My Genealogy Hound

William A. Spence is one of the enterprising agriculturists of La Crosse Township, and since 1868 has been the owner of an excellent farm of 187 1/2 acres in Izard County. He was born in Davidson County, N. C., in 1837, but in his youth, which was spent in that State, he received a limited education. Upon emigrating to Arkansas, in 1862, he settled in Independence County, but since 1868 he has been a resident of the farm on which he is now residing. In 1857 he was married to Miss Emily C. Grills, a daughter of William D. Grills, and by her he is the father of six children: Mary, Harriet G., Martha T. L., Ive T., James D. and William E. Mr. Spence is one of the live farmers of his community, and the success which has attended his efforts is fully deserved, for throughout life he has been industrious and frugal. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He began doing for himself in 1857, in Wright County, Mo., where he homesteaded eighty acres of land, but in 1862 moved to Independence County, Ark., as above stated. He is a son of Joseph Spence, who was born in North Carolina, and the latter was married in his native State to Miss Rachel, a daughter of James Hurley, and by her became the father of three children. Their union took place in 1834. In 1855 Mr. Spence moved to Wright County, Mo., and was engaged in farming there until 1863, at which time he moved to Independence County, Ark., and bought 160 acres, which he farmed successfully for several years. He died here in April, 1878, at about the age of seventy-three years.