"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1432. JEFFERSON D. SPENCER Is carrying on an extensive wood and hay business in Eugene, thus becoming a leading factor in the commercial life of the city. He will be set down when the history of this county is written as one of the chief developers of its agricultural resources. No tiller of the soil has applied greater intelligence and practical good sense to the conduct of large agricultural projects. Keeping well abreast of that army of workers around whom centers the strength of the entire country, he has uncomplainingly struggled to the front, philosophically regarding the obstacles which confront the toilers of earth, and inspiring others with his own contagious good will and enthusiasm. His career may be taken as typical of the man who succeeds in what he sets out to do, and, having succeeded, is not only rich in this world's goods, but rich in amiable and helpful traits of character. S. H. Spencer, the father of Jefferson D., was born in St. Charles county, Mo., and when a comparatively young man lost his first wife, who left him a son, John, who died in eastern Oregon. His second wife, Mahala Smith, was born in Missouri, and became the mother of eleven children, six of whom attained maturity and five are still living. Two of these children were born in the state of Missouri, and with these, and his wife, Mr. Spencer started across the plains in 1854, taking with him, as a nucleus for stock-raising in the west, a large band of cattle. A comparatively pleasant journey rewarded the courage of the travelers, and the father took up a claim on the Mohawk, which, however, proved most unsatisfactory. Later he removed to the claim of three hundred and twenty acres three miles northeast of Irving, which is still in the family, and where his death occurred in 1890. His cattle proved of practical worth to him in his new home, and he not only started a large stock business here, but drove a number of them to the mines during the excitement in California, receiving large prices for them, and thus getting quite a start toward competency. Daniel Taylor, his oldest son, died in Heppner in 1883; Mary is the wife of L. H. Wheeler and lives on the old place; Eliza and Jennie and J. D. live in Lane county; and S. S. is teller of the First National Bank in Eugene. Following close upon his course at the university of Oregon, J. D. Spencer went to Alsea Bay, on the coast, and built the store in which he conducted a general merchandise business four and a half years. Selling out after experiencing fair success, he purchased a farm of four hundred and forty acres one mile west of Irving, all of which was improved land, and upon which he engaged in the grain and hay business on a large scale. Success followed him from year to year, his crops, with few exceptions, being uniformly excellent in quality and abundant in quantity. In October, 1902, Mr. Spencer purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres four miles east of Irving for $8,000, and soon after disposed of two hundred and thirty acres for $7,400, leaving for his own use ninety acres of finely improved land. With his large store of experience in dealing with hay, and a practical knowledge of the wood output of the state, he determined to retire from active farming and engage in a wholesale and retail hay and wood business in Eugene. Thus, in March following the purchase of his last farm, he bought four acres of land on Blair street, and in 1903 erected a barn 60 x 90 feet ground dimensions, and with forty-foot posts, the peak of the barn being fifty feet above the ground. With a capacity of four hundred cords of wood, and a hay capacity of three hundred and sixty tons, he contemplates doing a large and remunerative business. Mr. Spencer has kept in touch with the progress of the world in general while superintending his large country interests, and is one of the well informed and practical workers in a prolific field of activity. He has found time to participate in church and social life, and actively to support the cause of Prohibition. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and supports the charities conducted by that worthy organization. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge. He is popular and successful, and has exerted a strong influence for morality and the practical and substantial in business life. He was married, in Portland, to Clara Bond, who was born in the vicinity of Irving, the daughter of Hon. Allen Bond, a pioneer of 1849. Mr. Bond was a farmer and merchant during his active life, was prominent in Republican politics in the west, and served in the state senate one term. His death occurred in 1902. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, Cecil Bond and Doris Rachael. Transcriber's additional notes: CENSUS 1850, August 15; St. Charles Co, MO; District 78, p 35 Septimus Spencer, 27, MO, farmer, $3000 real estate Mahala, 26, MO John R, 6, MO Daniel F, 3, MO Elina F, 9/12, MO 1860, August 3; Lane Co, OR; Brices Pct, Eugene PO, p 228 S. H. Spencer, 38, MO, farmer, $2500 / $4000 Mahala, 34, MO, house wife John R, 16, MO, att. school Daniel, 12, MO, att. school Mary E, 6, MO, att. school Eliza L, 3, OR Jane L, 2, OR 1870, July 13; Lane Co, OR; Lancaster Pct, p 493 S. H. Spencer, 48, MO, farmer, $4,700 / $1,106 Mahalia, 44, MO, keeping house, father foreign born Mary E, 16, MO, 9, att. school Eliza L, 13, OR, att. school Jenny Linn, 12, OR, att. school Jeff Davis, 9, OR, att. school Septemius, 4, OR, att. school 1880, June 18; Lane Co, OR; Irving, p 226 S. H. Spencer, 58, MO, farmer Mahala, wife, 57, MO, keeping house Mary E, dau, 26, MO, at home Eliza Lee, dau, 23, OR, att. school Jenny Lind, dau, 21, OR, att. school Jefferson D, son, 19, OR, att. school Septimus S, son, 14, OR, att. school 1900, June 16; Lane Co, OR; Irving, p 67 Jefferson D. Spencer, 38, June 1861, OR, MO, MO, mar 15 yrs, farmer Clara F, wife, 35, Jan 1865, OR, VA, IN, mar 15 yrs, 2 children-2 living Cecil B, son, 7, Feb 1893, OR, OR, OR, att. school Doris R, dau, 2, Feb 1897, OR, OR, OR 1910, April 22; Lane Co, OR; North Eugene Pct, p 226, 224 Blair st. Jefferson D. Spencer, 48, OR, MO, MO, mar 25 yrs, farmer, orchard, owns farm free Clara B, wife, 44, OR, IN, IN, mar 25 yrs, 2 children-2 living Cecil B, son, 17, OR, OR, OR, att. school Doris R, dau, 12, OR, OR, OR, att. school 1920, January 15; Lane Co, OR; Eugene Wd 3, p 197, 394 Blair st. Jefferson D. Spencer, 58, OR, MO, MO, fruit farmer Clara B, wife, 54, OR, VA, IN ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.