Charles L. Spencer
The biographer knows of no better epitome of the life work and of the services to this community of the late Charles L. Spencer than that contained in the closing paragraphs of the memorial resolutions adopted by the Greene County Bar Association and presented to Mr. Spencer's widow and daughter following the death of that lamented gentleman in the spring of 1917. The members of the committee which prepared these resolutions, M. J. Hartley, H. L. Smith and W. F. Trader, were fellow attorneys of the departed member of the Bar Association and the words which they framed to meet the call of the association bear the stamp of sincerity and loving fellow feeling that cannot be mistaken. After reviewing Mr. Spencer's busy life from the days of his boyish struggles to obtain an education which would fit him for that position in life to which he felt he was entitled and for which he felt he was innately qualified, these resolutions continue:
In these years he enjoyed a large and varied practice of the law in both the state and federal courts, acting as counsel in many important cases. He was a most industrious and indefatigable worker on his cases. While he was slow and deliberate in forming judgment or reaching conclusion, yet when he made a decision or formed a theory he was most tenacious as to that justice of his cause, and if defeated at first he rarely abandoned a case until it was determined by the court of last resort. He was an efficient and capable lawyer in counsel and as an advocate before the court and was effective and forceful in the application of the law.
In the laws of real estate, wills, taxation and corporations he was deeply versed, as the records of this court bear witness to the many litigated questions concerning these subjects in which he was counsel. His experience and ability in business and business affairs were prominent and useful to him in the practice of the law.
He lived the life of the ideal lawyer. His large library in his office and his extensive collection of books on many topics in his home testify to his love of learning.
His early life on the farm, his struggle for a higher education, his experience as a teacher, his happy home Hfe surrounded by his books, his extensive law practice, his activities in the business world, his devotion to the college of his youth and constant work for and support of his church, his services in behalf of the Law Library Association, and finally his decline and peaceful passing after but a few hours of illness, with his family about him and his life's work finished, together constitute a type of life peculiar to this country; not unusual, but which novelists love to depict and pulicists to portray, as illustrative of American life at its best.
We shall miss his deliberate walk, his thoughtful speech, his cheerful and pleasant greetings for his fellow members, his slow and measured arguments in court—the daily contact, all with regret, but with the reflection that he lived life to its fullness and completed his task; a life of industry, varied in activeness and of unusual contact with people of affairs.
To the family we extend the sympathy of the bar and request that this memorial be spread on the minutes of this court and a copy sent to his widow and daughter.
Charles L. Spencer was a native of Ohio, born in the city of Newark on April 4, 1848, a son of Newton and Lucinda J. (Trickey) Spencer, the former a native of New York state, born in Herkimer county in January, 1816, but who was reared in Oswego county, that state, whence, at the age of eighteen years, he came to Ohio and located in Licking county, where he became variously employed, eventually becoming the operator of a grist and saw-mill and later of a stone quarry. In 1846, in that county, Newton Spencer was united in marriage to Lucinda J. Trickey. whose parents had come to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and ten years later, in 1856, moved with his family to Iowa and settled on a farm in Decatur county, that state, where he and his wife spent their last days, his death occurring there in 1890, he then being seventy-four years of age, and hers, in 1901, she having been eighty years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of six children, of whom but three reached the age of maturity, the subject of this memorial sketch having had a brother, Albert G. Spencer, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a sister, Mrs. Mary F. Hampton, of Van Wert. Iowa, the latter of whom now alone survives.
