Biography of Richard Spensley Source History of Jo Daviess County -- 1904 SPENSLEY, RICHARD, one of the pioneers of the lead-mining region,was born in Yorkshire, England, May 19, 1805, and on April 24, 1824, he was united in marriage with Alice Bonson, a native of the same place. Twelve children were born to this union, six boys and six girls, eleven of whom reached maturity and five still survive, namely: Hon. James Spensley, of Mineral Point, Wis.; R. M. Spensley, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Jo Daviess County, Ill.; Alice A. Bailey, of Black Hawk, Colo.; Ellen Gray, wife of John J. Gray, and Judge William Spensley of Galena. Mr. Spensley received such an education as the schools of Yorkshire then afforded, which was but meager. His early life was spent in the lead and coal mines of his native county, and for several years he held the responsible position of banksman in the famous Barnsley coal mines in that county. Being impressed with the better opportunities offered for a man in his condition in the United States, in the year 1839, with his wife and family, then consisting of six children. he emigrated to this country, crossing the ocean in a sailing-vessel which was six weeks on the way. Landing in New York he went by canal to Buffalo, thence across the lakes to Chicago and from thence by team to Dubuque, Iowa, Mr. Spensley himself walking the entire distance from Chicago to Dubuque. He erected a log cabin near the city of Dubuque, in which he and his family lived for many years enduring all the hardships and privations incident to a pioneer life. By industry and frugality, he accumulated what would now be considered a pittance, but at that time was considered a fair sum of money, and in 1852 purchased what was then known as the Blair lead smelting furnace on the Sinsinawa River in the township of Vinegar Hill, Jo Daviess County, Ill., about five miles north of Galena, and removed there with his family. Here he prosecuted the lead-mining and smelting business with marked success until advancing years admonished him to cease active business, when he sold out to his sons and, with his wife, moved to the city of Galena, to spend their declining years. His wife died Aug. 24, 1887, in the eighty-second year of her age. Mr. Spensley was a man of splendid physique, standing over six feet, straight as an arrow and weighing about 240 pounds. He was a man of great force of character, of deep religious convictions, never knowingly wronged a human being and always possessed the entire confidence of his neighbors and the business community. Early in life he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and retained his membership in this church to the end of his life. In politics he was originally a Whig, and when that party disappeared he united with the Republican party and, up to the date of his death, advocated its principles. He never sought political preferment, although there were few offices within the gift of his neighbors that he could not have had for the asking. Knowing the benefits of an education, the common schools always had his ardent support. Born under a monarchy, he yet believed in the right of man to govern himself, and while he loved the land of his birth much, he loved the land of his adoption more. He detested the institution of slavery. On the 24th of November, 1892, without a struggle or a pain, "he was gathered to his fathers" in the eighty-eighth year of his age. It can truthfully be said of him, that he went to his grave in full age like a shock of corn fully ripe in its season. ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dori Leekley