TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: Source: This history was given to me, I believe, by Maude Taylor of Canaan, whose husband was a son of David Taylor, son of Marcus. It was obviously published at one point as it talks about the picture of Thos. A. Spencer “adorning” the article. It is undated, but dates at least before 1915, since Simpson. Spencer, who died that year, is mentioned as living.

This article includes three introductory paragraphs, which generally was eloquently about the family without saying much (although claiming the family descends from three brothers who were officers under Cromwell, but no names), and four paragraphs that talk about general hardships and daily life in pioneer Indiana.

The marriages cited in the article for Charles R. Spencer are given in official records as follows: Elanor Minor 4 March 1827 in Jefferson County; Caroline Reid, 11 Sept. 1837 in Jefferson Co.; Fanny Reid, 14 Jan. 1829 in Switzerland Co. The will of Charles Robinson Spencer is recorded in Book A page 13. It was written on 15 Aug. 1845 and recorded on 25 March 1853. Bequests are “To my wife, as along as she remains my widow; my children: William, Jonathan, Milton, Martha Annie, Anderson, Benjamin Franklin, Simpson, Absolom, and Charles Robinson. My wife and my son Spencer to be adm.

The article begins as follows:

“Chas. Spencer, the father of Charles R., was born in Campbell County, Va., some time near the middle of the 18^th century. When but a young man,, he was married to a Welch lady, Miss Judith David. In that state of the old and proud blue bloods were born 11 children, the first, David, born 1773 July fourth, the others were Elizabeth, Moses, Benjamin, Polly, Judith, Charles R., Thomas, Absolom, Nancy, and William, the latter on April the sixth 1795.

“In 1796, they moved west to Jessamine County, Ky., where the father died in 1812. Three of his sons, Chas. R., Thomas, and Absolom, with whom only our narrative has to do, moved to the then wild territory of Indiana. Chas. R. came in 1815, and the other two a few years later. Thomas afterwards moved to Missouri, but came back and died near Cross Plains, Ripley County. His family went west with the tide of immigration, except one son living in Jennings County. Absolom went to Iowa where he died.

“Chas. R., the father of the present Spencer family, so well known to us all in Jefferson County, had married a Miss Eleanor Skeen in Kentucky, before coming to this state. They settled on and broke ground on the farm now owned and occupied by Thos. A. Spencer, the subject of the illustration in this article, in Shelby Township. This was in 1815. On Christmas day of that year, their cabin took fire and burned to the ground. Mrs. Spencer’s brother was living with them and they were compelled to camp out in the cold winter weather until a new cabin was built.

“Prior to their coming to Indiana, there were born to the young pair two sons, Charles and William, the latter six months old. [I think this means William was six months old when they moved to Indiana.] In Indiana were born to them Jonathan, Milton, and Martha, two of whom, Jonathan and Martha are living, the latter in Indianapolis, and the former on the old homestead with his half brother Thomas.

“February 20^th, 1826, misfortune overtook them in the death of Mrs. Spencer. A year later, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to Elanor Minor of North Madison. To them was born one son, Anderson, now living in Costa Rica, Central America, and like many others of the family, a subscriber to the Democrat party for years. Anderson’s mother died in his infancy, April the 25^th, 1828.

“Mr. Spencer again married, this to Miss Fanny Reed of Switzerland County. The fruits of this union were Benjamin F., Simpson, Mary J., Thos. A., Chas. R., and May F., all still living except Mary J., who died in her infancy. Of this latter generation, Benjamin is now living in Versailles, Simpson lives in Pleasant, and May F., married to David Taylor, and living with her husband near Caledonia Church, this county.

“William, the second son, has still living the following descendants: David I., living on a farm near Hicks and one of the leading men of the township; Chas. R., living on the old Skeen place in Shelby Township; William W., an attorney in Indianapolis; John A., druggist in Versailles; Sarah, married to John Peters and living in Shelby Township, and Eleanor, wife of Ed Matthews, near Nebraska, this state.

“The living descendants of the third son, Jonathan, are Chas. N., in Indianapolis, Sam and George, both in Jennings County, and one daughter Mrs. Kasson, in Howard Co., Kansas.

“Martha, the fifth child, left two children, both of whom are still living, Thomas B. Reed in Vernon, and Mrs. Sarah Mosely in Kansas.

“Benjamin, the first child of the third marriage, now living in Versailles, has living Lizzie, in Canada, and Ursula, at home with her father.

“The other children of Simpson Spencer living are, John, Nellie, Ulyssus, all at home.

“Thos. A., whose picture adorns this article, has three children, Alice, Adolphus, and Alvin, the latter married. All are on the old place with the father.

“Chas. R. has two children, Stella, married to Thos. Morris, a prominent citizen of this township, and Ursula, the wife of Frank Peters, living in Carrollton.

May F., the youngest child of the old pioneer, has two children living, Flora, the wife of James Edward Ralston, and Marcus, at home.”

The following tree was made by Robert Scott, using the narrative as a basis.