In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1836, Putnam county
From The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominen (1883)
JAMES H. SPENCER, farmer, post-office Carthage, was born in Putnam county, Ind., Aug. 9, 1836. When a child of five years his parents immigrated to southwest Missouri and settled in what is now Union township, Jasper county, and here our subject was reared to manhood, receiving such an education as the times afforded. He was married here Sept. 9, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Caseboalt, a native of Virginia. At the outbreak of the civil war Mr. Spencer was a strong union man, and thereby incurred the enmity and displeasure of the Confederates. His life was repeatedly threatened, and in Feb., 1862, he took up arms in defence of the Union and enlisted as a private in Company H, of the Sixth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, going into active service. He participated in ten hard-fought battles and many skirmishes of less danger and importance, and was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in April, 1865. During his service his family resided at Fort Scott, Kan., where he lived until June, 1866, when he returned to hia first love, Jasper county. Mo., since which time he has been a permanent resident. His wife died March 10, 1872, leaving two children. He was again married Jan. 30, 1873, to Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, a native of Jasper county.
As printed in The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominent (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.