BIOGRAPHY: Edwin F. SPENCER, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 471-2
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EDWIN F. SPENCER, a prosperous druggist of Hastings and a man of successful 
business experience, is one of the active republican workers of Cambria county. 
He is a son of David S. and Margaret (Miller) Spencer, and was born at 
Williamsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1853. The Spencer family, 
now numerously represented in the Middle and New England States, are all 
descended from an Englishman who came to America in 1773, locating in Maine.
     Robert Spencer, who was the grandfather of Edwin F. Spencer, removed from 
Maine to Blair county about 1811. He had received a good education, and was 
engaged in teaching school in Huntingdon and Blair counties for over forty 
years. Robert Spencer was born in what is now the State of Maine, and held 
membership acceptably in the Presbyterian church for many years before his 
death. He wedded Mary Spencer, a native of Maine, and their children were: 
William J., a traveling salesman, of Williamsburg, Blair county; David S., and 
Mary, who is deceased.
     David S. Spencer started in life as a canal-man, and in 1856 learned 
carpentering, which he followed, in connection with contracting and building, up 
to 1862, in which year he enlisted in the service of his country and served 
three years. After this he served for two years as a foreman on a Missouri 
railroad, then returned to Williamsburg, and shortly afterwards removed to 
Jamesville, Clearfield county, his present place of residence. He retired from 
contracting and building as an active business in 1881. He is an active member 
of the Methodist church, with which he has been connected for the last forty 
years and in which he has served as a steward for over thirty years. He is a 
republican politically. Mr. Spencer married Margaret Miller, whose father, John 
Miller, was a resident of near Jamesville, in Clearfield county. To their union 
were born the following children: Mary, Edwin F., Milton, editor of the Spangler 
Sentinel; William, died early; Orville, a carpenter of Toledo, Ohio; Nellie, 
wife of H. M. Neff, of Hastings; Bessie, married John S. Glunt, of the city of 
Altoona; Kirby, now dead; Grace, wife of Westley James, of South Fork; Cora, 
Maggie and Rawley, now deceased; and three others, who died in infancy.
     Edwin F. Spencer received his education in the Blair county common schools 
and the Williamsburg academy. Leaving farm work at fifteen years of age, he 
drove from Jamesville to Tyrone city, and then learned, with his father, the 
trade of carpenter, which he followed for seventeen years. The last ten years of 
that time he was engaged in contracting and building, and erected most of the 
houses built from 1876 to 1886 in Reade and White townships. In 1876 he had 
opened undertaking and furniture establishments at Glasgow and Coalport, which 
he disposed of in 1889 to come to Hastings and take personal charge of his 
present drug store, which he had purchased from B. A. Nelson in 1884. His drug 
store is in the Wyland block, and he has built up a fine patronage. Mr. Spencer 
is prominent in beneficial societies. He is a member of the junior Order of 
United American Mechanics, Glen Hope Lodge, No. 659, I.O.O.F.; Summit Lodge, No. 
312, F. and A. M., of Ebensburg, of which he served as worshipful master for 
four years; and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, of which he is a past noble 
chief. He also served as deputy district grand master in 1893 of the district in 
which his castle is situated.
     Edwin F. Spencer is a staunch republican in politics, and has been active 
in the interests of his party in Cambria county for over twenty years. He served 
his borough for six years as a member and the secretary of its school board, and 
was a councilman for three years. In May, 1896, after one of the hardest 
political battles ever fought in Cambria county, he received the nomination for 
county treasurer, and was elected.
     On July 29, 1872, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage with Ettie Megahan, 
daughter of William Megahan, of Williamsburg, Blair county. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer 
have had three children, a son and two daughters: William, deceased; Minerva and 
Leona.
     In business Mr. Spencer is energetic and wide-awake, and has made a 
successful record. A representative business man and an influential factor in 
politics, he is courteous and congenial, and has the good-will and confidence of 
all who know him.