening, having been in ill health for sometime. The funeral services were held at the home this afternoon conducted by Leslie R. Cobb. Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery. Spencer had resided in the Valley community for nearly forty years, coming there from his birthplace in Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Lela Blake of Hopkins, and three sons, Paul Spencer and Howard Spencer of Hopkins and Leland Spencer of Conway."
As with the death record of Penn's son Freddie, it should again be noted that the transcription of Penn's death record in the Taylor County, Iowa Death Record, Book 1, Part 4, has some errors. The transcribed record says William Penn Spencer was "male, white, 77yr, farmer, died 20 Sep 1890 Lenox, married, born Penn, 39 yr resident of Iowa, buried Lenox." On the contrary, Penn was 72 years old, died in 1934, did not reside in Lenox, and was buried in Hopkins Cemetery, Nodaway County, Missouri.
This photograph shows the gravestone of Penn and Eva Spencer in Hopkins Cemetery, Hopkins, Nodaway County, Missouri.
The children of Penn and Eva Spencer were:
-- ANDREW PAUL SPENCER ("Paul"), born 26 Jan. 1892, died 9 Feb. 1958.
-- LELAND SPENCER ("Lee"), born 11 April 1894, died 2 Nov. 1953, married Clara Faith Florea.
-- LELA SPENCER, born 11 April 1894, died 15 Jan. 1983, married William Edward Blake.
-- FREDERICK SPENCER ("Freddie"), born 9 Jan. 1897, died 16 Oct. 1900
18. JOHN HOWARD SPENCER ("Howard"), born 11 June 1904.
18. JOHN HOWARD SPENCER ("Howard"), son of W. Penn and Eva Spencer, born 11 June 1904 near Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa; committed suicide on 20 July 1948 at Climax, near Leadville, Lake County, Colorado; buried 23 July 1948 in Hopkins Cemetery, Hopkins, Nodaway County, Missouri. Born almost four years after the tragic death of his brother Freddie, Howard appears as "John H. Spencer," age 5, in the U.S. Census returns of 12-13 May 1910, which also show Howard's father "William P. Spencer," age 49, a farmer, residing in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with his Howard's mother "Elva U. Spencer" (sic), age 43, and Howard's siblings "Paul A. Spencer," age 18, a farm laborer, "Leland Spencer," age 16, a farm laborer, and "Lela Spencer," age 16.
Growing up in the area of Taylor County southwest of Bedford, Howard attended a rural public school in Ross Township. Coincidentally, there was another Howard Spencer living in Taylor County at the time who was the same age as John Howard Spencer. The 1915 Iowa State Census lists both Howard Spencers, both 10 years old, one of them ("our" Howard Spencer) living in Ross Township, the son of parents who were both born in Pennsylvania, and the other living in Blockton Township, the son of a father born in Illinois and of a mother born in Missouri. Thus, a "School Notes" announcement placed on the front page of the 8 Jan. 1914 Blockton News by schoolteacher Olive M. Dutton lists "Howard Spencer" among the students who were "neither absent nor tardy in the Primary room of the Blockton Public Schools during first semester" -- but that was the other Howard Spencer.
Five years later, the census returns of 8 Jan. 1920 show "William P. Spencer," age 58, a farmer, living in Ross Township, with his wife "Eva Spencer," age 53, and sons "Paul Spencer," age 27, farmhand, and "John H. Spencer," age 15. As noted above, by that time the twins Leland and Lela, siblings of Paul and Howard, were married and living in their own households. Around this time, Howard was a student at the high school in Hopkins, Missouri, just over the state line from the Spencer farm. Six years later, on 21 Sept. 1926 in Bedford, Iowa, Howard, age 21, married HELEN ELIZABETH SMITH, born 6 March 1908 in Taylor County, Iowa, died 26 April 2000 in Bedford, Iowa, daughter of Willard and Julia Smith. Howard and Helen were married at the Methodist parsonage in Bedford. They had six sons and two daughters. Less than two years after their marriage, Howard and Helen had their first child, HOWARD JUNIOR SPENCER ("Junior"), born 17 Jan. 1928 in Polk Township, Taylor County, Iowa, died 9 June 1996 in at St. Francis Hospital, Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri. According to Junior's siblings and other kin, when Junior was born and his parents were asked what they were going to name him, Helen replied, "Well, I guess this is Howard Jr." The clerk then wrote down "Howard Junior Spencer" on his birth certificate, even though his parents meant, "We're naming him 'John Howard Spencer Jr.'"
