Spencer, Galen  

Contributed by Nancy Eckel

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On photo below: Spencer Family Joplin, it is the family of Galen Spencer and Maggie (Mary Margaret) Bates.  The photo is @ 1892. Maggie married Galen Spencer December 28, 1864, in Boonville.

Galen Spencer, b. October 8,1844 in Boonville, Warrick County to Dr. Ethan Spencer, b. 1812 in Walton, Delaware County, NY, and Alice Erskin, b. October 25, 1824. Though the records say she may have been born in the "Empire State" she and Ethan were married July 5, 1843 in Boonville, Warrick County, NY. Dr. Spencer had bought land in Boonville in 1830 and moved there. We suspect that Alice was a native of Evansville but we are still searching. There is NO record we can find of her in New York state. Galen Spencer married Mary Margaret "Maggie" Bates on December 23, 1864 in Boonville, Warrick County, Indiana.  


Spencer Info 
From: mhomesley@mo-net.com 
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 19:21:22 -0500 
Subject: 1883 Jasper County History Book 

Galen Spencer, attorney at law and mayor of Joplin, was born in Warrick county, Ind., Oct. 8, 1844. His parents, Dr. Ethan and Alice (Erskine) Spencer, were natives of the Empire State. His father was born in Delaware county in May, 1812; his mother was born in October, 1824. They are now living at Evansville, Ind. Our subject was raised principally on a farm, and attended the common schools until fifteen years of age; he then attended a select school near Evansville, Ind., receiving a liberal education. Subsequently he went to Evanston, Ill., and entered the Garrett Biblical Institute, which he attended two terms, and then returned to his native state and accepted a position as principal of the Booneville city schools, in which capacity he served for three years. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Col. John W. Foster commanding, served about four months,! was mustered out at Indianapolis, and returned to Booneville. He then reengaged again in teaching, and later in mercantile pursuits, and continued in that business until 1868. At the same time he was reading law, and in Feb., 1868, he was admitted to the bar in Booneville before Hon. J. G. Jones, judge of the circuit court. He commenced the practice of his profession at Newburg, Warrick county, where he remained a short time, then returned to Booneville and engaged in practice until 1873. In the winter of that year he moved to Danville, Ill., and in the following spring came to Joplin. Judge Spencer was married in Boonville, Ind., Dec. 22, 1864, to Miss Mary M., daughter of B. N. and Sarah J. (Perigo) Bates, of that city. Mrs. S. was born in Booneville, Sept. 19, 1847. From this union there are six children, all living: Arthur E., born Oct. 3, 1868, in Newburgh, Ind.; Clifton B., born May 22, 1871, in Booneville, Ind.; Herbert G., born May 27, 1873, also in Booneville! ; Helen M., born May 15, 1875, in Joplin, Mo.: Mary G., Born Jan. 31, 1878, in Joplin; and Curran C., born Feb. 6, 1882, in this city. Mrs. S. is a member of the M. E. Church. In the fall of 1874 our subject was elected judge of the court of common pleas, and served until that court was abolished by act of the legislature. In 1876 he was elected prosecuting attorney for Jasper county, and in the fall of 1881 was elected mayor of the city, and re-elected in 1882. Judge Spencer is a man of great energy and enterprise, is always ready and willing to contribute for the up-building of public institutions, and promote the interests of the state and county, and particularly of Joplin. He is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. Our subject and his amiable wife have a very pleasant home on the corner of Fifth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of all with whom they are associated, socially or otherwise. 
- Bob Page -