Also known as W. Penn Spencer and Penn Spencer, he first appears in the 1870 U.S. Census with the name "Ziba P. Spencer." Assuming the census is correct about his name, presumably he was named after his father's older brother Ziba, and perhaps later his family changed his name to William Penn, or he chose to have his name changed later. Be that as it may, in the old Spencer Family Bible's entry on his birth, he is called "Penn K. Spencer" (the middle initial is uncertain, but appears to be a cursive "K."), while in the Family Bible's entry on his death he is called "Wm. Penn Spencer."
Penn moved to Iowa in 1889, but returned to Dallas, Pennsylvania, two years later so he could fetch his intended bride and bring her to Iowa. On 26 March 1891 at the Elmwood Hotel in Bedford, Iowa, Penn married EVA UNDERWOOD, born 4 July 1866 in Center Moreland, Pennsylvania, died 22 March 1943 in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, daughter of Emanuel Lewis and Harriet Underwood. The minister who officiated at their marriage was Rev. J. H. Honswell. Their first child, ANDREW PAUL SPENCER ("Paul"), was born 26 Jan. 1892 in Taylor County, Iowa. Paul's obituary mentions a period of about a year when he lived in Pennsylvania as an infant, so Penn and Eva must have returned to Pennsylvania in 1892 before settling down in Taylor County, Iowa, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Penn's uncle David Andrew Spencer also settled in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa.
In Iowa, at first Penn worked as a carpenter, then acquired a farm in Polk and Ross Townships in the general vicinity of Bedford, Iowa. Penn and Eva had four sons and one daughter -- the daughter and one of the sons were fraternal twins. A genealogical account of William Penn Spencer's family was published in the 1981 History of Taylor County, Iowa, written by the people of Taylor County and compiled by the Taylor County Historical Society, Bedford, Iowa. The following is on page 382, along with a small old black-and-white photo of William Penn Spencer and his wife Eva and three of their little children:
"William Penn Spencer, the son of John and Irene Spencer, was born August 17, 1861 at Dallas, Pennsylvania and passed away May 8, 1934. His wife, Eva Underwood Spencer, was born July 4, 1866 at Dallas (sic), Pennsylvania and passed away March, 1943. They were married March 26, 1891 at Dallas, Pennsylvania (sic - Bedford, Iowa) . Penn came to Iowa in 1889, then returned to Dallas where they were married, and then returned to Iowa to live the rest of their lives. They bought a farm in Taylor County, Polk and Ross Townships after he had done carpenter work building barns, houses, and other buildings. He had to clear all the land he bought so he could farm it. Also, he had to build himself a house and barns. They lived on the same farm for 38 years or more before he passed away. They did all their farming with horses as no one had tractors then. They had five children, four boys and one daughter: Paul, Lee and Lela (twins); Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old; and Howard. All the family is gone now except the daughter, Mrs. Lela Spencer Blake, who is in the Bethesda Nursing home at Clarinda as of December, 1980. Penn's family (mother, father, two sisters, and three brothers) lived on a ranch which had a coal mine on it, and all lived off the royalties of the mine until it closed in the late 1800's. Eve, Penn's wife, used to raise lots of chickens and churned lots of butter to sell. She and her children would drive ten miles to Bedford every week or so to sell the eggs and butter for 10 cents a dozen and maybe 10 cents a pound for butter. They drove a team of horses to a wagon to deliver the produce. Penn was a Mason of Siam Lodge and both were Eastern Star members for many years. Their farm is now owned by the Paul Brummett family. Submitted by Helen Spencer, as told to her"
Penn's obituary, which was published on page 8 of the 10 May 1934 edition of the Bedford Times-Press, is as follows:
"W. P. Spencer, Valley Resident Is Dead"
"W. P. Spencer, 72, died at his home in the Valley community southwest of Bedford Tuesday evening, having been in ill health for sometime. The funeral services were held at the home this afternoon conducted by Leslie R. Cobb. Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery. Spencer had resided in the Valley community for nearly forty years, coming there from his birthplace in Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Lela Blake of Hopkins, and three sons, Paul Spencer and Howard Spencer of Hopkins and Leland Spencer of Conway."
