Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-08-10
She Believes in Matrimony.

MRS. SPENCER las MARRIED ELEVEN TIMES
WITH VARYING SUCCESS
''All these six and eight time widows that
have broken into print lately are base coun-
terfeits,' said George Coffin of Indiana to a
Chicago Times man. 'There's woman down
in our State-Mrs. DR.. Spencer of Bourbon
who holds the worlds record of marriages,
think. Dr.. Spencer is just now fancy free.
She hasn't had husband for five years
or SO, but she amt like a person utterly
hopeless and the prey Of despair. She is less
than 60 years old now and will outlive many
man who isn't dead yet.
'Mrs. Spencer has had II husbands. Some
of them she disposed Of by death, and others
she parted with at the end of a lawsuit; still
others fled from her. She has seven kinds of
children. Four OF her marriages were I'M
blessed by any of those pledges of affection.
''She naturally had to begin welded life
early to make such a noble record. Her name
was originally Emma A. Il. Lyon. She was
born in Franklinville, Cattaraugus county,
N. Y, and came west with her family in 1850
Two years later, when she was living down
Maxinkuckee way, in Marshall county, she
was married to Nelson Drake a carpenter
in short time, and she next became the wife
of man named Roberts. He was a sort OF
trifiing, nc account crtter, Judge. He never
cut much of figure. Mrs. Spencer herself
remembers in a general way that she had
Roberts for husband along in the fftes
somewhere, but either sine can't OF doesn t
want to recall anything definite about him.
At all events, he dropped out OF sight-died
OF he lit out-and she became the wife in
due time Of DR.. Maryette. She studied medi-
cine and became physician herself. They
had good practice in Indianapolis. where
they settled and got along comfortably until
Maryette died.
"The widow was comforted in her sorrow
by person of the name OF Ball lard, a friend
Of the departed, and whom she married at the
end of brief period of mourning. They lived
at Kokomo. Ballard was useless attach
ment to any family. and the best thing he ever
did for his wife was to leave, and Kokon o
knew him no more.
"Dr. Vaniden succeeded Ballard, and they
lived happily until one day Vaniden inadvert-
emily stood in front of a moving train. They
hardly saved enough of him to hold legal
inquest OF to offer in evidence in damage
suit The bereaved soon married one Straw
hacker. This was in 1876. Strawbacker wasn't
six spot. He made no particular impression
on any one. Whether he died or was divorc-
ed can't say.
civilian Moore was her next selection.
They lived at Peru, from which place they
removed to Plymouth, where Mrs. Moore got
divorce You see, she had been married so
often nv this time that she knew what kind of
treatment she was entitled to- Moore began
to get gay and figured he'd run things himself
She gave him the springboard.' as the young
men say, too quick. In 1888 she was married
to Thomas Farlan. One year was enough,
and she got divorce in 1884. A farmer nam
ed John Cunningham was the next candidate.
He was a miser, and this spirited woman did
not endure him six months.
'With her next husband, William Spencer
she led an ideal life, but it was too sweet to
last. Spencer was taken away in 1889 and
left quite fortune. In 1889 Mrs. Spencer
became the wife Of Judge Zebidee d. Boulton
of Bourbon. A legal separation and decree
followed this marriage, which was her last
venture in that behalf. She took Spencer s
name again.
"Now," concluded Mr.. Coffin, ringing for
! ice water, "show me the marital statistics
| that beat these | have offered