Biographical Sketch of Carlton W. Spicer - Andrew County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888

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Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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Carlton W. Spicer, a well-known physician of Fillmore, was born July 18,
1833, in Houndsfield, Jefferson County, N.Y.  He is the youngest of 
three sons born to William and Nancy (Paddock) Spicer, both of English
descent.  The father was born in Rhode Island in 1803.  He was a farmer
and stock dealer, and a member of the Baptist Church.  He was married
in New York, August 15, 1824.  His wife, a native of Connecticut, was
born on April 19, 1795.  About 1872 she came to Fillmore, MO., where 
she died.  The father died in Jefferson County, N.Y., in 1847.  Carlton
W. spent his juvenile days assisting his father on the farm, and re-
ceived his education in the public schools of New York.  At fourteen
years of age his father died, and he then commenced work on the home
place for an elder brother.  About 1850 he went to Janesville, Wis.,
and for a short time engaged at railroad work, then entered the employ
of a surveying contractor, and later commenced reading medicine in the
office of Dr. Grafton, at that place.  After reading eight months he 
was taken sick with typhoid fever, which left him a permanent cripple.
In November, 1854, he returned to his native State, and resumed the
study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Amos Ellis, of Clayton,
and was soon able to assist the Doctor in the practice of his
profession.  In October, 1856, he returned to Wisconsin, and was 
united in marriage with Miss Caroline R. Carver, a descendant of
Gov. Carver, of Plymouth.  Upon marrying he went back to New York to 
finish his studies, leaving his wife to care for her aged father.
Returning to Wisconsin in the spring of 1857, he managed his father-
in-law's farm for one year.  In May, 1859, he started West, accompanied
by his wife.  They reached Fillmore the September following, when he
exchanged his wagon and ox-team for a lot and cabin, where his residence
now stands.  Here he began the practice of his profession, and for 
awhile managed the drug store of Dr. J. G. Meagher.  Being a marked
Republican, in 1861 he refugeed at St. Joseph, and later enlisted in 
the United States army.  He acted as assistant surgeon of the Sixteenth
Illinois Regiment Infantry which he met in St. Joseph.  He remained with
the Sixteenth Regiment till January, and returned to Fillmore.  In
February, 1865, he joined the Fifty-first Missouri Regiment, then
stationed at St. Louis, as assistant surgeon.  He is a Swedenborgian in
faith, and his wife is a Methodist.  He is somewhat pronounced on the
liquor question, holding to what is known as the Swiss plan, that is,
that the sale of all liquors should be made by government agents, 
similar in number to our present postmasters; that all liquors should
be pure, and that they should be sold to any person for medicinal,
sacramental, chemical or mechanical purposes only; that any person
obtaining such liquors and using them for other purposes than as before
named should be held and punished as is now by law provided for persons
obtaining property under false pretenses.  He has served two terms as
president of the District Medical Society of Northwest Missouri, and 
has long been the cammander of Fillmore Post, No. 170, G. A. R.