Penn moved to Iowa in 1889, but returned to Dallas, Pennsylvania, two years later so he could fetch his intended bride and bring her to Iowa. On 26 March 1891 at the Elmwood Hotel in Bedford, Iowa, Penn married EVA UNDERWOOD, born 4 July 1866 in Center Moreland, Pennsylvania, died 22 March 1943 in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, daughter of Emanuel Lewis and Harriet Underwood. The minister who officiated at their marriage was Rev. J. H. Honswell. Their first child, ANDREW PAUL SPENCER ("Paul"), was born 26 Jan. 1892 in Taylor County, Iowa. Paul's obituary mentions a period of about a year when he lived in Pennsylvania as an infant, so Penn and Eva must have returned to Pennsylvania in 1892 before settling down in Taylor County, Iowa, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Penn's uncle David Andrew Spencer also settled in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa.
In Iowa, at first Penn worked as a carpenter, then acquired a farm in Polk and Ross Townships in the general vicinity of Bedford, Iowa. Penn and Eva had four sons and one daughter -- the daughter and one of the sons were fraternal twins. A genealogical account of William Penn Spencer's family was published in the 1981 History of Taylor County, Iowa, written by the people of Taylor County and compiled by the Taylor County Historical Society, Bedford, Iowa. The following is on page 382, along with a small old black-and-white photo of William Penn Spencer and his wife Eva and three of their little children:
"William Penn Spencer, the son of John and Irene Spencer, was born August 17, 1861 at Dallas, Pennsylvania and passed away May 8, 1934. His wife, Eva Underwood Spencer, was born July 4, 1866 at Dallas (sic), Pennsylvania and passed away March, 1943. They were married March 26, 1891 at Dallas, Pennsylvania (sic - Bedford, Iowa) . Penn came to Iowa in 1889, then returned to Dallas where they were married, and then returned to Iowa to live the rest of their lives. They bought a farm in Taylor County, Polk and Ross Townships after he had done carpenter work building barns, houses, and other buildings. He had to clear all the land he bought so he could farm it. Also, he had to build himself a house and barns. They lived on the same farm for 38 years or more before he passed away. They did all their farming with horses as no one had tractors then. They had five children, four boys and one daughter: Paul, Lee and Lela (twins); Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old; and Howard. All the family is gone now except the daughter, Mrs. Lela Spencer Blake, who is in the Bethesda Nursing home at Clarinda as of December, 1980. Penn's family (mother, father, two sisters, and three brothers) lived on a ranch which had a coal mine on it, and all lived off the royalties of the mine until it closed in the late 1800's. Eve, Penn's wife, used to raise lots of chickens and churned lots of butter to sell. She and her children would drive ten miles to Bedford every week or so to sell the eggs and butter for 10 cents a dozen and maybe 10 cents a pound for butter. They drove a team of horses to a wagon to deliver the produce. Penn was a Mason of Siam Lodge and both were Eastern Star members for many years. Their farm is now owned by the Paul Brummett family. Submitted by Helen Spencer, as told to her"
Penn's obituary, which was published on page 8 of the 10 May 1934 edition of the Bedford Times-Press, is as follows:
"W. P. Spencer, Valley Resident Is Dead"
"W. P. Spencer, 72, died at his home in the Valley community southwest of Bedford Tuesday evening, having been in ill health for sometime. The funeral services were held at the home this afternoon conducted by Leslie R. Cobb. Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery. Spencer had resided in the Valley community for nearly forty years, coming there from his birthplace in Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Lela Blake of Hopkins, and three sons, Paul Spencer and Howard Spencer of Hopkins and Leland Spencer of Conway."
