My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM SPENCE, who is now living a retired life in Murphysboro, is one of the earliest settlers of Jackson County, dating his residence here from 1841. He has aided in the development and upbuilding of this community, has watched its growth and progress and has ever borne his part in the work of public advance ment.

Mr. Spence was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1819. His father and grandfather both bore the name of James and were farmers of the Emerald Isle. In 1825 the former emigrated to America with his family, locating in Guernsey County, Ohio, where he bought land and improved a farm of two hundred acres. He was also a stock dealer and drover. In politics he advocated Democratic principles. His wife, Mary Spence, was a native of the Emerald Isle and a daughter of James and Mary Cunningham. Her father was a weaver by trade and in an early day emigrated with his family to America. Locating in Ohio, he engaged in gardening for a time, but his last days were spent in retirement. Mr. Spence passed away at the age of seventy-five, and his wife was previously called to her final rest. They were members of the Episcopal Church.

Our subject is the only survivor in a family of fourteen children. He was a lad of six summers when with his parents he left Belfast on the sailing-vessel “Eliza,” and after a voyage of three months landed in Baltimore. He was reared in Ohio, and educated in an old log schoolhouse with a fireplace and a mud and stick chimney at one end. Remaining at home until he had attained his majority, he went down the Ohio and up the Mississippi Rivers and at length located in Jackson County, Ill. With his capital of $200 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Ridge Township, built a rude log shanty and began developing a home. Wolves made the night hideous with their howling and seemed to make the situation more lonely. There were many hardships and trials to be borne, but he at once began clearing his land with ox-teams and primitive implements, and two years later he built a large log house, which still stands as a monument to those pioneer days. He extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised four hundred acres of highly improved land, and his possessions in all aggregated eleven hundred acres. He raised grain and stock extensively, making a specialty of hogs and horses, and took a number of premiums at county fairs. He has aided his children in starting out in life, giving to each $7,000 or its equivalent, and after disposing of his entire property located in Murphysboro.

Mr. Spence was married in Union County, Ill., in 1848 to Miss Lydia Butcher, a native of that county. Her death occurred on the old home farm. In the family were fourteen children, of whom the following grew to mature years: Mrs. Alesy Miller, now of Hamilton County, Ill.; Samuel, a farmer and dealer in agricultural implements in Carbondale; Mrs. Mary Etherton, of Ridge Township; William, a farmer and gardener, of Texas; Lydia, wife of A. J. Etherton, a farmer of Murphysboro; and Alonzo, an extensive farmer of Williamson County, Ill.

Mr. Spence was again married, in Wickliffe, Ky., November 20, 1887, his second union being with Mrs. Nancy T. Sewright. She was born near Nashville, Tenn., and is a daughter of James Connell, a native of the same state. He was a Republican in politics, and in 1863, during the war, came to Illinois, locating in Johnson County. He afterward went to Marion, where his death occurred. His widow is still living in Mound City, Ill. The family owns a farm near Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. Spence is the eldest of twelve children, and was born in 1844. She was married in Johnson County May 4, 1865, to Joseph Sewright, of Paris, Tenn., who made his home principally in Illinois. He died in Carbondale, leaving one child, Edward L., who is still living with his mother. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Spence made her home in Cairo until her second marriage. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In politics Mr. Spence is a Democrat. He helped to build the first schoolhouse in the neighborhood and for years served as a school officer. His life has been a successful one, and through well directed efforts he has gained the means which now enable him to live retired. In manner he is genial and pleasant, is fond of a good joke, is an entertaining companion, and few have more friends in the community than William Spence.