#52Ancestors (48) Wright Spencer - My Ancestral Star!

This #52Ancestors post is all about Wright SPENCER, my great-great-great-grandfather on my maternal side. He is the ancestor that started me on this crazy all-consuming pastime called genealogy.

Wright! Wright! My genealogical light!

Too hokey? Probably.

Wright SPENCER is the first ancestor I discovered that my family didn't know. My grandfather remembered hearing about his own grandfather, Asa SPENCER. But Wright was an intriguing new mystery SPENCER. We had a little leather pouch handed down with some old receipts and slips of paper. One had dates, which turned out be be Wright's life dates, presumably for his gravestone.

leather farm wallet

So...how do I begin researching and finding out who was Wright SPENCER? The likely place to begin was Michigan, since that's where my mother, grandfather and great-grandfather were all born. I learned how to order and use microfilms. Waiting for that spool to arrive just to find a census record was excruciating! But I succeeding in finding Wright with all the correct family names we knew. That's it - I was hooked!

Wright was born in Shaftsbury, Bennington, Vermont on 22 Jan 1811. He was the second child born to Asa SPENCER and Sarah CALKINS. About 1822, the SPENCER family moved west to Town of Sheldon in what was first Genesee County, New York (and later became Wyoming County). They owned farmland just west of the village of Varysburg. Eventually, Wright, his older brother Waterman and their father Asa all owned adjacent farms.

Wright married a local woman, Sarah 'Sally' JOSLIN in 1841. Land records show they purchased acreage in Ingham County, Michigan early in their marriage, but they never moved onto it. They had eight children, all in Sheldon, of which seven reached adulthood. Byron, the son who died, is buried in Varysburg Cemetery with his grandparents.

Wright and Sally and their children (Elizabeth, Benjamin, Asa, Edward, Cordelia, Washington and Addie) permanently moved to Locke Township, Ingham County, Michigan about 1868. How he traveled, I am not certain, but I know he used this trunk:

Wright Spencer's steamer trunk, c 1860, in my living room :)

They prospered in Locke, owning up to 100 acres of mostly farmland. When Wright became too old, Asa managed the farm. Their other children married and moved to various parts of Michigan. Sally died in 1895 and Wright followed in 1899. His death certificate states his cause of death was "softening of the brain" which was likely dementia or other effects of old age. He was a pioneer farmer who lived in three states and made it to 88 years of age.

When I lived in Michigan, I had the chance to meet with a cousin of my grandfather who I discovered was a keeper of photographs. I shared all my excitement over the ancestors I found, and she helped fill in stories and added some family photos. Then finally she had the big winner: a photograph of Wright. 

I shed tears. Like a baby. 

I never expected to see a photo of him. As we discussed Wright and Sally, I think she was measuring my enthusiasm. When our day was over, she hauled a large box from her car and said that I could have it if I liked. It was a 2' x 3' wooden framed charcoal sketch of the same photo made over 100 years ago. It hangs over my genealogy workspace to this day. Thank you, Charlene!

Wright Spencer with grandson, c 1896

Wright was my first real genealogy discovery and I am so happy he watches over me still.

Wright's page in my database

© 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (47) Asa Spencer - A Census Baby!

This #52Ancestors entry is a maternal great-great-grandfather, Asa Wyman SPENCER.

Asa was named for his paternal grandfather Asa SPENCER and his maternal grandmother Betsey WYMAN. He also has a genealogically interesting fact: he was born on 1 Jun 1850 - census day! Fortunately for my recordkeeping, the census in his town was taken on 16 July and Asa was listed as age one. Good enough for me!

Asa was born in the Town of Sheldon, Wyoming County, New York, which is about 40 miles east of Buffalo. His parents were Wright SPENCER and Sarah 'Sally' JOSLYN or JOSLIN. He was the third of eight children.

The SPENCER's lived in Sheldon until about 1868 when they moved west to Ingham County, Michigan. Many families from Wyoming County settled near each other in Ingham County. Asa was working as a farm hand in 1870 at a neighboring farm. By 1880, he was in charge of most of the daily farming of the family farm, to the point where his aging father deeded most of his 90 acres to Asa.

Asa married May Genevieve COUNTRYMAN in 1883. Asa and May were 14 years apart in age, perhaps a lot by today's standards, but not so odd then when a thriving bachelor farmer needed to take a wife. They had six children, five of whom reached adulthood: Beulah (died in infancy), Roy, Edward, Bessie, Burr, and Florence.

