Hon. Oliver Martin Spencer, general solicitor of the Burlington Railroad System in Missouri, was born at the old Spencer homestead in Crawford township, Buchanan county, Mo., August 23, 1849, and is a son of Obidiah Martin and Nancy (Williams) Spencer, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky.
The parents of our subject came to Missouri in 1837. Obidiah Martin Spencer was one of the leading citizens of the Platte purchase and resided near the line of Platte county in the "hotbed" of southern sympathizers, one day in the company of the Confederates and the next day with the Union troops. The father decided that his five sons should neither fight to destroy the union nor oppose those with whom he sympathized. Accordingly he sent the two older sons across the plains to Denver with a wagon train of freight, Oliver being too young to accompany them. Consequently remained at home and worked about the farm, assisting his parents in the preservation of their lives and property. He entered the State University of Missouri at Columbia the following year, and in 1871 became a student at Christian University, Canton, Mo., from which he graduated with honors in 1873. He subsequently real [sic] law at Leavenworth, Kans., residing with his parents, who had moved in 1871 to Kickapoo, Kans., riding to and from the office, six miles, on horseback. In 1874 he entered the law school of Harvard University, and subsequently established himself in practice in St. Joseph, Mo. He was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney in 1880 and served as such for two years, thereby gaining experience of incalculable value to him in his after practice. During this time he was the senior member of the well-known law firm of Spencer & Hall, of which Willard P. Hall was junior member. In 1886 the Democrats nominated Mr. Spencer for judge of the Circuit court, and his candidacy met with such favor with the bar that the opposition party put no candidate in the field. His term on the bench was characterized by capability and impartiality and at the end of four years he resigned to accept his present position as general solicitor of the Darlington Railroad System in Missouri. He was at one time a member of the firm of Spencer, Burnes & Mosman, recognized as one of the strongest firms in the state.
In 1875 Judge Spencer was joined in marriage with Lillian Tootle, a daughter of Joseph Tootle, and niece of the deceased millionaire, Milton Tootle. Mrs. Spencer died in 1880, aged twenty-four years, leaving two sons: Harry Heddens, born July 20, 1877; and Edwin M., born July 4, 1879. On March 5, 1895, the Judge married Katharine Turner, of Columbia, Mo. They have one son, Tom, and a daughter, Sarah. Business address, Burlington offices, St. Joseph, Missouri.
From M. L. Van Nada, editor, The Book of Missourians: The Achievements and Personnel of Notable Living Men and Women of Missouri in the Opening Decade of the Twentieth Century (Chicago, IL: T. J. Steele & Co., 1906), p. 22-23.
The parents of our subject came to Missouri in 1837. Obidiah Martin Spencer was one of the leading citizens of the Platte purchase and resided near the line of Platte county in the "hotbed" of southern sympathizers, one day in the company of the Confederates and the next day with the Union troops. The father decided that his five sons should neither fight to destroy the union nor oppose those with whom he sympathized. Accordingly he sent the two older sons across the plains to Denver with a wagon train of freight, Oliver being too young to accompany them. Consequently remained at home and worked about the farm, assisting his parents in the preservation of their lives and property. He entered the State University of Missouri at Columbia the following year, and in 1871 became a student at Christian University, Canton, Mo., from which he graduated with honors in 1873. He subsequently real [sic] law at Leavenworth, Kans., residing with his parents, who had moved in 1871 to Kickapoo, Kans., riding to and from the office, six miles, on horseback. In 1874 he entered the law school of Harvard University, and subsequently established himself in practice in St. Joseph, Mo. He was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney in 1880 and served as such for two years, thereby gaining experience of incalculable value to him in his after practice. During this time he was the senior member of the well-known law firm of Spencer & Hall, of which Willard P. Hall was junior member. In 1886 the Democrats nominated Mr. Spencer for judge of the Circuit court, and his candidacy met with such favor with the bar that the opposition party put no candidate in the field. His term on the bench was characterized by capability and impartiality and at the end of four years he resigned to accept his present position as general solicitor of the Darlington Railroad System in Missouri. He was at one time a member of the firm of Spencer, Burnes & Mosman, recognized as one of the strongest firms in the state.
In 1875 Judge Spencer was joined in marriage with Lillian Tootle, a daughter of Joseph Tootle, and niece of the deceased millionaire, Milton Tootle. Mrs. Spencer died in 1880, aged twenty-four years, leaving two sons: Harry Heddens, born July 20, 1877; and Edwin M., born July 4, 1879. On March 5, 1895, the Judge married Katharine Turner, of Columbia, Mo. They have one son, Tom, and a daughter, Sarah. Business address, Burlington offices, St. Joseph, Missouri.
From M. L. Van Nada, editor, The Book of Missourians: The Achievements and Personnel of Notable Living Men and Women of Missouri in the Opening Decade of the Twentieth Century (Chicago, IL: T. J. Steele & Co., 1906), p. 22-23.
Hon. Oliver Martin Spencer, general solicitor of the Burlington Railroad System in Missouri, was born at the old Spencer homestead in Crawford township, Buchanan county, Mo., August 23, 1849, and is a son of Obidiah Martin and Nancy (Williams) Spencer, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky.
