My Genealogy Hound

JAMES B. SPENCER, a soldier who took part in several engagements during the Civil War, and who is at present a prominent citizen of Scott, this county, is a son of Edwin and Ruth (Van Benschoten) Spencer, and was born in Livingston County, Michigan, March 29, 1843.

Asa Spencer, his paternal grandfather, was a native of Massachusetts, removing from there to Cayuga County, N. Y., where he afterwards died. He was engaged in husbandry all his life. His marriage with Miss Hardy resulted in the birth of six children, four sons and two daughters. Edwin Spencer, the father of the subject of this biography, was born in Cayuga County, this state, in 1823; he received a good education and for nineteen years was employed as a teacher in the district schools. From Cayuga County he moved to Cortland County, where he lived for many years. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Scott township. He also acted in the capacity of supervisor of Scott and justice of the peace of Steuben County. He was a life-long Republican. He finally moved to a farm near Ithaca, N. Y., where he died in 1891. He married Ruth Van Benschoten, by whom he had two sons and two daughters: Tryphena, the widow of Oscar Scott; James B.; Jennie, wife of Davis Jones, a resident of New Baltimore, Mich.; and Charles, a resident of Indiana.

James B. Spencer received the fundamental part of his knowledge in the district schools of Scott, and later attended the Homer Academy. About this time the Civil War broke out and he gave up school life to engage in the service of his country. He enlisted in Co. H. 161st Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf. and served more than three years. He took part in the following engagements: The Siege of Port Hudson; then with Gen. Banks on the Red River Expedition; with his regiment assisted in constructing the dam across the Red River; subsequently his company was detached and placed under the command of Lieut.-Col. Bailey, and went to Vicksburg; then Gen. Banks was retired, and Gen. Canby, who was so treacherously killed while treating with the Indians in 1873, took charge, and they took the city of Mobile; Mr. Spencer was made sergeant and was in the Provost Marshal’s office; went to Apalachicola, Florida, and there relieved the 110th N. Y. at Fort Jefferson, and guarded 130 conspirators, among whom was Dr. Mudd, who set Booth’s leg, and other notable personages. After the close of the war he returned to Scott, leaving soon after for Michigan, where he lived a short time. He then returned to Scott, settled upon his present homestead and employed his time in husbandry. He is a pleasant, affable gentleman, and enjoys bringing up reminiscences of army life and adventures. It is hardly necessary to add that these adventures are fully as enjoyable in the hearing as in the telling. He is a member of Scott Post No. 574, G. A. R., and was the first commander. He was married in 1857 to Francina Whiting, a sister of H. I. Whiting, a history of whose life appears elsewhere in this Book of Biographies. They have one daughter, Norma, wife of Elam Clark of Scott.