Asa, May and son Roy, c 1887

In addition to farming, Asa served his community as the Locke Township clerk in the early 1880's. He appeared to be a well-respected local man, so it came as a great shock to his family and his community when, in 1911, he had surgery for a ruptured appendix and died of complications shortly after. He was only 60 years old.

SeekingMichigan.org: link to original

Asa is buried with May in the large SPENCER family plot in Rowley Cemetery in Locke Township.

Asa's page in my database

© 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (46) Edward J. Spencer of Michigan

After a real-life absence (kids, holidays, kids, etc), I am back on the #52Ancestors blogging beat! And just in time - I have reached my SPENCER family, which were my first real searches and my most hopeful break-down-a-brick-wall family.

In October, I introduced my grandfather Dallas Frederick SPENCER. Today it is his father's turn for an introduction.

My great-grandfather was Edward J. SPENCER. Like his son Dallas, he was also born on the SPENCER family farm in Locke Township, Ingham County, Michigan. Ed, as he was commonly known, was born on 10 Jun 1888 to Asa SPENCER and May Genevieve COUNTRYMAN.

Ed and his siblings, and later his own family, lived a typical farm life in Michigan. The SPENCER family ran the farm until just after Ed's father died suddenly in 1911. His mother May, Ed, his wife and children and some siblings moved in to Lansing so the family could find better work in the booming automotive industry in Lansing. Not only were Detroit, Flint and Lansing filled with southerners coming north for work, they were also the destination for rural families like mine.

Ed married a local Locke girl who was his down-the-road neighbor, Lulu Gertrude FREDERICK. They married in 1913 and had two sons right away, and two more children after the move to Lansing.

Gertrude and Ed wedding photo, 1913

And then the unthinkable happened: Gertrude died of pneumonia in 1925. At least by now, Ed and his children were already under the multigenerational roof of his mother for I'm sure both financial and emotional support.

1930 US Federal census: Lansing, Ward 5, Ingham, Michigan

Ed continued working in automotive industries. The SPENCER family was always pretty close, until my branch moved away to Illinois. Ed would visit occasionally and we would go to Michigan, especially for my summer birthday. 

My great-grandfather passed away at age 88 on 9 May 1976. He is buried with Gertrude and many of his SPENCER relations in Rowley Cemetery in Locke Township.

Edward's page in my database

© 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (45) SMITH: Everybody's Got One

Everyone has a SMITH in their tree, right?

Some SMITH's you have lots of information on and others, well, not so much. My #52Ancestor falls into the 'not so much' category.

Joannah SMITH is a maternal great-great-great-grandmother. Her given name is spelled various ways: Joanna, Johanna, Johannah.

I know more about her from the end of her life going backward, so we will start at the end.

Joannah died 12 July 1885 in Locke Township, Ingham County, Michigan at about age 60. She is buried in Rowley Cemetery next to her husband Elias C. MAXSON.

Joannah was the mother of seven daughters: Susannah, Hannah, Mary Jane, Laura, Emeline, Alice and Minerva.

The MAXSON's were enumerated on the following censuses:

• 1880: Locke Township, Ingham, Michigan
• 1870: Locke Township, Ingham, Michigan
• 1860: Locke Township, Ingham, Michigan
• 1850: Marion Township, Livingston, Michigan

Their second daughter Hannah was born in Marion Township in 1849, and their oldest daughter Susannah was born in 1845 in New York. Like many other families in Ingham County, Michigan, the MAXSON's migrated westward from New York. Elias MAXSON was born in Wyoming County, New York, so it is pretty likely that they were married there as well.

There were a few SMITH families in the same part of Wyoming County as the MAXSON's. But with their marriage before 1850, there was no opportunity for Joannah to be listed individually on a census. And attempting to guess which family she may be from is just speculation.

Some day, though, there will be that elusive record that points me to Joannah's family.

For now, I'm glad I only have one SMITH line of descent.

Joannah's page in my database

© 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (40) Dallas Spencer, Born and Died Today

Today would be my grandfather's 100th birthday!

He also died in the wee hours of the morning on this day in 2000, which was his 86th birthday. He had been ill for some time and I always think he waited until his birthday to die.

Dallas Frederick SPENCER was born 6 October 1914 on his grandparent's farm in Locke Township, Ingham County, Michigan. He was the first child of Edward J. SPENCER and Lulu Gertrude FREDERICK.