The parents of our subject came to Missouri in 1837. Obidiah Martin Spencer was one of the leading citizens of the Platte purchase and resided near the line of Platte county in the "hotbed" of southern sympathizers, one day in the company of the Confederates and the next day with the Union troops. The father decided that his five sons should neither fight to destroy the union nor oppose those with whom he sympathized. Accordingly he sent the two older sons across the plains to Denver with a wagon train of freight, Oliver being too young to accompany them. Consequently remained at home and worked about the farm, assisting his parents in the preservation of their lives and property. He entered the State University of Missouri at Columbia the following year, and in 1871 became a student at Christian University, Canton, Mo., from which he graduated with honors in 1873. He subsequently real [sic] law at Leavenworth, Kans., residing with his parents, who had moved in 1871 to Kickapoo, Kans., riding to and from the office, six miles, on horseback. In 1874 he entered the law school of Harvard University, and subsequently established himself in practice in St. Joseph, Mo. He was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney in 1880 and served as such for two years, thereby gaining experience of incalculable value to him in his after practice. During this time he was the senior member of the well-known law firm of Spencer & Hall, of which Willard P. Hall was junior member. In 1886 the Democrats nominated Mr. Spencer for judge of the Circuit court, and his candidacy met with such favor with the bar that the opposition party put no candidate in the field. His term on the bench was characterized by capability and impartiality and at the end of four years he resigned to accept his present position as general solicitor of the Darlington Railroad System in Missouri. He was at one time a member of the firm of Spencer, Burnes & Mosman, recognized as one of the strongest firms in the state.
In 1875 Judge Spencer was joined in marriage with Lillian Tootle, a daughter of Joseph Tootle, and niece of the deceased millionaire, Milton Tootle. Mrs. Spencer died in 1880, aged twenty-four years, leaving two sons: Harry Heddens, born July 20, 1877; and Edwin M., born July 4, 1879. On March 5, 1895, the Judge married Katharine Turner, of Columbia, Mo. They have one son, Tom, and a daughter, Sarah. Business address, Burlington offices, St. Joseph, Missouri.
From M. L. Van Nada, editor, The Book of Missourians: The Achievements and Personnel of Notable Living Men and Women of Missouri in the Opening Decade of the Twentieth Century (Chicago, IL: T. J. Steele & Co., 1906), p. 22-23.
The parents of our subject came to Missouri in 1837. Obidiah Martin Spencer was one of the leading citizens of the Platte purchase and resided near the line of Platte county in the "hotbed" of southern sympathizers, one day in the company of the Confederates and the next day with the Union troops. The father decided that his five sons should neither fight to destroy the union nor oppose those with whom he sympathized. Accordingly he sent the two older sons across the plains to Denver with a wagon train of freight, Oliver being too young to accompany them. Consequently remained at home and worked about the farm, assisting his parents in the preservation of their lives and property. He entered the State University of Missouri at Columbia the following year, and in 1871 became a student at Christian University, Canton, Mo., from which he graduated with honors in 1873. He subsequently real [sic] law at Leavenworth, Kans., residing with his parents, who had moved in 1871 to Kickapoo, Kans., riding to and from the office, six miles, on horseback. In 1874 he entered the law school of Harvard University, and subsequently established himself in practice in St. Joseph, Mo. He was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney in 1880 and served as such for two years, thereby gaining experience of incalculable value to him in his after practice. During this time he was the senior member of the well-known law firm of Spencer & Hall, of which Willard P. Hall was junior member. In 1886 the Democrats nominated Mr. Spencer for judge of the Circuit court, and his candidacy met with such favor with the bar that the opposition party put no candidate in the field. His term on the bench was characterized by capability and impartiality and at the end of four years he resigned to accept his present position as general solicitor of the Darlington Railroad System in Missouri. He was at one time a member of the firm of Spencer, Burnes & Mosman, recognized as one of the strongest firms in the state.
In 1875 Judge Spencer was joined in marriage with Lillian Tootle, a daughter of Joseph Tootle, and niece of the deceased millionaire, Milton Tootle. Mrs. Spencer died in 1880, aged twenty-four years, leaving two sons: Harry Heddens, born July 20, 1877; and Edwin M., born July 4, 1879. On March 5, 1895, the Judge married Katharine Turner, of Columbia, Mo. They have one son, Tom, and a daughter, Sarah. Business address, Burlington offices, St. Joseph, Missouri.
From M. L. Van Nada, editor, The Book of Missourians: The Achievements and Personnel of Notable Living Men and Women of Missouri in the Opening Decade of the Twentieth Century (Chicago, IL: T. J. Steele & Co., 1906), p. 22-23.
Family Members
Siblings
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James LaFayette Spencer
1834–1918
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Elizabeth Vianna Spencer Spratt
1836–1918
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Ester Tennessee Spencer Pope
1839–1916
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Sarah Caroline Spencer Ringo
1841–1919
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William Franklin Spencer
1843–1928
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Charles C Spencer
1847–1923
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Nancy Ann Spencer Maxwell
1851–1930
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Drake Davis Spencer
1853–1918
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Nellie B Spencer Cook
1855–1916
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