Two years later, the U.S. Census returns of 7 April 1930 show "Howard Spencer," age 25, a farmer, living in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, with his wife "Helen E. Spencer," age 21, and their children "Howard Jr. Spencer," age 2 years 3 months, and "Mary R. Spencer," age 1 year 1 month. By this time, the Great Depression was in full swing, and Howard and his family suffered hardships because, although Howard and Helen continued to have children, during those years Howard often had trouble finding employment, or finding steady employment. At one point, Howard even took out a want ad in the Taylor County Herald (8 Dec. 1932, page 8), that said, "WANTED: Work on farm; married. Write or see Howard Spencer, Route 5, Bedford. 2p." Apparently that want ad got results, because later the same month the Taylor County Herald (22 Dec. 1932, page 6) reported, "Howard Spencer and family have moved from Ray Dawson tenant house to the old Gamel place near Hopkins."
The U.S. Census returns of 10 April 1940 show Howard and his family renting a farm in Polk Township, Taylor County, Iowa. The census lists "Howard Spencer," age 35, a farm laborer, as the head of household, with his wife "Helen E. Spencer," age 32, and their children "Howard J. Spencer," age 12, "Mary R. Spencer," age 11, "Ivan P. Spencer," age 9, "Raymond D. Spencer," age 8, "Clyde A. Spencer," age 6, "Donald G. Spencer," age 2, and an as yet unnamed infant son who was then less than a month old (i.e., their youngest son ROY ELDON SPENCER, born 31 March 1940). The 1940 U.S. Census shows that the nearest neighbors of Howard and his family were the Jacksons on one side and the Fergusons on another. The census indicates that Howard's difficulty in finding adequate employment to support his family had continued -- the census returns say Howard had worked only 26 weeks in 1939, earning only $150 (or perhaps $180 -- the numeral's shape is unusual and hard to interpret), and that he was working during the week of March 24-30, 1940, but also was looking for work that same week.
This photograph of the family of Howard and Helen Spencer was taken about 1941. From left to right, the children are Raymond, Roy, Clyde, Donnie, Rose, Ivan, and Junior.
About two years later, on 15 Aug. 1942, Howard and Helen had their youngest child, EVELYN JULIA SPENCER. The following year, in 1943, Howard and his family left the farm in Polk Township and moved to a house in Bedford. Around this time, Howard's efforts to provide for his family were dealt a serious set back when Howard's health took a turn for the worse. But also around this time, Howard got a job in Colorado while Helen and the children remained behind in Bedford. (On the other hand, Helen's obituary says, "Helen and Howard moved to Colorado after their marriage. After a short time they returned to Taylor County where she lived on a farm, raising her family until 1945 when she moved to Bedford." But that seems to be a misremembering of the sequence of events and the year that the family moved to Bedford.) Howard lived and worked much of the year at mess halls in a mining town called Climax, near Leadville, Lake County, Colorado, and sent money back home to Iowa. Sometimes he would get some time off and would return to Bedford for short stretches of time. The following five-page letter written by Howard over the course of two days in early October 1944 helps to paint a picture of what his life was like during that time. He began to write the letter on Thursday, 5 Oct. 1944 (grammar, spelling, and punctuation are as written in the letter):
"Dear Helen & kiddies: Here it is almost payday tonite and tomorrow morn is it. I got up while ago and I am feeling fine but boy it is cool here. I had 3 blankets on me today then didn't get to hot, altho the window was open quite a ways. I went down after mail and the custodian has went to supper so I will wait till Morning. I am sending you the policy and you can read it over and be your own judge but I think I had better drop it. It is paid up to Nov 16th. then $6:50 more, altho it might come in pretty handy in case of accident Of course I've never been yet but you can't never tell in a place like this. So we will see in a little time. I have my receipt book because I have to send it when ever I send the money, and they send it back every time. Mabye I had better took the money and Sent it home. My pen is getting scratchy I guess. Well what did you & kids think of my room mate poet writer. I dont see much of him only on Friday nites and Sundays. Well I don't know for sure when No 6 is going to close its doors but it is coming fast. It all depends on the outside areas, they may close up pretty fast and of course the mess will leave out. They are starting to move out fast now, another week will make an awful difference. So I don't know but I would like to stay until No 6 closes its doors then I wan't to come toward home. I have no desire to go up to any other mess hall now. Altho 1, 2, & 4 will run for quite a while yet I think and it will be a long time before 1 closes. Mabye they wont give me a transfer when I get my stay out they will take me back here, we will wait and see. Well Helen I am not going to see the ocean with out you, so don't worry the minute I get released from here I am takin'g the nearest route home, and we will all see it some other time You can't tell when you are tied up with gov't. work. Of course the boys and Rose have plenty of time ahead of them to see things. I sure wish all of you could walk in this mess hall some meal time when its really busy. Oh Boy it would be funny. Believe me its a busy place for about an huor and a half. its getting time to clock in my card so will write more Frid. Good night and pleasant dreams.
