Alexander O. Spencer
 

Many of the best farms of Boone county were made wholly by the owners thereof, little, if any assistance having been received from the parents of such owners. It is also true that a number of the largest farms were inherited, wholly or in part, from their parents. It would seem at first glance that the latter holders were the ones to be congratulated, but this is not always the case, for very often they did not receive in youth the proper training as to thrift and industry that would enable them to save and properly manage their inheritance. On the contrary it may be set down as an unqualified truth that the man who, by hard knocks made all his property, beginning as a poor boy, learned at the same time how to take care of it. To know how to save money, as well as to know how to make it, is of the greatest importance in the rearing of a boy. Such training was received by Alexander O. Spencer, one of the best known and most highly honored pioneers of Lebanon, who, after a long, active, influential and useful life in Boone county, spent in agricultural pursuits, is now living practically retired, but although he has passed his allotted mile-post of three score and ten, is still hale and hearty as a result of a well spent life, right thinking and clean habits. He has taken an active part in the general development of this favored section of the Hoosier commonwealth whose interests he has ever had at heart since taking up his residence here considerably more than a half century ago, during which period he has noted many wonderful changes hereaways.

Mr. Spencer was born October 8, 1839 on a farm in Logan county, Ohio. He is a son of Alexander and Catherine (Workman) Spencer. The father was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, and the mother was a native of Logan county, that state. In the latter the father's death occurred when in the prime of life, and in 1859 the widow removed with her children to Center township, Boone county, Indiana and established the future home of the family. The mother married again, her last husband being Edward Crosson. Her death occurred in February, 1897.

Alexander O. Spencer was reared on the farm where he worked hard when a boy, and he received his early education in the district schools of Logan county, Ohio, and attended high school two terms in Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio. After coming to Boone county he began farming for himself and here prospered through close application and good management. He is the owner of a valuable farm which he brought up to a high state of cultivation and improvement. It lies near the city of Lebanon and here he still resides having a comfortable residence and a good set of outbuildings. He has always kept an excellent grade of live stock of which he is a good judge.

Mr. Spencer was married December 5, 1861 to Martha C. Adair, a daughter of John and Eliza (Hon) Adair, a highly respected family of Boone county, they having come from Carlisle county, Kentucky here in 1852.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, namely: Ida, now the wife of William Means of Lebanon; and Frank B., who is married and lives in Indianapolis. The happy home of our subject was saddened by the death of his faithful companion on July 30, 1898.

Mr. Spencer was elected county assessor in the fall of 1910 and is now serving a term of four years, discharging his duties in a most creditable and satisfactory manner, and he also finds time to oversee his farming interests in Center township. Politically, he is a Democrat and has ever been faithful in his support of the party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Encampment and the Rebekas, joining the order forty years ago, and he has passed all the chairs in both the subordinate lodges. He is deeply interested in agricultural improvement work and is an active member of the Boone county Agricultural Society. He has been a member of the Christian church since 1862 and faithful in the work of the same, having been an elder for forty years. He has also long been active in Sunday school work, and for a number of years was superintendent of the Sunday school. In every way he merits the respect and good will which are everywhere extended to him, and is one of the valued and representative citizens of Boone county, a plain, broad-minded and honest and hospitable gentleman whom everybody likes to meet.

Submitted by: Amy K. Davis
Source: "History of Boone County, Indiana," by Hon. L. M. Crist, 1914