The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-10-07
The Weekly Register.
ONT PLEASANT, WEST VIRGINIA
Death OF Mr.. william $. spen.

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death"
The burial Of William S. Spencer
on Sunday last bore testimony
10 how a whole community could
sincerely bow its head in grief to
that strange and inscrulable dis.
pensalion Of Providence that ord
ers the affairs and destiny Of men.
Will, was born in Missouri on
the 18th day of March, 1862. His
father Joseph Spencer, of Park.
ersburg, West Virginia, had moved
to Missouri several years before the
war. The war came on, Missouri,
at least that partin which he lived,
became the theatre Of lawlessness
and crime, and in consequence Of
which state Of affairs, his father
returned, with his family to Park.
ersburg and resumed the practice
Of the law, which he had abandon.
ed on account of his ill health
His assiduity and labor in his pro.
fession at last overcame him and in
1857 he was called away. HO left
q wife and two boys, who came TO
Mason courtyard resided with their
mothers brother, Mr.. John W.
steenbergen's, until they moved TO
this place.
Will attended school here and
also at the Episcopal High School,
near Alexandra, Virginia, and in
his school life mastered his stud
les by that strength of mind and
perseverance,, that Characterizes
andmakes, what men call genius"
His energy and ambition soon
called him into an active and use
full life. Before he had attained
his majority, he became associa
ted in the mercantile business in
this place, with Messrs. Albert
McCowu and L. Sehon, under the
firm name of McCUwn, Spencer &
Co., assuccessors to the well known
firm ofsetszer, Srhon & McCullOch.
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Sehon dis.
posed Of his interest in the firm
McCown and Will becoming the
purchasers and thus the sole own.
ers Of the establishment.
The early education and train.
ing Of the boy soon was manifest.
Possessed of noble traits Of charac.
ter he could not help succeeding in
his business. Full of energy, gen
tie and kind to all whom ho met,
he was rapidly laying the foundp-
tiOns Of splendid character ard
great usefulness. Strange that
such life should GO out SO soonI
He seemed " discern almost in.
tuitively what he should do and
what was for the best. The Knights
Of Honor established u chapter here.
He united with them, and was at
the time of his death the chief of.
ticer of their Lodge, though its
youngest member, A few months
ago he became a Master Mason
He was often heard to express his
admiration for the principles Of
that Ancient order. The rules and
ceremonies Of the order only gave
him knowledge of its mysteries, for
he was by natural gift Mason
The dawnings Of his character re.
vsaled warmth and love and char.
ity Of heart and soul which are the
exponents Of true Masonic life
But these qualities were not per
mitted to expand as he doubtless
would have developed and enlarged
them. On last Wednesday week
he was taken i'll at the residence Of
his uncle ]. W. Steenbergen. He
remained their till the following
Wednesday when he was able to
come home. Apparently better,
none thought death was so near
him.
Thursday evening he became
worse and Friday just afternoon he
peacefully died. Manly in life, he
was courageous in death. He
thought it hard todie so young, but
without repining at the sudden
termination of his hopes and aspir.
atoms, wrapping the mantle of his
couch about him, he slept with his
fathers.
DA.oNr1to,. . n--