The Spence Family of Clark County, Ohio

JOHN SPENCE, farmer; P. O. North Hampton. This gentleman is the fifth son of William and Elizabeth, both of whom were born in England and came to this country in 1818, settling on a piece of land adjoining the farm now occupied by our subject, who was born March 21, 1824. He lived with his father and assisted in the work of the farm until he arrived at his majority, when he left the home farm and commenced working at the cooper trade. In this he continued seven years, after which he entered the mercantile business, in which he continued two years, when he exchanged his store for Western land. He married Louisa Bailey, daughter of Charles and Martha Bailey, July 3, 1853, and moved onto the farm where he now lives. He has had born to him four children, viz.: Mary Ann, born April 13, 1854; Elizabeth, born Nov. 3, 1856, died Mareh 6, 1858; Marcellus, born Jan. 19, 1860; Warren, born Dec. 14, 1864. Mrs. Spence died Dec. 8, 1865, and the eldest daughter (Mary Ann) died Aug. 9, 1869. Mr. Spence was again married Aug. 25, 1867, to Henrietta Crawfis, by whom he had three children, as follows: Arminta, born Aug. 18, 1868; Arwilda, born Feb. 22, 1870; Carrie M., born Oct. 18, 1872. Mrs. Spence, the second wife, died Aug. 26, 1880. Little Arminta has had one of her limbs broken eleven times by falls, etc., and is now crippled for life. In May, 1880, she had the other limb broken while trying to preserve the crippled one from injury.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE SPENCE, attorney at law, Springfield; is a native of Clark County and a representative of that class of men who have come up by their own exertions, from hard-working pioneer families, and he now occupies a leading position in this community; he is a son of William and Elizabeth (Wones) Spence, who emigrated from Yorkshire, Eng., about 1816, and was located at Cincinnati about two years, being engaged in the farming line: in the meantime had entered land in Pike Township, this county, to which he removed his family about 1818; he was an active, energetic man, raised a family of thirteen children, eight of whom were sons; he kept a store, dealt in stock, and carried on different business operations in connection with his farm, and became possessed of a large farm, which he handsomely improved; his death occurred in 1847, and his wife died in 1853. The subject of this sketch was born in Pike Township, May 22, 1828. By dint of energy and perseverance, he managed to obtain a fair education during his early youth, and being of a mathematical turn, at 17 he secured the position of Assistant County Surveyor, which he held several years; during the fall of 1845, he was severely injured by being caught in the “tumbling shaft” of a thresher horse-power, from which he has never fully recovered; he taught school the following winter and began to read Blackstone with a view to securing a profession which would not require much manual labor, for which he was unfitted; the following year, he attended the spring term of the Springfield high school and continued his studies, teaching at intervals, and attending a course at Gundey & Bacon's Commercial Business and Law College at Cincinnati in the fall of 1847; afterward he read law in the office of Rogers & White, and was finally admitted to practice in the spring of 1850; in 1851, he opened a law office, where he has since continued to practice his profession. Mr. Spence has been identified with the growth and history of this city and county for upward of thirty years; took an active and leading part in establishing the street railway, and was a member of Council seven years. Mr. Spence is a Democrat in politics and thoroughly identified with his party in his city, county and State: he was a member of the Charleston Convention, in 1860, and the candidate of his party for State Treasurer in 1865; he mar.