"Here it is Good Friday again and I have been over after my check and sure am sleepy ready for bed. Well I sure dont think it will be too long before I see all of you. Some Say the 15th and others say last of month but I don't see how it can close the 15th by the amount of men they are feeding around 3000 or 3500 a day You know thats several men. Oh well I am going to stay or try to until No 6 closes then I am going to get that transfer to Bakers Field Calf. The Olympic's contract is running out and are putting us on to another Co, or about the same thing. We will think about it after I get home. Altho Ill try and have every thing settled before they ship us out. I have around 75 pills left but in case No 6 would stay open a week or 2 in Nov., it wouldn't hurt to send me some would it? They will send it back home if I am not here. Well all of you keep well and it can't be too long before we meet. So lots of kisses and good luck to all of us.
"Daddy."
After about four years during which he was separated from his loved ones for the greater part of a year, Howard is believed to have grown despondent, until at last he hanged himself in his living quarters in Climax, Colorado. It reportedly was his roommate who found him. News of Howard's sorrowful death in Colorado was reported in a brief obituary on the front page of the Thursday, 22 July 1948 Bedford Times-Press:
"Spencer Rites To Be Friday"
"Howard Spencer, 44, died at Leadville, Colorado, Tuesday, July 20. The body arrived in Bedford Thursday evening and the funeral services will be held at the Wetmore Funeral Home at 2 o�clock Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. George W. Swan. He is survived by his wife and several children, residents of Bedford."
A full obituary was published the following week, on the front page of the 29 July 1948 Bedford Times-Press:
"Howard Spencer Rites Held Friday"
"Funeral services for Howard Spencer, who died at Climax, Colorado, July 20, were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. George W. Swan. Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery. John Howard Spencer, youngest son of W. P. and Eva Spencer, was born June 11, 1904, in Taylor county, Iowa, being aged 44 years 1 month and 9 days at the time of his death. He was married to Helen Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Smith, on Sept. 21, 1926. To them were born eight children. Howard spent most of his life in Taylor county. He attended the rural school in Ross township and high school at Hopkins, Mo. He was a member of Plumb Lodge No. 285 A.F. & A.M. at Siam. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and one brother, Freddie. He is survived by his wife; six sons, Howard, Jr., Ivan, Raymond, Clyde, Donald and Roy; two daughters, Mary Rose, now Mrs. Darrell Salen, and Evelyn, all of the home. Also one grandson, Richard Salen; two brothers, Paul Spencer and Lee Spencer and one sister, Mrs. Lela Blake, all of Bedford."
Shown here are photographs of the side-by-side gravestones of John Howard Spencer and his wife Helen Elizabeth Smith Spencer in Hopkins Cemetery, Nodaway County, Missouri. The photos were taken in early July 2008.
Howard and Helen had six sons and two daughters:
-- HOWARD JUNIOR SPENCER, born 17 Jan. 1928, died 9 June 1996, married Ann Lantz.
-- MARY ROSE SPENCER, born 27 March 1929, died 27 Dec. 2012, married twice.
-- IVAN PAUL SPENCER, born 9 July 1930, died 19 May 1997, married Dolores Rose Allen.
-- RAYMOND DUANE SPENCER, born 10 Aug. 1931, died 21 Feb. 2010, never married.
