Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-20
EX-MAy0R { {. SPENCE.
His Sudden Death Yesterday
Morning.
The Story Of Forty Years Busy Life
in California.
Early Days with Pick and Shovel in the
Alluvial Diggings-The Country
Druggist-A Financier of
State Reputation.

Ab y sOU yc5tCiuuJ phsbCo
away man who was type Of the
splendid energy which, in the past two
decades has made garden out OF des-
ert. This was ex-Mayor E. f. Spence,
whose connection with everything that
tended to make marble out Of mud, was
known to all who were familiar with the
quick and magical growth of Southern
California. He was not yet go years OF
age at the time of his death, but the
tireless brain wore out body that had,
for years past, looked stronger than it
really was. In the last few weeks he
had forsaken his beautiful home at
Monrovis, and come to town to live,
that he might be nearer to the urgent
calls of the business which his great ma
tive ability had rendered SO successful !;
and on Friday last he and his family
moved into the residence OF Mr.. Fair.
childs, on Burlington avenue and Ninth
street, where, yesterday morning in the
dark hour before the dawn, his manly
spirit took its fight across the shadowy
river.
Mr.. Spence was born in the county
Fermanagh, Ireland, Dec. %, 1882, and
therefore lacked brief period of being
80 years OF age. His early years were
full OF toilsome struggles which abated
as the twilight OF life approached and
saw him blest with the possession of
wealth that had been gained honestly
and without conspiracy against the
property OF others. He came to America
in 1851, and in the following year came
to California. He went up into Nevada
IND f1,o txroa ho-
tween Grass Valley and Woolsey's Flat,
with but moderate success, while others
rolled up fortunes and squandered them
again. Finally he tired OF the pick and
shovel and went into the drug business
in Nevada City, where he was moder-
ately successful. In 1861 he was elected
to the assembly from that county, and,
although it was his first experience in
that line, demonstrated law making abil-
ity of high order. On his return he
was made county treasurer, but declined
reelection.
By 1869 the severity of q mountain
climate had told upon his tall frame,
and bad cough warned him that ne
must seek balmier breezes and softer
skies. He removed to San Jose, where
he remained up to 1872, when the San
Diego boom caught him, and he became
one OF the climate-vendors of that city
by the border. The collapse of that
boom abated considerable of what he
had amaesed during the fever-heat of
speculation, but he came out OF it with
some money and any quantity of good
repute. In 1876 he came to this city,
recommended on all sides as straight
forward and reliable man; and from that
time to the hour of his death, he never
sustained any financial disaster. With
the accretion of wealth he amRssed
flesh likewise, and soon the angles OF
his once bony figure became obliterated.
But he WAS never sound, and his lungs
had long since been badly impaired. In
spite OF these physical drawba how
ever, his energetic nature kept him in
the front rank of dozen important and
valuable enterprises. For the past six
years he must have devoted ii hours
day to finance, and at least four more to
political matter. Most men with as
fragile constitution would have retired
from business and taken up residence
on Easy street.
Mr.. Spence was not built that way,
however His energetic nature kept
him busy till midnight at something or
other. Nor was it the mere love Of ac-
CuululdtluE WCalbh tLthu hCPb iAAh 0u VhO
drudgery of bank life at hours when
other men were driving on the road or
bathing in the surf. When not at work
he rested his mind by reading, but the
Sabbath day of the body, that we call
exercise, was neglected. A few days of
utter idleness in the mountains, with
rod or rifle, would have achieved won
ders for him in each year, but he was
deaf to the music of the babbling brooks
and soughing pines. His was an ambi-
ton to adorn and beautify the city of
his adoption, rather than the mere
amassment of wealth, but he stayed too
long in the busy marts of the world Tor
his own good. He was president of no
less than three banks at the time of his
death, any one of which chairmansbips
imposed work quite hard enough for a
man OF 40. Mr.. Spence did not die as
other men die. He simply wore out.
He was very near the summit of Mason.
ryin this state, and almost an oracle in
the doctrines of the laws Of the square
and compass. He was a member o1
Southern California Lodge 27S, F. and
A. NJ. OF Signet Chapter 55 Royal Arch
Masons; of the Ceur de Lion Com.
mandery No. 8, Knights Templar; ol
AL Malaikah Temple of the Mystic
Shrine. He was past master, past high
priest and eminentD commander of al
the grand bodies within the jurisdiction
of the mystic tie. Indeed, his last act
as mason was in connection with the
establishment of an asylum for the re-
lief of the orphans of Masons in this
state; and OF him it may truthfully be
said that he took as much pride in the
matter as if the wardenH of his time
honored order had been his own chill.
dren.
Mr.. Spence was Republican strong
in the faith, and at all times manifested
the courage OF his convictions. In 1881
he was elected mayor of this city, ane
was faithful servant. He was no
only delegate TO the Minneapolis con-
vention, last June, but was also chair
man OF the California delegation in tina
body. He was an unusually prominen
factor in that immense gathering, ant
Chauncey M. Depew and John @. New
who were the personal representatives
of Mr.. Harrison's interests on that oc-
casion, regarded him as one of thei
most trustworthy adherents. He wa
chairman OF the Sixth district congress
sional committee, and was planning
everything for vigorous and animate,
campaign in behalf OF Mr.. Hervey Lind
ley. That gentleman will miss an abl
-coadjutor.
In his domestic relations, Mr.. Spenc
was unusually happy. His first wifi
died some years ago, leaving him tw