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| Alexander Spence Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
After an illness of about two weeks, Mr. Alexander Spence passed away at his home at 1 o'clock Friday morning, December 28, at the age of 88 years. The deceased was born in the parish of Inch, Abordeenshire, Scotland, December 22, 1806. He married Miss Mitchell, June 2, 1836, and immediately started for the new world. They spent two years in Canada coming to the town of Pike (Somers) in the summer of 1838. The town was at that time but sparsely settled and the deceased can be truly classed among those old pioneers through whose untiring efforts and perseverance a foundation laid, upon which rests our prosperity of today. He purchased a farm which he worked until a few years ago when he sold it and moved to the village where he has since resided. One of most noble characteristics was honesty, which he practiced in all his dealings with his fellow men. His devoted Christian life dates back to his early years when yet in his native country he was converted. He was instrumental in the organization of the Presbyterian Church in 1839 being one of its original members, and for over half a century has been one of its most efficient workers. He leaves a wife, four daughters and two sons to mourn his death.
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication dated December 31, 1894).
Additional Information about Alexander Spence
He obtained a common school education and was identified with farm work in Scotland until 1836, when at the age of about thirty years he crossed the Atlantic to Canada. In 1838 he arrived in Kenosha County, establishing his home in Somers here he settled among the earliest residents. From his brother-in-law, John Mitchell, he purchased eighty acres of land for a dollar and a quarter per acre. Such was the unsettled condition of the country that there was little demand for property and therefore prices ranged at that low figure. With characteristic energy he began the cultivation of his farm, which he converted from a tract of raw prairie into highly cultivated fields. He continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits until 1876, when he removed to Somers and five years later he sold his farm. His remaining days were spent in the enjoyment of well earned and well merited rest, his death occurring in Somers on the 27th of December, 1894.
In early manhood Mr. Spence had wedded Isabelle Mitchell, a daughter of John and Janet (Gordon) Mitchell. They became the parents of seven children. Isabelle, who was a teacher in the schools of Chicago for several years and afterward did Missionary work in that city for several years, was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery. Elspeth died when four years of age. George F. married Etta Gould, of Iowa, and they became the parents of two children: Clara, the wife of O.P. Malcolm, of Pocahontas, Iowa, by whom she has three children, Homer, George F. and Ruth; and Walter A., who is married and two children, Marietta and George W. Mary E. became the wife of William Booth, of New Britain, Connecticut, and they had one daughter, Belle Booth, now a teacher of Chicago. The mother died in 1907. James A., the fifth of the family, married Frances Strong and both are now deceased. They had a daughter, Florence, who is the wife of Edwin S. Bishop, a teacher in the Chicago University School, and they have two sons, James Spence and Edwin Sherwood. Annie J. who completed her education in the Racine High School, has since made her home in Somers. Harriet M. attended the Racine High School and the Oshkosh Normal School and for several years was successfully engaged in teaching.
Mr. Spence was a member of the Somers Presbyterian Church. In fact, he and his wife were among the original members of the church which organized in 1839.
(Source: The City and County of Kenosha Wisconsin, Vol. II, S.J. Clark Publishing Co. 1916
More about the Spence Family
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| Isabelle Mitchell Spence, wife of Alexander Spence Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
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| George Spence Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
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| Belle Spence Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
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| Janet Mitchell, wife of John Mitchell and mother of Isabelle Mitchell Spence, wife of Alexander Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
Mrs. Mary Spence Booth
Kenosha County loses one of its pioneer residents and well known women in the death of Mrs. Mary Spence Booth whose death occurred Sunday morning at the home of her sister, Mrs. William E. Booth in the Town of Somers. Deceased was 63 years of age and for some time previous to her death had made her home in Chicago. On last Tuesday, a brother, George Spence, died at his home in Iowa at the age of sixty. Another brother, James Spence, is seriously at his home. The funeral of Mrs. Mary Spence will take place Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock from the house at Somers.
(Source: Racine Journal March 4, 1907)
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| Mary Spence Booth, wife of William Booth Belle Booth, daughter of Mary and William Booth Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
"James A. Spence, one of the oldest and best known residents of Kenosha county, died at his home in the village of SomersSomers.
James Alexander Spence was sixty years of age. He was a son of Alexander and Isabella Spence and was born in the Town of Somers, March 6, 1848. He had lived at the old Spence homestead and had engaged in the occupation of farming up to a short time ago when he gave up his active work and moved to the village of Somers to spend his declining years. Mr. Spence never held a public office, but he had always been regarded as one of the most influential men of the Town of Somers and had taken a deep interest in the development of the educational and social life of the town and of the county. He is survived by a widow and one daughter, Mrs. Edwin Bishop. The funeral will be held from the late residence on Thursday morning at half past ten o'clock and the remains will be laid at rest in the family plot at Oakwood Cemetery."
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication dated July 7, 1908).
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| Elspeth Spence Gibbon Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
More About Mrs. Elspeth Spence
"Mrs. Elspeth Spence Gibbon, wife of the late Alexander G. Gibbon, died Wednesday afternoon, September 20, at Somers, Kenosha County, after an illness of some months.
Elspeth Spence was born at Insch, Scotland, January 10, 1835, and with her parents came to this country in 1845.
In 1856 she was united in marriage to Alexander G. Gibbon, whose death occurred some years ago. Five children were born to this union, two of the surviving - Miss Mary L. Gibbon of the Milwaukee Public Schools and Miss Maude M. Gibbon, of Somers.
The eldest son, Prof. David Gibbon, died November 3, 1900; William Sherman Gibbon died April 17. 1899.
The deceased was one of the early pioneers of Somers and had watched with interest the development of the town during her long residence in the county.
At an early age she united with the Presbyterian Church, thus beginning a long, useful life of consecration and devotion. In her life was exemplified the highest type of gentle helpfulness. Forgetful of self, her life was made up of doing those little things which contribute so much toward making the lives of others better and happier.
Besides the two daughters, those survive five grandchildren: Miss Grace Gibbon of Minneapolis, Minn.; Miss Dorothy S. Gibbon of Marble, Minn.; Alexander M. Gibbon of Sparta; and the Misses Margaret and Elsie Gibbon of Kenosha. One brother, William G. Spence of River Falls; and one sister, Mrs. John Gray of Somers.
Funeral services were held from the late home in the village on Friday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. Phipps. Internment was in the family plot in Oakwood Cemetery.
Among those who came from away to attend the funeral were Mrs. Mary Gibbon and Miss Fannie B. Bowker of Oshkosh, Wis.; Mrs. Fannie S. Gibbon and daughters of Kenosha; Mrs. Grace Gibbon of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes of Gurnee, Illinois. Mrs. Melissa Lytle and Miss Anna R. Smith of Racine; Miss Belle Booth of Chicago; and William G. Spence of River Falls."
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication date September 27, 1916)
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| Ellen Strong Spence Oakwood Cemetery, Somers Cemetery, Kenosha County (Source: Larry & Linda Kopet USGenWebArchivesProjectWisconsin) |
"Mrs. William Spence departed this life at her home in Spring Valley on Friday afternoon after a long and painful illness. The remains were brought to her old home and interred in Oakwood Cemetery on Monday."
(Source: Racine Journal Nov. 9, 1898)
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