Biography of William Spensley Source History of Jo Daviess County -- 1904 SPENSLEY, WILLIAM was born in Dubuque County, Iowa. His parents were English, having emigrated to the United States in 1829. He was reared to manhood in the township of Vinegar Hill, Jo Daviess County, Ill., where, during the winter months he attended the common school and, in the summer worked for his father who was engaged in the smelting business. For two terms he attended Platteville Academy, located at Platteville, Wis., but did not graduate. In the year 1864 he began the study of law in the office of the late E. A. Small, then a. leading lawyer in the city of Galena, was admitted to the bar on the 27th of January, 1866, and at once opened an office in Galena. On June 4, 186S, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Low. Six children were born to this union, four of whom survive, namely: Jessie E., Harriet A., William R. and Mary E. In 1873 he was elected County Judge of Jo Daviess County, Ill., serving in that position four years, but declined a re-election and has ever since devoted himself to his profession. In politics he has always been a Republican and, in 1888, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, which nominated Benjamin Harrison for President. In religious matters he has always cast his lot with the Methodist Episcopal Church. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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