Also known as W. Penn Spencer and Penn Spencer, he first appears in the 1870 U.S. Census with the name "Ziba P. Spencer." Assuming the census is correct about his name, presumably he was named after his father's older brother Ziba, and perhaps later his family changed his name to William Penn, or he chose to have his name changed later. Be that as it may, in the old Spencer Family Bible's entry on his birth, he is called "Penn K. Spencer" (the middle initial is uncertain, but appears to be a cursive "K."), while in the Family Bible's entry on his death he is called "Wm. Penn Spencer."
Penn moved to Iowa in 1889, but returned to Dallas, Pennsylvania, two years later so he could fetch his intended bride and bring her to Iowa. On 26 March 1891 at the Elmwood Hotel in Bedford, Iowa, Penn married EVA UNDERWOOD, born 4 July 1866 in Center Moreland, Pennsylvania, died 22 March 1943 in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, daughter of Emanuel Lewis and Harriet Underwood. The minister who officiated at their marriage was Rev. J. H. Honswell. Their first child, ANDREW PAUL SPENCER ("Paul"), was born 26 Jan. 1892 in Taylor County, Iowa. Paul's obituary mentions a period of about a year when he lived in Pennsylvania as an infant, so Penn and Eva must have returned to Pennsylvania in 1892 before settling down in Taylor County, Iowa, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Penn's uncle David Andrew Spencer also settled in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa.
In Iowa, at first Penn worked as a carpenter, then acquired a farm in Polk and Ross Townships in the general vicinity of Bedford, Iowa. Penn and Eva had four sons and one daughter -- the daughter and one of the sons were fraternal twins. A genealogical account of William Penn Spencer's family was published in the 1981 History of Taylor County, Iowa, written by the people of Taylor County and compiled by the Taylor County Historical Society, Bedford, Iowa. The following is on page 382, along with a small old black-and-white photo of William Penn Spencer and his wife Eva and three of their little children:
"William Penn Spencer, the son of John and Irene Spencer, was born August 17, 1861 at Dallas, Pennsylvania and passed away May 8, 1934. His wife, Eva Underwood Spencer, was born July 4, 1866 at Dallas (sic), Pennsylvania and passed away March, 1943. They were married March 26, 1891 at Dallas, Pennsylvania (sic - Bedford, Iowa) . Penn came to Iowa in 1889, then returned to Dallas where they were married, and then returned to Iowa to live the rest of their lives. They bought a farm in Taylor County, Polk and Ross Townships after he had done carpenter work building barns, houses, and other buildings. He had to clear all the land he bought so he could farm it. Also, he had to build himself a house and barns. They lived on the same farm for 38 years or more before he passed away. They did all their farming with horses as no one had tractors then. They had five children, four boys and one daughter: Paul, Lee and Lela (twins); Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old; and Howard. All the family is gone now except the daughter, Mrs. Lela Spencer Blake, who is in the Bethesda Nursing home at Clarinda as of December, 1980. Penn's family (mother, father, two sisters, and three brothers) lived on a ranch which had a coal mine on it, and all lived off the royalties of the mine until it closed in the late 1800's. Eve, Penn's wife, used to raise lots of chickens and churned lots of butter to sell. She and her children would drive ten miles to Bedford every week or so to sell the eggs and butter for 10 cents a dozen and maybe 10 cents a pound for butter. They drove a team of horses to a wagon to deliver the produce. Penn was a Mason of Siam Lodge and both were Eastern Star members for many years. Their farm is now owned by the Paul Brummett family. Submitted by Helen Spencer, as told to her"
Penn's obituary, which was published on page 8 of the 10 May 1934 edition of the Bedford Times-Press, is as follows:
"W. P. Spencer, Valley Resident Is Dead"
"W. P. Spencer, 72, died at his home in the Valley community southwest of Bedford Tuesday evening, having been in ill health for sometime. The funeral services were held at the home this afternoon conducted by Leslie R. Cobb. Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery. Spencer had resided in the Valley community for nearly forty years, coming there from his birthplace in Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Lela Blake of Hopkins, and three sons, Paul Spencer and Howard Spencer of Hopkins and Leland Spencer of Conway."