The family moved to Lansing, Michigan when he was a young child. He attended the township school house as well as the Lansing public schools. He then attended the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan - which became Michigan State University in East Lansing. In 1936, he earned a degree in engineering, and was the first SPENCER to attend and graduate college. He was 'sponsored' by his uncle and aunt, and kept a detailed ledger book of every penny spent and every grade received, so as to properly pay them back.

college graduation photo, 1936

Dallas married in 1939 and in 1940, became a father. He then trained as a Naval officer and served in World War II, both in California and Japan. His engineering background helped him in his tasks as a SeaBee, lingo for the construction brigade.

After the war, he returned to Michigan, now with two daughters. He worked for the State of Michigan road and bridge department. In 1950, he accepted a position at Argonne National Laboratory, outside Chicago, and helped manage the site construction projects. Argonne was born as a scientific research lab after the Manhattan Project. He retired from Argonne in 1979.

family, 1955

My grandfather was very proud of his two daughters and six grandchildren. He did much to encourage us to attend college or learn a trade. Grandpa's signature look was a bowtie. He wore one to work every single day! And his hair was snow white for my entire lifetime. (I'm glad my younger brother inherited the early greying and not me!)

fishing in Michigan, his favorite getaway

Today is both a happy and sad day. I really miss him. Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

© 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (30) Laura Maxson Frederick

Laura Ann MAXSON was a maternal great-great-grandmother. Like many of my maternal ancestors, she was from a New England family that moved west.

She was born in Livingston County, Michigan on 25 January 1855 to Elias C. and Johanna Smith MAXSON. Her parents were both from Wyoming County, New York. The MAXSON's finally settled in Locke Township, Ingham County, Michigan.

Laura, Milan, and Milan's mother Nancy

Laura married her across-the-road neighbor, Milan FREDERICK, on 10 November 1885. She was 30 years old, rather late for a marriage at the time. She was the middle daughter, having three elder and three younger sisters. I sometimes wonder if their household was a bit like the Bennet family of Jane Austen's seminal Pride and Prejudice : a middle class family filled with young women searching for appropriate suitors.

Laura and Milan had three children of their own: Bertha Mae, Lulu Gertrude and Earl Milan. Their children also married within the township and the family remained close.

Laura died at only 50 years of age. Her cause of death was 'softening of the brain.'

www.seekingmichigan.org

Much like the rest of my Michigan family, Laura is buried in Rowley Cemetery in Ingham County.

Laura's page in my database

© 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (29) Elias Maxson of New York and Michigan

This week's ancestor introduction is a maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Elias C. MAXSON.

Elias was the son of Elias MAXSON (also spelled MAXON) and Hannah COONS or KUHNS. The elder MAXSONs were very early settlers in Genesee County, New York. They had 12 known children: John, Hannah, Edwin, Katherine, Nancy, Lucena, Elias, George, Charles, Fanny, Joseph and Andrew.

Our subject, Elias C., was born 13 February 1820 in Town of Bennington in Genesee County. He married Joannah SMITH about 1843. I have no clues as to Joannah's family. There were SMITH families in the same area, but I have no record of their marriage or her parent's names.

Elias and Joannah were part of a large group of western New York families that moved on to Michigan. They had seven daughters, and they were born in various locations as the family made their way west:

Susannah, born in Bennington in 1845
Hannah, born in Wayne County, Michigan in 1849
Mary Jane, born in Livingston County, Michigan in 1852
Laura, born in Livingston County, Michigan in 1855
Emeline, born in Ingham County, Michigan, in 1858
Alice, born in Ingham County, Michigan, in 1861
Minerva, born in Ingham County, Michigan in 1866

Locke Township in Ingham County was the final settlement for the MAXSON family. They were a typical farm family, owning 40 acres in Section 9. Several of their daughters married young men from neighboring farms.

Joannah died in July of 1885 at only 60 years of age. Elias soon followed her in October. They are buried together in Rowley Cemetery in Locke Township. Their gravestones are a beautiful matched pair. Several of their daughters are buried nearby.

Elias' page in my database

© 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (23) Sally Joslin Spencer

This week on 52 Ancestors, we meet Sarah 'Sally' JOSLIN SPENCER, a maternal great-great-great grandmother. That sad face in the corner is me. Me, because I do not have a photograph or a description of Sally and I dearly wish that I did.

