Smith County, Texas

James William SPENCER was born April 14, 1861 in Eudora, DeSoto Co., Mississippi, the son of Josaih Martin SPENCER and Arminta GATON. He married Nina Lucy BROOKS, May 01, 1885 who was born April 19, 1867, daughter of John BROOKS, in Alabama. Her parents and relatives died of yellow fever and she was raised by Dr. and Mrs. Burleson Staten in Dakota, Alabama. James and Nina lived in DeSoto County, Mississippi until about 1889. After the births of their first two children they then moved by train to the community of Rock Bluff, Texas. After February 1897, the family then moved to Beaukies in Lee County, Texas near the Yequa River. After February 1904, they moved by covered wagon back to Rock Bluff. In 1911, the J.W. Spencer family moved to Arp, Smith County, Texas.

Children of James SPENCER and Nina BROOKS are:

• 1. John "Johnnie" Lee SPENCER, b. January 21, 1886, DeSoto Co., Mississippi; d. April 10, 1962, Smith Co., Texas. He married Willie B. SIMMONS. They are buried in the Mason Cemetery - Arp, Smith Co., Texas.
• 2. Mary Arminta SPENCER, b. September 25, 1888, DeSoto Co., Mississippi; d. April 30, 1957, Smith Co., Texas. She married Rev. Frank D. PETTIS. They are buried in the Mason Cemetery - Arp, Smith Co., Texas.
• 3. Marshall Elliott SPENCER, b. December 24, 1890, Rock Bluff, Texas; d. December 18, 1969, Smith Co., Texas. He married Ollie Mae HODGES. They are buried in the Mason Cemetery - Arp, Smith Co., Texas.
• 4. Ida Maud SPENCER, b. May 06, 1893, Rock Bluff, Texas; d. May 06, 1893, Rock Bluff, Texas.
• 5. Joseph "Joe" Burleson SPENCER, b. July 30, 1894, Rock Bluff, Texas; d. August 09, 1963, Smith Co., Texas. He married Iva L. They are buried in the Mason Cemetery - Arp, Smith Co., Texas.
• 6. Susie Byrd SPENCER, b. February 10, 1897, Rock Bluff, Texas; d. Abt. 1902. She died of Meningitis at the age of five.
• 7. William Elijah "Bill" SPENCER, b. May 21, 1899, Beaukies, Lee Co., Texas; d. December 22, 1982, Texas. Alice Lavirta DORSETT. They are buried in the Mason Cemetery - Arp, Smith Co., Texas.
• 8. James David SPENCER, b. October 06, 1902, Beaukies, Lee Co., Texas; d. October 06, 1902, Beaukies, Lee Co., Texas.
• 9. Charlie Columbus SPENCER, b. February 05, 1904, Beaukies, Lee Co., Texas; d. December 21, 1968, Naples, Morris Co., Texas. He married (1) Lonnie Olivia HILL, (2) Bargie Alna NICHOLAS, (3) Leona M. SPENCER. He is buried in the Naples Cemetery - Naples, Morris Co., Texas.
• 10. Ira Thomas SPENCER, b. February 13, 1906, Rock Bluff, Texas; d. July 19, 1925, Smith Co., Texas. He is buried in the Mason Cemetery - Arp, Smith Co., Texas
• 11. George Douglas SPENCER, b. March 19, 1910, Rock Bluff, Comanche Co., Texas; d. November 24, 1981, Smith Co., Texas; He married CORA MAE HILL. He is buried in the Mason Cemetery - Arp, Smith Co., Texas. They had no children.

James died August 06, 1926 in Smith Co., Texas. In 1915 Nina, a homemaker, resided at Route 1 - Arp, Smith Co., Texas - Prec. 3.. Nina died January 23, 1949 in Smith Co., Texas. They are buried in the Mason Cemetery, Arp, Smith Co., Texas

Josiah Martin SPENCER was born December 01, 1826 in Gibson Co., Tennessee, to Elijah SPENCER and Elizabeth ALEXANDER, and died February 08, 1908 in Jayton, Kent Co., Texas. The family moved to Texas in 1892.

Josiah married first Arminta GATON December 23, 1857 in DeSoto Co., Mississippi. She was born 1828 in South Carolina, and died 1861 in DeSoto Co., Mississippi.

Children of Josiah SPENCER and Arminta GATON are:

• 1. Elizabeth Ann SPENCER, She married Joe ELLIOTT.
• 2. James William SPENCER, b. April 14, 1861, Eudora, DeSoto Co., Mississippi; d. August 06, 1926, Smith Co., Texas. He married Nina Lucy BROOKS

Josiah married second Mary Jane MARSHALL 1862, daughter of William MARSHALL and Elvira. She was born February 26, 1836 in Limestone Co., Alabama, and died January 09, 1914 in Jayton, Kent Co., Texas. Mary's siblings were: Columbus A., who was a lawyer in DeSoto Co., Mississippi in 1880, Thomas, Elvira , Becca, and William M. Jr.

Children of Josiah SPENCER and Mary MARSHALL are:

• 3. Elijah "Ligi" SPENCER, He married Sally Lee LESTER.
• 4. Joseph Lee SPENCER, He married Mollie E. BROWN.
• 5. Elvira Susan "Susie" SPENCER, She married REV. A. B. "Buff" THORTON.
• 6. Columbus "Lum" SPENCER, He married (1) Minnie HARRISON; (2) Janey MOBLEY.
• 7. Rebecca "Becky" Ruth SPENCER, She married J. G. "Gyp" BROUGHOON.
• 8. Nora Beatrice SPENCER, She married George HARRISON.

Heritage Book of DeSoto Co., Mississippi, By W. E. Spencer.

James Weldon Spencer.

1920 Census, Smith Co., Texas. - James Spencer 13b, John Spencer 13b - Marshall Spencer - 09a

Tombstone Inscription.

Cemetery Records, Smith County, TX, Volume IV, Southeast Quarter, East Texas Genealogical Society , 1986

Cora Mae Hill Spencer - wife of George Spencer.

State of Texas, Smith County, Death Certificate.

Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Sep 16, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.112.6.86163.5

Heritage Book of DeSoto Co., Mississippi, By Ruby Haggard.

David Spencer

Leon Spencer