My Genealogy Hound

Elijah M. Spencer, deceased, formerly a prominent attorney of Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1831, the seventh son of Mathias and Harriet (Smith) Spencer, natives of Connecticut, the father born November 15, 1795, and the mother born April 23, 1796, and died April 9, 1874. The parents were farmers. They were married in 1818, and had eight sons: William D., born March 5, 1819, died May 7, 1858; Daniel S., born April 5, 1820, now deceased; John W., born February 24, 1823, died March 15, 1859; Dr. Edwin V., born October 9, 1825, died May 28, 1902; Henry A., born August 29, 1828, died January 21, 1888; Harvey H., born June 12, 1830, died February 13, 1831; Elijah M., born December 6, 1831, died October 3, 1912; George W., born August 9, 1835, now a retired farmer of Corey, Pa. Elijah M. Spencer was a graduate of the Allegheny College, of Meadville, Pa., and came to Mt. Vernon in July, 1856, where he was an active and successful lawyer all his life. At the time of his death, October 3, 1912, he was the oldest member of the Posey County Bar Association, and that fraternity adopted elaborate resolutions of respect. He was an extensive owner of real estate and had retired in 1906 after fifty years of law practice. In politics Mr. Spencer was a Democrat and represented Posey county in the State legislature for two terms, beginning in 1865. He was very active in law making, was a member of several important committees and author of several successful measures, which today stand as monuments to his memory. He served for a time as county attorney. Mr. Spencer was public spirited and liberal, and the last check he issued before his death was a large donation to the Presbyterian church, of which his wife and daughters are active members. He was very highly respected in the community in which he for so many years was a substantial and dependable citizen. Elijah Spencer was married November 15, 1860 at Akron, Ohio, to Miss Mary E. Morse, daughter of Huron and Alethia (Ives) Morse. Mrs. Spencer was born December 27, 1839, in Portage county, Ohio. Her father was born July 29, 1807, and died June 16, 1885, and her mother, born April 30, 1810, died March 20, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Huron Morse had four children: Laura A., born August 12, 1833, died May 24, 1901; Lucy H., born July 9, 1835, died October 26, 1894; Charles R., born October 14, 1837, died April 9, 1905; Mary E., born December 27, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah M. Spencer had six children: Charles M., born November 21, 1861, lawyer and assistant State auditor, Indianapolis; John W., born March 7, 1864, now chief justice of the State Supreme Court; Frank B., born August 12, 1868, died June 17, 1892; Mary A., born November 29, 1870, now the wife of Allyn B. Hart, superintendent of ice company, Mt. Vernon; Stella L, born March 19, 1873, was the wife of Arthur E. Fretageot, a merchant of New Harmony, died August 22, 1913, leaving one daughter, Mary, eight years old; Elijah M., born March 19, 1876.