Incidentally, I am not named for Sally. However, the story of my learning about Sally and then sharing her name is even better. You can read it here.

Sally was born in Town of Sheldon, Genesee, New York in 1819. Her name at birth and death was Sarah, but all through her life it was Sally. Her parents were Benjamin JOSLIN and Betsey WYMAN. Betsey had a twin sister Sally, so that may be the origin of the name. Sally had an older brother Wyman and a younger brother Daniel.

[FamilySearch.org] 1820 US Federal census: Town of Sheldon, Genesee, New York

Sally married a local Sheldon farmer, Wright SPENCER, in 1841. He was several years older and had his own farm. Sally and Wright had eight children:

1. Elizabeth Nancy (1842-1919)
2. Benjamin J. (1847-1881)
3. Asa Wyman (1850-1911)
4. Edward J. (1852-1888)
5. Cordelia L. (1854-1912)
6. Washington Irving (1858-1925)
7. Byron P. (1861-1867)
8. Addie Elmosa (1863-1912)

Byron was their only child to die in New York. He was only six and I don't know the circumstances of his death. He is buried with his grandparents in Varysburg Cemetery. I can't imagine how Sally felt, literally leaving one of your children behind.

The SPENCER's moved west in the 1860's, like many families from this area, into central Michigan. They purchased 40 acres in Locke Township, Ingham, Michigan, which is just east of Lansing. Wright eventually had a farm of over 100 acres and as he aged, his son Asa took over the farm duties.

Sally died at the SPENCER family farm on 9 March 1895 and was buried in the local Rowley Cemetery. 

I still wish I had a picture of her :(

Sally's page in my database

Graphic with free use license

© 2014 Sally Knudsen 

Throwback Thursday - Genealogy Style!

In honor of Throwback Thursday (yet another social media meme), I give you my kids with their great-great-great-great-grandparents:

How is that for a multigenerational photo? That's nearly a 200 year span.

This was taken about 12 years ago at Rowley Cemetery in Locke Township, Ingham, Michigan. The boys are standing next to Wright SPENCER (1811-1899) and Sally JOSLIN SPENCER (1819-1895). 

Back then, the tradeoff was they visit the cemetery with mom in exchange for running around collecting sticks and pinecones and rocks. And I get this once-in-a-lifetime memory. Works for me!

(c) 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (17) William Frederick

William FREDERICK (also spelled FREDRICK) was my great-great-great-grandfather. William was the father of last week's subject, Milan Frederick.

When William died in 1893, this brief announcement was posted in the local newspaper, the Williamston Enterprise, which published local news for rural townships east of Lansing, Ingham, Michigan. The Enterprise was a weekly paper, typical of the times in carrying several columns of local comings and goings.

Hmm, shoemaking? I had always assumed (yes, I know) that he would have been a farmer, like all the other heads of families in the area. A check of the censuses may explain his occupation:

1880 US census: Michigan, Ingham, Locke Township

1870 US census: Michigan, Ingham, Locke Township

1860 US census: Michigan, Shiawassee, Shiawassee Township

1850 US census: Michigan, Shiawassee, Shiawassee Township

Clearly, we can see that William spent his later years as a farmer. But on the 1850 and 1860 censuses, William did indeed practice the trade of shoemaking. I suspect he likely did both.

William was born in New York on 21 October 1818. He was in Michigan by 1840. He first married Amanda CHAFFIN in Oakland County, Michigan in 1841. Together they had two known daughters, Mary Jane (a teacher, no more information) and Josephine (married David H. ADAMS). Amanda died in 1845.

William next married Nancy M. ACKLEY in Shiawassee County, Michigan in 1847. Together they had four sons, Delos (1850 census, no more information), Milan, Fremont (1860 census, no more information), and Frank.

William had six known children. Three of them can be traced through marriages and families of their own. Interestingly, the other three appear on one or two censuses, and no more has been found to date.

In 1893 at age 75, William died in Locke Township in Ingham County. He is buried along with his wife Nancy, and their son Milan.

But William leaves me with many nagging questions to follow up:

• What happened to his children Mary Jane, Delos and Fremont?
• How big a role did shoemaking play in his life? Was it a generational trade?
• Where in New York was he born?
• And next week, we will question who his parents might be...

