Elijah William Spencer

ELIJAH WILLIAM SPENCER, a well known farmer and respected citizen of Ross township, who owns a finely cultivated farm of 80 acres, situated in section 28, township 31, range 23, was born in Boone County, Indiana, March 10, 1838. He is a son of Elijah W. and Mary Spencer.

The father and mother were natives of Kentucky, whence they moved to Boone County, Indiana. where the former followed farming until his death, in 1839, leaving the subject of this sketch, his only child, an infant. The mother contracted a second marriage, wedding Jesse Roberts. They moved to Platte County, Missouri, and later to Crawford County, Arkansas, where Mr. Roberts was engaged in farming until 1862. His death occurred at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He left a family of eight children.

The boyhood of Elijah Williams Spencer was spent in work on the farm, and his school opportunities were limited to a period of two months. He accompanied the family to Crawford County, Arkansas, where he married and lived until 1863, when he spent one year in Missouri, and then moved to Taylor County, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming for five years. He then took a farm in Cedar County, Missouri, but did not feel well enough satisfied there to remain longer than five years. In 1874 he moved to Crawford County, Kansas, and four years later located on his present farm of 80 acres in Ross township. A small clearing had been made and a little cabin erected, but most of the improving had to be done by Mr. Spencer, who was admirably aided by his wife. It was a dreary outlook at first, and Mr. Spencer had much to contend with, for he was a poor man at that time, but all the discouraging features have been eliminated and prosperity has followed. He carries on general farming, and raises hogs, cattle and horses.

On September 19, 1858, Mr. Spencer was married to Mary Mickey, who was born in Cedar County, Missouri, and is a daughter of Ellis and Matilda Mickey, the former a native of Iowa, and the latter, of Illinois. Ellis Mickey went to California in 1848, and after five years' residence there was lost sight of. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have had 10 children, namely: Elvira, who is the wife of D. Grisham, of Rocky Ford, Colorado; Johanna, deceased; Andrew, who is a farmer at Highland, Oklahoma; William, who conducts a restaurant at Cherryvale, Kansas: Albert. who is farming in Oklahoma; Jesse, who is deceased; Elijah, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, who lives at Cedarvale, Kansas; Fannie, deceased, who was the wife of Joseph Cunningham: Anna, who is the wife of Edward Arbuckle, of Washington; and James, who is at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have a very pleasant home in a desirable part of Ross township, and its comfort and attractiveness are the direct results of their industry. They have reared a large family to be excellent members of society, and they enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. They are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Spencer is a Republican in politics, and is much interested in the success of his party, but he has never desired any political office.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Lacey Myers, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 03/06/97.