The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-30

President Thomas NJ. Emerson
president OF the Atlantic Coast Line.
was intimately acquainted with the
late President Spencer, and last night
TO a representative of The MESSENGER
ne talked of the man who, he said,
had done more for the industrial de-
VelOpment Of the south than any other
one person. He was very much affect
ed ocer the sad occurrence of yester-
day morning.
Mr.. Emerson said me career of
Samuel Spencer was another instance
of where a man had made his way
from the bottom rung of the ladder
to the top and he thought one of the
beautiful things about his gfeat
work vas his love for the land of his
birth. ne mentioned when Mr.. Spen-
Ger went with the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad as a train master and
left the road as it's president, at which
time he became connected with the
firm of j.. P. Morgan & Company, his
position being what might be termed
railroad expert of the 1irm. The great
est wOrk Of the deceased he thought
was in the industrial development OF
the south, and in speaking of him in
this connection Mr.. Emerson said he
would be sadly missed by the entire
south, and his loss would be a severe
blow to the great railroad system
which be had done S % much towards
making what it is. We will all miss
him, he said.
M Spencer was one of the ablest
railroad men [ ever knew said Mr..
Emerson land vas a broad and con-
sentative man in his ideas. His great
est power, perhaps, was in his grea0
executive ability, and coupled with
this was a thorough knowledge OF
every detail connected with Il railroad,
and in fac5, he was well posted on
almost any subject. He was the kind
of man who wen at every thing he
undertook in a most thorough manner
and there were few men in the II
try who had a wider knowledge OF in
dustrial affairs"
In private life Mr.. Spencer was do
nestle in his habits and there was
uOlIIllS ColSltCSiIcNS tbOUI Wv $4,000
He vas very fond OF hunting and
every winter would come to North
Carolina and spend a few days near
Greensboro, and on these trips ne
was always accompanied by a party or
friends. MI. Spencer was a charming
conyersationalist and speaker and
there were few subjects that he was
not thoroughly familiar with"
1T is difficult to imagine anything
more beautiful than the
shown by President Spencer towards
the land of his birth. He went 10
Baltimore when a young mar anu
there he was able to get experience II
would have been impossible for him 10
obtain in the south at that time. IN
railroad affairs he became an expert
and his first great opportunity 10 IA
t~erially aid the south was when ne De
came president of the Southern all
road. In the early nineties he was
made receiver of the old
and Danyille railroad and it was not
long after this that the road was re-
ORGANIZED and Mr.. Spencer put at the
head of the system. He was
interested in m~akingthe road a sue
cess for there was another incentive
other than building up q great system
The road traversed the south, anC
President Spencer made his life WORE
the upbuiIding of the southern states
President Spencer always builoeo' Ut
never tore down.
Through the courtesy or Mr. W.
Elliott. .Jr., who kindly loaned us .
COW of a book containing
sketches of founders, benefactors ant
alumni of the University or Virginia
we are able to give a short sketcn o
+he,l late President Spencer, which is d.
~ follows: 90, 49,
Samuel Spencer, of New York City
: who is actively and prominently lden'
titled with various railroad and otnel
important commercial interests, wa
r. born in Columbus, Georgia, March Il
1S47, the son of Lambert and verona
(Mitchell) Spencer the former named
being a leading merchant of the CIT.
of Columbus, Georgia The pioneer
: ancestor of the family on the pater
nal side was James Spencer, who set
/. tied on the eastern shore of Maryland
about the car 1910.
Samuel Spencer received his earl!
education at a private school in ms
native city; later. he became a SUDDEN
in the~Geergia Military institute, ioca'
snted al Marietta. Georgia, an aftel
pursuing the course there entered tht
confederate army, being then only II
years of age. After the termination
of the civil war he entered the Univer
-sity'of Georgia, from which institution
1atzthe age of 20, he was graduated a
the head Of his class. In 1851 he en-
rolled as q student at the University O.
Tir~snsn a-l -, 4Onn --oz.,ofa f