Penn moved to Iowa in 1889, but returned to Dallas, Pennsylvania, two years later so he could fetch his intended bride and bring her to Iowa. On 26 March 1891 at the Elmwood Hotel in Bedford, Iowa, Penn married EVA UNDERWOOD, born 4 July 1866 in Center Moreland, Pennsylvania, died 22 March 1943 in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, daughter of Emanuel Lewis and Harriet Underwood. The minister who officiated at their marriage was Rev. J. H. Honswell. Their first child, ANDREW PAUL SPENCER ("Paul"), was born 26 Jan. 1892 in Taylor County, Iowa. Paul's obituary mentions a period of about a year when he lived in Pennsylvania as an infant, so Penn and Eva must have returned to Pennsylvania in 1892 before settling down in Taylor County, Iowa, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Penn's uncle David Andrew Spencer also settled in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa.
In Iowa, at first Penn worked as a carpenter, then acquired a farm in Polk and Ross Townships in the general vicinity of Bedford, Iowa. Penn and Eva had four sons and one daughter -- the daughter and one of the sons were fraternal twins. A genealogical account of William Penn Spencer's family was published in the 1981 History of Taylor County, Iowa, written by the people of Taylor County and compiled by the Taylor County Historical Society, Bedford, Iowa. The following is on page 382, along with a small old black-and-white photo of William Penn Spencer and his wife Eva and three of their little children:
"William Penn Spencer, the son of John and Irene Spencer, was born August 17, 1861 at Dallas, Pennsylvania and passed away May 8, 1934. His wife, Eva Underwood Spencer, was born July 4, 1866 at Dallas (sic), Pennsylvania and passed away March, 1943. They were married March 26, 1891 at Dallas, Pennsylvania (sic - Bedford, Iowa) . Penn came to Iowa in 1889, then returned to Dallas where they were married, and then returned to Iowa to live the rest of their lives. They bought a farm in Taylor County, Polk and Ross Townships after he had done carpenter work building barns, houses, and other buildings. He had to clear all the land he bought so he could farm it. Also, he had to build himself a house and barns. They lived on the same farm for 38 years or more before he passed away. They did all their farming with horses as no one had tractors then. They had five children, four boys and one daughter: Paul, Lee and Lela (twins); Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old; and Howard. All the family is gone now except the daughter, Mrs. Lela Spencer Blake, who is in the Bethesda Nursing home at Clarinda as of December, 1980. Penn's family (mother, father, two sisters, and three brothers) lived on a ranch which had a coal mine on it, and all lived off the royalties of the mine until it closed in the late 1800's. Eve, Penn's wife, used to raise lots of chickens and churned lots of butter to sell. She and her children would drive ten miles to Bedford every week or so to sell the eggs and butter for 10 cents a dozen and maybe 10 cents a pound for butter. They drove a team of horses to a wagon to deliver the produce. Penn was a Mason of Siam Lodge and both were Eastern Star members for many years. Their farm is now owned by the Paul Brummett family. Submitted by Helen Spencer, as told to her"
Penn's obituary, which was published on page 8 of the 10 May 1934 edition of the Bedford Times-Press, is as follows:
"W. P. Spencer, Valley Resident Is Dead"
"W. P. Spencer, 72, died at his home in the Valley community southwest of Bedford Tuesday evening, having been in ill health for sometime. The funeral services were held at the home this afternoon conducted by Leslie R. Cobb. Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery. Spencer had resided in the Valley community for nearly forty years, coming there from his birthplace in Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Lela Blake of Hopkins, and three sons, Paul Spencer and Howard Spencer of Hopkins and Leland Spencer of Conway."
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