Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-24
PROMINENT HARDIN COUNTY
PIONEERS CELEBRATE GOLDEN
WEDDING At ALDEN,
INTERESTING HISTORY OF Mr..
AND MRS. >. A. sPENcEt
"kept Tavern" at Alden During Civil
War and AUneis Sam" sill Owes
Them For Board Of soldisrs-Hslpsd
Build First Railroad in That Part Of
the State.
Special Ito Times Republican,

day. will be celebrated the golden we'd
ding anniversary of prominent pio-
neer couple of Hardin county, Mr. and
Mrs. ]. A. Spencer. They have been
closely identified with the history of
this county and are we'll known by the
older residents in this part of the state,
who esteem Mr.. and Mrs. Spencer as
among our best. citizens
In 1855 Mr.. Spencer entered quar-
ter section of land south of Alden and.
Fidelia Rogers, by Rev. Mr.. Kent, OF
Deacon Jesse Rogers was born in New
York in 1889 and came to Iowa with
her fathers family in 1857.
Mr.. Spencer was born in Salisbury,
Vermont. in 1884, being Of English de-
scent He came to Iowa in 1854 and
during that year hauled goods with
OK team from Iowa City to Fort Dodge.
Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Spencer
taught school for several years, being
pail 81. 80 a week and boarding round"
After their marriage, Mr.. and Mrs.
Spencer ran the Spencer House in
Alden for four years, Alden, at that
time, being the only stop on the stage
route betweenaIowa Falls and Webster
City.
Soldiers Jumpco Board Bill.
AS proprietors Of this pioneer hostel
~ this couple have some money COM
ing from Uncle Sam. the obligation
dating back to war times, when COM
pany Of United States cavalry passed
thru Alden and stopped with MIR. and
Mrs. Spencer for dinner The hungry
soldier boys cleaned up everything in
Uncle Sam would pay the bill-but he
never has.
An Indian Scare.
One night in those exciting pioneer
days MI. and Mrs. Spencer were called
out of bed by a horseback rider from
Fort Dodge who wanted all the guns and
ammunition they had for the Indians
were right upon them, but the red
skins never reached this little frontier
settlement.
Mr.. Spencer, surveyed the first wagon
road from Alden to Webster City and
also plated portion OF the town OF
Alden. He lived in Alden thirteen years
before, a. railroad was, built to that
place and he recalls many incidents
connected with the construction of the
Illinois Central, or Dubuque & Sioux
City road, as it was originally known.
lie took an active part in the early his
tory OF his home town and the county,
being one of the early county surveyors.
and for some time had charge of the
schools in his town. Mr.. and Mrs. Spen-
Ger now reside within a block OF the
house in which they were married a
half century ago today.
About thirty out-of-town guests
have travelled. in the aggregate 10000
miles to be present at the golden we'd
ding anniversary today. About nifty
relatives Joined in the reunion at the
Spencer home today and tonight pub
lie reception will be held that old time
friends and neighbors may offer con-
gratulations. All of the immediate
family will attend the reunion.
OF the children and grand children.
nine have received their education at
Iowa College at Grinnell. The children
are Fred L. Spencer, of Alden: Mrs.
C. r. Gale, of Seattle, Wash: Nathan
lei s. Spencer. Of Kansas City; Mrs
Charles McAllister. Of Spencer, Iowa;
Mrs. C. E. Lynde. of Des Moines; ]. A
Spencer, Jr.. of Alden; w. r. Spencer
of Laurel, Mont. and Miss Dora Spen-
Ger. Of Alden.
Married Iowa Maidens.
In marriage the sons Of the Spencer
family all showed their preference for
Iowa maidens and married the follow
ing Iowa girls: Lolita Taylor. of Alden;
Linconette Mott, of Hampton: Maude
Attwooll, of Alden, and Winona Sultz
of Ottumwa.
AS eastern people, Mr.. and Mrs
Spencer recognized the value in life OF
a good education and while the major
ity of their children and grandchildren
have been educated at Grinnell, others
are alumni Of we'll known colleges
one graduating from Williams College
two from the Iowa State College al
Ames, and two from Oberlin.