T. J. SPENCER farmer, P. O. West Newton, Allen County, Ohio. was born in
Round Head Township October 23, 1841. His father, Watson Spencer, was a
native of New Antioch, Clinton County, Ohio, where he lived until
nineteen years of age and then went to Logan County, Ohio. Four or five
years later, he came to Round Head Township and took a lease for some
years. He afterward rented a farm of Thomas Rutledge for four or five
years, where he farmed and lived until his death, in February, 1878. He
was a strong Republican, but never held office, except Constable of the
township. He was married about 1838, to Ellen Rutledge, a native of
Logan County, Ohio. by whom he had eight children, three living. two
being residents of this county, Mrs. Spencer died about 1851, and is
buried in the Henkle graveyard. Mr. Spencer subsequently took, for his
second wife, Nancy Mead, by whom he had a family of six children, all of
whom excepting one are living. The subject of this sketch was reared in
Round Head Township, remaining on the home farm until November 13, 1861,
when he enlisted as a private in Company E, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and served until June 1865, when he was honorably
discharged. He has never held rank except that of a Corporal and was
wounded once at Savannah, Ga. After coming back to Hardin County, he was
married, September 29, 1868, to Mary A., daughter of John Gossard, of
Wayne Township, Auglaize County, Ohio. They have six children, Francis,
Nora E., Hiram F., Elizabeth J., Thomas J, Jr., acid Wilbur F. After
marriage, Mr. Spencer raised one crop in Auglaize County, where he lived
on William Poe's land one year and on John F. Henkle's place, four
years. About 1875, he bought his present farm of forty acres on Section
6 near West Newton Road. and, in 1879, purchased the old homestead of
forty acres of the heirs. Sixty-four of these eighty acres are cleared
and in good condition for farming. Mr. Spencer is a Republican and has
served both as Supervisor and Township Trustee.