Spence, Gibbon

Oakwood Cemetery-Spence
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

Spence, Frances
"The funeral of the late Mrs. Frances (James Alexander) Spence was held from the home of Misses Harriet and Anna Spence on Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock.  Internment was held at Oakwood Cemetery.  Attending the funeral were Judge D.H. Flett of Racine, Mrs. Fannie Gibbon of Kenosha, Miss Belle Booth (niece of Mrs. Spence) of Chicago, Mrs. Alice Rhodes of Kenosha, Mr. William Spence of River Falls who also visited his sister, Mrs. John Grey, Mr. and Mrs. George Strong of Lake Mills (cousin of Mrs. Spence) and M.O. Myrick of Paris Township (his sister-in-law)."
(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication date of April 24, 1912)

Additional Obituary of Frances Strong Spence
"Mrs. Frances Strong Spence is the latest to answer the call of the Death Angel and she has departed while as yet it was only the mid afternoon of her life.  On April 22, 1912, she passed peacefully at the residence of her only daughter, Mrs. Edwin S. Bishop.
Frances Strong was the daughter of the late Alvin and Melissa Strong and born in Somers, Wisconsin on March 14, 1854.  For a number of years she was one of Kenosha County's most successful teachers.  In her girlhood she became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Somers.  November 1, 1876, she was united in marriage to James A. Spence whose death occurred June 30, 1908.  One daughter was born to this union.  One sister, Mrs. M.O. Myrick and one brother, Albert Strong, also survive.  She was tenderly laid to rest beside her husband in Oakwood Cemetery.  Here about these two graves, may the sun shed his purest, softest rays, here the birds carol their sweetest notes, and the winds of heaven breath their gentlest sighs."
(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication dated April 22, 1912)

Frances Strong Spence Obituary
One by one the pioneers of Somers are fast passing to that realm from whence no traveler has ever yet returned and toward which all who live are rapidly moving.  Mrs. Frances Strong Spence is the latest to answer the call of the Death Angel and she has departed while as yet it was only the mid afternoon of her life.  On Monday morning, April 22, 1912, she passed peacefully away at the residence of her only daughter, Mrs. Edwin S. Bishop, in Chicago, after an illness of several weeks' duration.
Frances Strong was a daughter of the late Alvin and Melissa Strong and was born in Somers, Wisconsin, March 14, 1854.  She received her education in the district school, also attended the Racine High School and the State Normal School at Oshkosh.  For a number of years she was one of Kenosha County's most successful teachers.
In her girlhood she became a member of the Presbyterian Church at Somers and was always deeply interested in its work.  November 1, 1876, she was united in marriage to James A. Spence, whose death occurred June 30, 1908.  One daughter was born to this union, who remains to cherish the memory of an honorable father and a noble mother.  Since the dath of her husband she has made her home with this daughter in Chicago.  One sister, Mrs. M.O. Myrick of Bristol, and one brother, Albert Strong, also survive.  The funeral services were held from the home of the Misses Spence in Somers on Wednesday afternoon, April 24, conducted by the Rev. Stevenson of Hyde Park Presbyterian Church of Chicago.  She was tenderly laid to rest beside her husband in Oakwood Cemetery.  Here about these two graves may the sun shed his purest, softest rays, here the birds carol their sweetest notes and the winds of heaven breathe their gentlest sighs. (April 30)