Columbia County OR Archives Biographies.....Spencer, Israel P. June 3, 1844 - November 8, 1922 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 10, 2010, 11:25 am Source: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company Author: The History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 256 - 257 The late Israel P. Spencer, of Vernonia, Oregon, whose death, on November 8, 1922, was deeply regretted by all who knew him, was one of the substantial and influential citizens of Columbia county. He was a man of sterling character and dependable qualities and to a notable degree commanded the confidence and respect of his fellowmen. Mr. Spencer was born in New York state on the 3d of June, 1844, and was a son of Job and Wealthy E. Spencer, both of whom were natives and lifelong residents of the east. He received his educational training in the public schools of his home state and on August 6, 1862, enlisted in the United States army for service in the Civil war. On September 26th of that year he was musterd into Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He participated in twenty-six battles and was wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Bentonville, North Carolina. At the close of the war he returned to New York but soon afterward went to Michigan and he worked on a farm near Detroit for a Mr. Skidmore. He remained in that state until 1875, when he came to Oregon, traveling overland to San Francisco, California, and thence by steamboat to Portland. Later in that year he came to the Nehalem valley and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres at what is now Vernonia, Columbia county. This land was heavily covered with timber; and his first act was to build a small house of split cedar boards, in which he laid a puncheon floor. In the course of time he succeeded in clearing a goodly portion of the land, planted a good orchard, and devoted his attention mainly to the raising of cattle, sheep and hogs. He was also a successful raiser of vegetables, as the soil was rich and well adapted to garden products. Later he built a good eight-room house, a commodious barn and other farm buildings and made many substantial improvements which added to the value of the ranch. He continued the operation of that place until 1920, when he moved to Vernonia, where he bought a good home and there lived until his death About 1872, in Michigan, Mr. Spencer married Miss Elvira Skidmore, a daughter of the gentleman for whom he was then working, and to them was born one child, now Mrs. Emily Richard, of Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Spencer died in 1873 and, on June 3, 1880, Mr. Spencer was married to Mrs. Sarah A. (Tindle) Gillahan, who was born in Cedar county, Missouri„ and is a daughter of William and Lucinda (Hinds) Tindle. Her parents were born in Tennessee and died in Missouri. Of the nine children born to them, three are living, namely: David, who resides in Texas; Sarah A., now Mrs. Spencer; and Joseph, who lives in Springfield, Missouri. Mrs. Spencer was educated in the public schools of her native state and in 1870 came to Oregon with her first husband, Martin Gillahan, who located on Sauvies island. Later he took up a homestead in Clark county, Washington, and died there in 1872. To that union was born a daughter, Mrs. Bertha Malmsten, who now lives at Seaside, Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Spencer were born four children, as follows: Omar, born on the old homestead at Vernonia, received his early education in the district school and University Park school in Portland, after which he entered the law school of Leland Stanford University, from which he was graduated. He is now engaged in practice with the well known law firm of Carey & Kerr, in Portland. A member of the Masonic order, he has passed through the chairs, and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is married and has three children, Helen, John H. and Omar, Jr. Oral lives in Portland. Margaret is the wife of Thomas Throop, of Vernonia, and they have four children, Dorothy, May DeEtt, Via and Rachel Rebecca. Robert, who owns and operates a farm at Vernonia, is married and has three children, Elna, Ben M. and Ethel. Mr. Spencer was a stanch republican in his political views and was greatly interested in the welfare of his community and county. He served four years as a member of the board of county commissioners and several years as a justice of the peace at Vernonia. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of John Bucher Post No. 70, G. A. R., of which he was at one time commander. A man of kindly and generous impulses, liberal in his support of all worthy benevolent causes, and cordial and unaffected in manner, he long held a warm place in the hearts of his fellowmen and had a host of loyal friends who esteemed him as one of the community's best citizens. He was a keen observer of men and events and wrote an interesting account of pioneer days in the Nehalem valley, which will be found in the historical portion of this work. Mrs. Spencer owns one hundred and twenty acres of the old homestead, which adjoins the town of Vernonia and which is leased for dairy purposes. She is actively interested in Club, civic and church work and is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, the Daughters of Rebekah, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the Woman's Missionary Society and the Grange, and her religious connection is with the Evangelical church at Vernonia. She is a woman of many gracious qualities of character and because of her kindly and tactful manner is beloved by all who know her. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/columbia/photos/bios/spencer1028gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/columbia/bios/spencer1028gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb