Biography of Thomas Spencer, Colbert, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/colbert/bios/tspencer.txt ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Edward Vengrouskie Mary Hudson ================================================================================= November 1998 Thomas Spencer (1833-1898) by Edward F. Vengrouskie Permission given by Edward Vengrouskie for the USGenWeb to publish on the internet. Thomas Spencer (1833-1898) Thomas Spencer was born in Tennessee (currently investigating exact location) in 1833. Some time between 1845 and 1850, Thomas and George Spencer (brother) came to Point Smith (later Riverton), Alabama. At the time of the 1850 census Thomas and George Spencer were listed living with A.E. Spencer, his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Becky. The 1850 census listed A.E. Spencer age 26; Elizabeth age 26: Becky age 1; George age 15; Thomas age 17). By the 1860 census, Thomas Spencer was recorded as living in Chickasaw (name changed from Point Smith), his occupation was listed as farmer. His family consisted of Mary Elizabeth (wife) (married in 1853), one son William Sylvester Spencer (born in 1856) and one daughter Elizabeth Fannie Spencer (born in 1858). From the 1870 state census, Thomas Spencer is found still living in Chickasaw, his occupation was still listed a farmer, but his family had grown significantly. He was still married to Mary Elizabeth age 33, William Sylvester Spencer (son) age 14, Elizabeth Fannie Spencer (daughter) age 11, Mary Spencer (daughter) age 9, Ellen Spencer (daughter) age 6 and Sarah Spencer (daughter) age 3. Even though there was a Yellow Fever epidemic that ravaged the North Alabama area from 1878-1879, no immediate Thomas Spencer family member was affected. By 1880 there were some changes to the Thomas Spencer family. There was one addition to the family, Julia Spencer (daughter) age 7, and Mary Spencer (daughter) left the house and married a Wallis. The 1880 censuses listed the Thomas Spencer household as; Thomas, Mary Elizabeth, William (son): Elizabeth Fannie (daughter): Ellen (daughter): Sarah (daughter) and Julia (daughter). On February 18, 1882, Mary Elizabeth Spencer, wife of Thomas Spencer, died and was buried in the Riverton Cemetery. Around 1885, Thomas Spencer was granted a charter from Colbert and Lauderdale counties to operate a Public Ferry across the Tennessee River from Chickasaw to Waterloo, Alabama. The Public Ferry was a prosperous business, and by 1890 (the boom days of Riverton), Thomas Spencer built, owned, and operated the handsome Spencer Hotel, the largest and the most handsome hotel for miles around Riverton. On March 20, 1897, the Tennessee River reached the highest mark in history. The Thomas Spencer House received extensive water damage and lost 250 bushels of corn. Only six days later, on the night on March 26, 1897, The Spencer Hotel caught fire and was damaged extensively. It was later discovered that hot cinder chips started the fire from the smoke stakes in Sheffield (furnaces) 15 miles up river. Some time between 1885 and 1898 (date unknown) Thomas Spencer married Ruth Davis. On May 23, 1898 Thomas Spencer wrote his last Will and Testament. On July 29, 1989 Thomas Spencer passed away and was put to rest in the Riverton Cemetery next to his first wife Mary Elizabeth Spencer. By 1900 census, Ruth Davis Spencer had remained in Riverton, Alabama living in the Thomas Spencer House. Elizabeth Fannie Wallis, oldest daughter of Thomas Spencer was also living in the household along with Thomas Davis, grandson of Ruth Davis Spencer.