-- CLYDE ALLEN SPENCER, born 3 Feb. 1934, died 21 Aug. 2008, married Joann Waugh.
-- DONALD GALEN SPENCER, born 13 March 1938, died 16 March 1960, married Connie Lee Newbury.
19. ROY ELDON SPENCER, born 31 March 1940.
-- EVELYN JULIA SPENCER, born 15 Aug. 1942, married twice.
19. ROY ELDON SPENCER, son of John Howard and Helen Spencer, born 31 March 1940 at home in Polk Township near Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa, died about 12:45 p.m. Monday, 9 May 2022 at home in Waterford, Racine County, Wisconsin. Roy was a U.S. Army veteran who was stationed in Ethiopia during the 1960s. On 22 May 1971 in Nevada, Iowa, Roy married CAROLYN JEAN RIGGS, daughter of Carl and Pauline Riggs, born 15 Jan. 1949 in Passavant Hospital, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. They had two daughters, but on 8 Jan. 2003 Carolyn divorced him due to her chronic psychological illnesses. Roy owned and operated a window-washing business in the areas of Jacksonville and Springfield, Illinois. Following is an extended draft of Roy's obituary:
"Roy Eldon Spencer, 82, of Waterford, Wis., formerly of Roodhouse, Ill., died Monday, May 9, 2022, at home, after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
"Roy was born March 31, 1940, in rural Bedford, Iowa, the seventh child of John Howard and Helen Elizabeth (Smith) Spencer. He married Carolyn Jean Riggs on May 22, 1971, in Nevada, Iowa, but they divorced in 2003. Carolyn predeceased him on June 11, 2017.
"Roy is also survived by his two daughters, Christina Carlene (Jared) Olar of [central Illinois], and Gina Louise (Steve) Zavala of [southeast Wisconsin]; nine grandchildren, Alexander Olar of [Colorado], Julia (Jeffrey) Jackson, Joey Olar, Elizabeth Olar, Stephen Olar, Anna Olar, Michael Olar, and Sophia Olar, all of [central Illinois], and Micah Zavala of [southeast Wisconsin]; and one sister, Evie (Michael) Barnes of [Florida]; and a large number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
"His first great-grandchild, Wolfgang Jackson, is due on Holy Cross, Sept. 2022.
"Roy was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Lael Zavala and T.S. Olar; five brothers, Howard Junior, Ivan Paul, Raymond Duane, Clyde Allen, and Donald Galen; and one sister, Mary Rose.
"He was a 1958 graduate of Bedford High School in Bedford, Iowa. Roy was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the 1960s and stationed in Ethiopia.
"A past resident of Des Moines and Modale, Iowa, in 1983 Roy and his family moved to Roodhouse, where he started his own window-washing business operating in the Jacksonville and Springfield areas. There he continued to wash windows until his cancer diagnosis. He moved to Wisconsin to be cared for by his family.
"Of a quiet, calm, and gentle temperament, Roy was a sincere and devout Christian, having been baptized in his youth in the Methodist church. As an adult he became a member of the Worldwide Church of God, but later affiliated with Pentecostal and Baptist denominations. He lavished his love and support on his family, and deeply loved his grandchildren."
His daughters are:
20. CHRISTINA CARLENE SPENCER, born 7 July 1972.
-- GINA LOUISE SPENCER, born 1 May 1975, married Steve Zavala.
20. CHRISTINA CARLENE SPENCER, daughter of Roy and Carolyn Spencer, born at 2:26 p.m. 7 July 1972 at Northwest Hospital, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. At the time of her birth, Christina's parents resided at 2525 S.W. 80th St, Lot 91, No. 104, outside the city limits of Des Moines, Iowa. On 2 Jan. 1997 in Jerome, Illinois, Christina married JARED LINN OLAR, born 6 Feb. 1968 at Proctor Hospital, Peoria, Illinois, son of Joseph and Dolores Olar. Christina and Jared, who live in central Illinois, have had nine children, one deceased.
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Seventeen Generations of the Spencer Family (Part One) Seventeen Generations of the Spencer Family (Part Two) Seventeen Generations of the Spencer Family (Part Three)Spencer Genealogy Resources:
The Pratt-Spencer Family Home Page
The Early Settlement of Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, 1901, by William Penn Ryman (1847-1899)
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