Spencer Family collection

Collection

Identifier: MS-0129

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Spencer Family collection including correspondence, legal documents, local government records an architectural floor plan, and a leather document case from 1830 to 1938.

Dates

Creation: 1830-1938

Extent

1 Reels (1 microfilm reel)

Creator

Spencer, Jabez Selden, 1806-1853 (Person)
Spencer family (Family)

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of fourteen record series created during the lifetimes of Jabez Selden Spencer, his wife Sarah (Parker) Spencer and his son, Ralph G. Spencer. A biographical history taken from a 1984 reprint of the 1896 Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Putnam Counties follows this introduction.

The majority of papers within the collection were probably under the custodianship of Jabez Selden Spencer, a Justice of the Peace of Union Township, Putnam County from 1837-1841, and Putnam County Recorder from 1841-1847 and from 1849 until his death in 1853. These papers consist of duplicates of public records filed with the County and constitute agreements, accounts and injunction bond records, case files, deed records, estate administration records, lease records, personal property mortgages, partition records, and road and ditch records. The case files date form the time Jabez Selden Spencer served as Union Township Justice of the Peace. Included in these files are affidavits, bills of particulars, summons, subpoenas, and recognizance liens. Road Records consist of an 1836 agreement between the Putnam County Commissioners and Moses Lee and Samuel Parker for the opening of sections one and two of the Kalida and Lima State Road. Ditch Records consist of an 1851 agreement between the Commissioners and Abner L. And Henry N. Lemon for the digging of a ditch along the Napoleon and Kalida Free Turnpike.

Personal papers belonging to Jabez Selden Spencer include appointments, corporation records, correspondence, and property tax receipts. Of particular interest may be the corporation records which document the 1849 formation of the Kalida and California Mining Company.

Papers belonging to Sarah (Parker) Spencer include a few pieces pertaining to the administration of Jabez's estate and some property tax receipts dated after her husband's death.

Ralph G. Spencer, the fourth of Jabez and Sarah Spencer's seven children, served as the Treasurer of Putnam County from 1897-1901. Papers within the collection which can be attributed to Ralph G. Spencer include a piece of correspondence and a list of the names attached to his official's bond for County Treasurer.

Biographical / Historical

Jabez S. Spencer was born in Bolton, Connecticut, May 6, 1806, a son of Jabez S. and Charlotte (Day) Spencer, also natives of Connecticut, and of English descent. Jabez S., Jr.,...was reared to farming, was also a school-teacher in his native state and for two years in Pennsylvania, and then in Findlay, Ohio. In 1834 he came to Putnam County and entered a large tract of woodland, which he converted into a good home, and also followed teaching. October 26, 1837, he married Miss Sarah Parker, daughter of Joshua and Deborah (Couplan) Parker, the union resulting in the birth of seven children, viz.: Selden M., Lorenzo and Charlotte E., deceased; Ralph G.,...Putnam, Jabez, and Alvina A., deceased. Mrs. Sarah Spencer was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 18, 1818, her father having been a soldier in the war of 1812 and a pioneer of Knox County. Her death took place December 19, 1881. After his marriage, Jabez S. Spencer, Jr. was elected county recorder, which office he held until his death July 23, 1853; he had also served several years as justice of the peace, and in politics he was a democrat.

Ralph G. Spencer was educated in the Kalida schools and his first employment was as a clerk. April 22, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Fredericka, daughter of William and Julia (Dress) Furnham. To this union have been born five children, viz: Jabez C., born May 1, 1870 ...Pearl, who was born January 31, 1872..., Ralph G., born October 1, 1875..., Frederick, born March 24, 1878..., and Guido was born November 6, 1883...

Ralph G. Spencer after his marriage, engaged in buying and selling stock at Kalida, in addition to farming. In 1871 he and his brother Putnam embarked in mercantile business... Politically, he is a democrat, and served as township treasurer two terms and as a member of the school board a number of years...

Based on Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Putnam Counties, (1896)

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Additional Description

Existence and Location of Originals

The original collection remains in the custody of the Putnam County Historical Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Spencer Family Collection was found as a bundled set of papers encased inside a leather traveling case in a closet of the McComb School in Hancock County prior to the school's demolition. The collection was brought to the Center for Archival Collections for preservation microfilming in February of 1995.