Joseph W. Spencer

Notes:

Tuscola County Advertiser, February 21, 1895

Joseph Spencer was found dead in his barn one day last week. It is supposed that heart disease was the cause. he was an old soldier having served three years in the Mexican War. he was past 90 years of age. The G.A. R. of Reese and Gilford turned out to administer the last rites to their deceased brother at the U.B. Church in Gilford, the Sixteenth and interred in the Gilford Cemetery. He was a native of Canada, but had been a resident of Gilford for a good many years. He leaves a wife and four children.

Saginaw Evening News, Saturday, February 16, 1895
Pioneer of Tuscola Found Dead at Gilford
Brother Died in the Same Way Four Years Ago, and Strange to Say the Same Barn

Joseph Spencer, age 76 years, one of the oldest pioneers of Tuscola County, a Veteran of the Mexican and late Civil War, was found dead in his barn, rear of resident, near Gilford last night at 8:00 by a neighbor named Gilbert Quipp. A coroner's inquest was held and a verdict of death from heart disease was rendered. A wife and four children survive him. His brother Manuel was found dead in the same barn four years from the same disease. Another brother, Moses, was shot at Bay City in the 60's by a rough character, dying afterwards from the effects of his wounds.

(Both obituaries courtesy of Valerie C. Atkinson, who also noted that his Military service included the Third Regiment of U.S. Infantry from May 1847 to Aug. 19, 1848, Mexican War, and the U.S. Army from Aug. 23, 1864 to Sept. 6, 1865)

Joseph married Almanza Hopkins on 8 Dec 1852 in Dryden, Lapeer County, Michigan. Almanza was born on 17 Feb 1833 in Cambridge Township, Washington County, New York; died on 1 Mar 1903 in Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Brookside Cemetery, Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They had six children... Janette in 1865, Homer in 1858, Lydia in 1861, Hiram (Arley Spencer's father) on 08/28/1890, Varnum J.W. in 1867 and Irene in 1870.

1. Chloe Spencer was born in Jul 1855; died in in Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan.
2. Janette Spencer was born about 1856; and died.
3. Milton Spencer was born on 16 May 1857 in Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 26 May 1857 in Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan.
4. Homer B. Spencer was born on 11 Jan 1859 in Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 9 Jan 1932 in Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Brookside Cemetery, Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Michigan.
5. Lydia Spencer was born on 23 Mar 1861 in Michigan; and died.
6. Hiram Spencer was born on 31 May 1861 in Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan; and died.
7. Varnum J. W. Spencer was born on 10 Nov 1867 in Michigan; died on 29 Mar 1870 in Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Gilford Cemetery, Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan.
8. Eva C. Spencer was born on 29 Jan 1870 in Michigan; died about 1944 in Imlay City, Lapeer County, Michigan.