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(7o o UM 2 a ried, July 3, 1855, Miss E. Jane Edmonson, of Dayton, who is related to the Bayard Taylor family, and is a lady of rare accomplishments. She has a well-earned reputation as a botanist, and has a large collection of skeletonized leaves and plants, which includes many rare specimens from different parts of the globe. From this union two children have been born; one son, George E., now a young man, survives. Mr. Spence’s energy is a marked characteristic, and to this train is largely due the success to which he has attained, in spite of his early disadvantages. In addition to his practice, which has been large for years past, he is recognized as one of the leading criminal lawyers of this portion of Ohio, and in the selection of juries, and pleading before a jury, he is considered almost invincible; his outside business has been extensive, and in 1862 he bought 40 acres of land west of the city, which he platted and improved, and this is now known as Spence's Addition to Springfield; his residence is a part of this tract, fruits on High street, and is a handsome suburban property and pleasant home.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MARY SPENCE, farmer; P. O. North Hampton; was born in German Township, Fayette Co., Penn., Oct. 18, 1826, and came West to Clark County in 1837. At the age of 24 years she united her destinies with Mark Spence (deceased), who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the loth of September, 1820. On the 25th of December of the same year, he moved with his parents upon the farm his wife now occupies. Their union was blessed by the birth of a son, on Jan. 30, 1852. He resides at present with his mother, and is indeed all she desires. Politically, Mr. Spence was a stanch Whig; his first vote was cast for Henry Clay. The Whig party having been disruptured and the Republican party organized, Mr. Spence joined the latter party, and has ever since given it a hearty support. He was not a church member, yet he contributed liberally to the maintenance of religious interests. He believed that the interests of society and government are linked with the success of the common schools, and used his influence in their encouragement and support. Appreciating the value of good roads, Mr. Spenee urged their construction, and liberally lent his time and gave his money to that end. As evidence, from a total cost of a single turnpike, of $7,500, his contribution amounted to about $1,200. Jan. 8, 1878, Mark Spence departed from this life, leaving an only child to care for the bereaved widow. He was married on the 12th of February, 1880, te Miss Anna Friermood. ‘They have one child, born Jan. 15, 1881.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE A. SPENCE, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, who owns a tract of 638 acres in Pike Township, was born January 30, 1852, in German Township, Clark Coimty, Ohio, and is a son of Mark and Mary (Harshbarger) Spence. The Spence family was first established in this country by William Spence, who was born and reared in England and who came to Ohio at a very early period, settling in Clark County, December 25, 1820. Here he spent the remainder of his life and became possessed of large landed interests, acquiring a tract of 638 acres, which is now owned By the subject of this sketch and his mother.

Mark Spence was born in Clark County and died January 8, 1878, aged fifty-seven years. In politics he was a Whig, always taking an active interest in the affairs of his party, and although not seeking political honors, was elected county commissioner just previous to his death. He married Mary Harshbarger, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio with her parents when ten years of age, and who is still living, making her home with her son George.

George A. Spence was just eight years old when his parents came to his present farm and here he has spent his entire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He received his education in the district school, and being the only child, much of the work of the farm fell to him. He is the largest landowner in Pike Township, the entire estate having been left to him and his mother. He has remodeled the large seventeen-room house, which was built by his grandfather, and has erected new barns, the old barn, ten horses, seven head of cattle and the faithful old.shepherd dog having been destroyed by fire April 20, 1890. Mr. Spence is extensively engaged in stock-raising, especially horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. He owns Chamberlin De Limelette, known as Jack, a bay stallion, weighing 2,000 pounds, Reg. No. 1568, foaled May 1, 1900, and imported from Belgium May 16,

1904, by McLaughlin Brothers, of Columbus, from whom he was bought by the North Hampton Horse Company July, 1904. Mr. Spence is treasurer and keeper manager of the North Hampton Horse Company. Besides his farming interests he is also financially interested in a hardware concern of Springfield.

Mr. Spence was joined in marriage February 12, 1880, with Anna J. Friermood, a daughter of Reuben and Mary Friermood, and of their union have been born the following children: Mary Etta, who is the wife of Asa Baker, who operates a general store at Dialton, and has two children — Correne and Willard S.; Delia, who died aged nineteen months; Millie Blanche, a teacher in the Dialton School; and Russell Mark.

Fraternally Mr. Spence is a member of the Knights of Pythias, White Star No. 292, North Hampton, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, Donnels Creek No. 121, and is trustee of both these lodges. Politically he is a Republican.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.