Charles L. Spencer was but eight years of age when his parents moved from Ohio to Iowa and on the pioneer home farm in this latter state he grew to manhood, one hundred and fifty miles from a railroad and with but few school privileges, but in a community of fine and intelligent people. Although able to attend school but a few months in a year, he read every book he could obtain in the sparsely settled community and thus gradually grew in wisdom. Among these books was Chapin's "Duties of Young Men," which so stimulated his ambition to seek a way to further education and culture that he determined to secure the benefit of schooling at any sacrifice of self, and at the age of eighteen he returned to the state of his nativity and entered Ohio \Vesleyan University, having been able to make an arrangement whereby he could work his way through college. Five years later, in 1872, his course having been impeded by the necessities of working for the funds requisite to the completion of the course, he was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, to which his alma mater later added the degree of Master of Arts. Having determined upon the legal profession as a calling, Mr. Spencer, within a month after leaving college, began the study of law in the office of English & Baldwin at Columbus, Ohio. He had been teaching school as a means to obtaining funds for his college course and the winter following his entrance into the law office taught another term. In the fall of 1873 he was appointed to the position of principal of the Xenia high school and there and then formed associations and friendships which he held dear to the end of his life, from that time regarding Xenia as his home. During the periods of his vacations Mr. Spencer continued his study of the law and at the close of the school year in 1875 went to Cincinnati, where he finished his reading in the office of Noyes & Lloyd and was admitted to the practice of law by the supreme court of Ohio in October of that year. In the following January he was offered a partnership in the office of the late Judge James E. Hawes at Xenia and accepted the same, that relation continuing for a year. In 1878 Mr. Spencer formed a partnership with W. J. Alexander which continued until 1884, during which period, 1881-82, he served as prosecuting attorney for Greene county. In the latter part of 1886 Mr. Spencer entered into a partnership with the late John Little, under the firm style of Little & Spencer, which arrangement continued until the death of Mr. Little in the fall of 1900, after which Mr. Spencer maintained his office alone, continuing actively engaged in practice, with offices in the Allen building, until his death, which occurred on April 5, 1917. Mr. Spencer was a member of the Greene County Law Library Association and was librarian of the same at the time of his death. He was for several years secretary and assistant manager of the Field Cordage Company and had interests in other local concerns. He was for many years county and city school examiner. In his political views he was a stanch Republican, but never would respond to the overtures of his friends in the way of seeking public office. For years he was a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal church and was for many years a teacher in the Sunday school of the same.
On December 24, 1885, at Xenia, Charles L. Spencer was united in marriage to Luella Currie, who was born in that city, a daughter of Andrew H. and Lavina (Forbes) Currie, and to that union was born one child, a daughter, Anna. Both Mrs. Spencer and her daughter have taken an active part in the missionary work and in the Sunday school work of the First Methodist Episcopal church and in the work of the Young Women's Christian Association. Miss Anna Spencer was graduated from the Xenia high school and from Ohio Wesleyan University and for several years was engaged as a teacher in the high school at Hope, Indiana, until her recent marriage to Orin G. Ledbetter, who is connected with the Firestone Tire Company of Akron, Ohio.
Mrs. Spencer's father, Andrew H. Carrie, who is still living, making his home with his daughter in Xenia, was born in this county on November 14, 1831, and is therefore now past eighty-six years of age. He is of Scotch stock and his parents, James and Mary Currie, came to this county from Rockbridge county, Virginia, in the days of the pioneers. The latter was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was but twelve years of age when she came to the United States with her parents. James Currie was a farmer and after a residence of years in this county moved over into Indiana, where his last days were spent. His wife died in this county. After his marriage to Lavina Forbes, Andrew H. Currie established his home in Xenia and has ever since lived there. His wife died in January, 1913, she then being eighty years of age. For more than sixty years Mr. Currie has been a teacher in the Sunday school of the First Methodist Episcopal church. He also for many years served as a member of the board of trustees of the church. To him and his wife were born six children, one of whom died in infancy, the others besides Mrs. Spencer being Kate, widow of G. M. Landaker, who, with her daughter Katharine, is now making her home with Mrs. Spencer; Anna, who married J. F. Orr and resides at Kansas City, Missouri; Emma, wife of Charles Orr, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Walter, who is with the Kelly Cordage Company at Xenia.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918