William's page in my database

(c) 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (16) Milan Frederick

Sometimes while researching, a fact catches my eye that I don't expect. Such is the case with my great-great-grandfather, Milan FREDERICK. I first started on this line in the days before instant computer access to records. At the time, I was living in Michigan and could immerse myself in a terrific local collection of genealogy records at the Grand Rapids Public Library. One of the microfilms I came across contained the agricultural census returns that were part of the State of Michigan census of 1894.

An agricultural census (sometimes called a non-population census) is a detailed look into the 19th century family farm. The 1894 Michigan census inquired after facts in 114 different categories. 114! They include: acres of land owned, its development, use and value; types of livestock; number of ditches and fences; labor hours; poultry and dairy products made and sold; wool sheared; grains produced and sold; feed grown for livestock; and various other crops grown including flax, hops, tobacco and celery. For anyone with rural ancestors, these agricultural returns are an unexpected and fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the family farm.

So besides being a farmer in Ingham County, Michigan, how did my ancestor Milan fit in? In 1894, he WAS the agricultural census taker!

Now I have no shortage of Milan's signature!

Biographically, Milan was born 5 February 1853 in Shiawassee Township, Shiawassee, Michigan, to William FREDERICK and Nancy ACKLEY. On 10 November 1885, he married Laura Ann MAXSON and they had three children: Bertha May, Lulu Gertrude (my great-grandmother), and Earl Milan. He died on 4 May 1919 and is buried in Rowley Cemetery with all of his family.

Milan's page in my database

(c) 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (15) Lulu Gertrude Frederick Spencer

Week Fifteen of the #52Ancestors challenge brings me alphabetically to my F's. This week's post is in honor of my great-grandmother, Lulu Gertrude FREDERICK SPENCER.

Gertrude, as she was known, was born on 11 October 1892 in Locke Township, Ingham, Michigan. She was the second of three children born to Milan FREDERICK and Laura Ann MAXSON. As many young farm girls did, she married her neighbor, Edward J. SPENCER. Their wedding took place on 11 October 1913, Gertrude's 21st birthday.

Gertrude and Edward's wedding photo, 1913

(They may be my own family, but I think this photograph is STUNNING. It is one of my favorite keepsakes.)

They lived on the SPENCER family farm, just a mile or so down the road from her parents. Their first child, my grandfather Dallas, was born on the farm the next October, followed by Forrest in 1915. By 1920, family circumstances forced the family to leave the farm (story here) and move into nearby Lansing. They had two more children, Genevieve and Edward, during their time in Lansing.

inscription in Gertrude's Bible
a gift from her father

October of 1925 spelled the end of young Gertrude. She succumbed to pneumonia just two days after her 33rd birthday. Her youngest son was only six months old and her oldest was only 11. The idea of growing up with no memories of your mother makes me sad. Gertrude was so lovely in photographs. I was fortunate to know several of my great-grandparents. I wish I would have known Gertrude, too.

Gertrude is buried in Rowley Cemetery, in Locke Township, next to her husband Edward.

Gertrude's page in my database

(c) 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (10) May Countryman Spencer, The Matriarch

On the weekend celebrating International Women's Day, this week's post is appropriate. As I contemplated the life of my great-great-grandmother May COUNTRYMAN SPENCER, I was struck by her place with her family. She was the spine, the glue, the Matriarch.

matriarch: noun. a woman who rules a family, clan or tribe.

May was the matriarch of her family in every conceivable way.

May Genevieve COUNTRYMAN was born 6 May 1864 in Tompkins Township, Jackson County, Michigan, the first child of Jacob COUNTRYMAN and Amelia TENNEY. Four sisters followed, and, I suspect, she spent time helping raise her younger sisters.

In the early 1880's, the COUNTRYMAN family moved north, near the border of Ingham and Shiawassee counties. May wed Asa Wyman SPENCER on 2 April 1883. Children quickly followed: Beulah (1884, died as an infant), Roy (1886), Edward (1888), Bessie (1890), Burr (1892), and Florence (1896). This new family lived with her aging in-laws, Wright and Sally SPENCER, on the Spencer family farm.

This photo is of May, Asa, and son Roy:

Lansing, Michigan, circa 1887

The mid-1890's saw tragedy: both May's father and Asa's mother died at the farm in the summer of 1895. I have no doubt May was integral in their final care. May had her last child in 1896, followed shortly by the death of her youngest sister who had been residing at the Shiawassee County Poor Farm.

This photo of May is probably during this period:

By the turn of the 20th century, life was moving forward on the family farm. After the deaths of her in-laws, the farm was now Asa's and May's and their growing children. Then tragedy struck again: Asa Spencer had a burst appendix in 1911, and died of surgical complications. May was now alone to run the farm with her barely twenty-something sons. 

Edward, my great-grandfather, married in 1913 and had his first two children while living on the farm. By the late 1910's, the family was no longer able to keep the farm running, sold the land for what they could, and moved into nearby Lansing, Michigan. At least Lansing had the booming automotive industry, and most of her sons found work in those manufacturing plants.

The 1920 census shows May living in southeast Lansing with her daughter Florence and husband, and her divorced daughter Bessie and Bessie's two young sons.

In 1930, May still lived with Bessie and sons, and now widowed Edward and his four children moved in. On the 1940 census, May was working as a clerk for the telephone company - at age 75! May continued to live with various children and grandchildren for the remainder of her life.

The recollections my grandfather had of May were of a stern, staunchly Methodist matriarch. May survived the loss of an infant and adult child, her sister, her daughter-in-law, and her husband way too soon. She supported her family through divorce and loss of property. She instilled order and constancy to her family.

Lansing, Michigan, circa 1930's

Spencer family, Lansing, Michigan, Easter 1940

For all that May lived through - family tragedy, war, the Depression - she still lived to be 79 years old. She died in Lansing on 15 June 1943 and is buried alongside Asa and five of her six children in Rowley Cemetery, Ingham County, Michigan.

Rest in peace, May.

May's page in my database

(c) 2014 Sally Knudsen

#52Ancestors (1) Nancy Ackley Frederick

This is my first #52Ancestors post. The theme of '52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks' was created by Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small. It's pretty self-explanatory. The hard part will be in the choosing. I'll start easy: alphabetically.

Without further ado, my first ancestor introduction is:

Nancy M. Ackley Frederick

(1828-1896)

Nancy Ackley was born 10 September 1828, likely in Rose Town, Wayne County, New York. She was a daughter of Daniel Ackley and Rachel Phelps.

The Ackley family was in Shiawassee Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan by the time Nancy married William Frederick, a neighbor, in 1847.

Nancy was William's second wife and a stepmother to his two daughters. Nancy and William had four known children, though I can only find two living to adulthood. They were a farming family, owning property first in Shiawassee County, then south in Locke Township, Ingham County, Michigan. They resided in Locke from the 1860's until their deaths. Nancy died in Locke on 10 December 1896, and is buried in Rowley Cemetery in Locke Township.

Genealogically, Nancy is a maternal great-great-great-grandmother.

Nancy's page in my database

(c) 2014 Sally Knudsen

Fearless Females: Sally, Meet Sally

Today's "Fearless Female" blog prompt at The Accidental Genealogist asks if there is a particular ancestor you were named for, or if you have interesting and unique female names in your tree.

My given name is Sally. It wasn't short for a name like Sarah or Sylvia. It's just plain Sally. As a kid, I didn't like it very well because it was just too unique and pretty old-fashioned. As an adult, I love it because it is unique! Thanks Mom and Dad.

If I was named after someone, it wasn't knowingly. I worked on my mom's Spencer line in Michigan when I was fortunate to live there for a few years. One afternoon, I had enough time to visit the famous (to me) Rowley Cemetery in Locke Township outside Lansing. As I drove into the u-shaped drive of the rural cemetery, it felt like a homecoming. In about three seconds, I spotted several Spencer stones. I knew my great-grandfather and his parents were buried here. I also found the next generation: my great-great-great grandparents. I sensed that he was probably the Wright Spencer I had found on some family papers, but I knew nothing of his wife. There on the white tower gravestone I saw:

SALLY J.

wife of 

WRIGHT SPENCER

died

Mar. 9, 1895

Aged

75 Yrs 5 Ms & 24 Ds

---

WRIGHT SPENCER

1811 - 1899

That hit me like a ton of bricks and I probably did my first cemetery happy dance! Hello Sally, it is nice to meet you. From that point on, I knew my family's genealogy was my calling.

© 2013 Sally Knudsen

Wordless Wednesday - Exercising the Horses

My great-grandfather (r) Edward Spencer with his brother Burr

Spencer family farm, Locke Township, Ingham County, Michigan, circa 1910


***

Wordless Wednesday - Locke Township School

Locke Township School, Ingham County, Michigan, date and students unknown

cabinet card among my Spencer family photographs