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� 2008, Mount Mora Burial Records |
| Record Last Updated On:
3/16/2016 |
| Name: HON. OLIVER MARTIN MARTIN SPENCER |
| Death Date: JUN/5/1924 |
Interment Date:
JUN/7/1924 |
Birth Date: AUG/23/1849 |
| Age at Death: 75 |
Cause of Death:
inoperable abdominal growth |
| Location at Death:
Chicago, Illinois |
| Physical Location at Death:
home 1500 Dearborn Parkway |
| Sex: M |
Nativity: AMERICAN |
Ethnicity: White |
| Occupation:General Counsel of the Burlington System and Judge
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| Child of: Obadiah Martin Spencer & Nancy Williams |
| Spouse of: Lillian Tootle, Katherine Turner |
| Mother of: |
| Father of: Harry Heddens Spencer, Edwin Martin Spencer, Thomas Spencer, Sarah Spencer |
| Other Known Relatives: |
| Brief Biography: udge Spencer comes from one of those prominent pioneer families of the west who have left such worthy examples and honorable names to their posterity. He was born on the old Spencer homestead in Crawford Township, Buchanan County, Mo., August 23, 1849. Not being partial to farm work, and having rather practical views upon the sale and handling of stock, his father permitted him, at the age of twelve years, to buy and sell in that line, at which he made some money. During the winter months he attended school at the old Spencer school-house, and now and then had rather painful experiences with his teacher. There is one story told of him that all his friends religiously believe. His father had a mill and a still-house on his place, and the present Judge was deputed to do the chores around both. Somehow or other he managed to perform his duties at the mill in very short order, but the chores around the still-house appeared to be much more laborious.
An incident occurred in 1865 that determined the career of young Spencer. The pedagogue who was teaching his " young ideas how to shoot" concluded one day that his pupil would have to be disciplined on account of a fight he had engaged in with Zeke Whittington. The youngster, however, differed with his instructor about the necessity for such a proceeding, and while the teacher went after the switch with which to bestow the chastisement, "Tom," as he was then nicknamed, took French leave, and when the teacher returned he had to be satisfied with whipping Zeke. The next morning his father sent him to the Raffington school at St. Joseph, where he remained for a year and made rapid progress in his studies. He has often said that he owes his present vocation in life to Zeke Whittington, whom for many years he has counted as one of his best friends.
In 1868 our subject attended the St. Joseph High School, and during the following year entered the university at Columbia, Mo. In 1870 he became a student in the Christian University at Canton, Mo., from which he was graduated with the honors of the institution in 1872. Until 1878 he read law at Leaven worth, residing with his parents, who in the meantime had removed to Kickapoo, Kans., six miles north of Leaven worth. To reach the office, he was in the habit of riding to the city each morning on horseback and returning home in the evening. In 1873 he entered the law school at Harvard, where he first met his present law partner, Hon. D. D. Barnes. During the following year he opened an office for the practice of his profession at St. Joseph.
Judge Spencer was married in 1875 to Miss Lillian, daughter of Joseph Tootle and a niece of the late Milton Tootle. Her mother was a sister of James McCord, Sr. She was a lady of rare accomplishments, but died in 1880 at the age of twenty-four years, when her youngest child was only twelve months old. Two bright boys were born to Judge and Mrs. Spencer: Harry Heddens, born July 20, 1877, and Edwin 0. M., born July 4, 1879, Their father has taken great pains with their rearing and education, and both give promise of developing into capable and useful men.
The first office held by Judge Spencer was that of Deputy Prosecuting Attorney under Judge Henry M. Ramey, who was Prosecuting Attorney at that time. His first important case was the defense of the well-known Robert W. Black, who was indicted for the killing of James Bates. Judge Spencer, although a young attorney, was chief counsel for the defense, and in the conduct of the case he developed that ability as a lawyer which enabled him to take his place at once in the front rank of the leading attorneys of St. Joseph. The highest encomiums were passed upon him by both the city press and the general public for the adroit manner in which be tried and won this celebrated case. The jury, after being out thirty-five minutes, returned a verdict of "not guilty," and the friends of Mr. Black greeted the young attorney with an ovation.
In the fall of 1879 our subject was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Buchanan County and served from January, 1880, to 1882. In 1886 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court on the Democratic ticket, but the Republican lawyers paid him the high compliment of joining in the call and refused to nominate a candidate against him. On the bench he served for four years and made a record as a most capable and impartial judge. Several of the most prominent lawyers in St. Joseph, who were approached upon the subject, agreed in saying that the decisions of Judge Spencer stood as high as those of any preceding judge of the Buchanan County Circuit Court. He had no sympathy with the "technical lawyer, but believed in the principles of humanity and justice.†Being as young as he was, I think he made a remarkable record on the bench," said one of the best-known lawyers in St. Joseph, "and I think he was the fairest, most courteous and equitable judge the Circuit Court ever had."
At the end of four years our subject resigned the judgeship to accept the position of General Solicitor of the Burlington Railroad lines in Missouri, of which the young and capable W. C. Brown is the general manager. At the same time he organized the law firm of Spencer, Burnes & Mosman, which is one of the strongest legal firms in the northwest. It was Judge Spencer's good fortune to see much of life and men when he was a boy. His father, who was one of the leading citizens of this section, resided near the line of Platte County, in the "hot-bed" of southern sympathizers. Himself and his four brothers were one day in the company of the rebels, commonly called "bushwhackers and the next with the Union troops. The boys inclined toward the cause of the Confederates, but their father determined that his sons should neither fight to destroy the Union nor oppose those with whom he sympathized, and accordingly sent the older boys across the plains to Denver with a wagon train of freight. Tom, being too young, remained at home to do active field duty that is, in the cornfield. He was old enough to assist his parents in their efforts to preserve their lives and property from the ravages of war.
In his dealings with his fellow-men Judge Spencer does everything ex animo, and in his business affairs he adheres to the principles of experto crede. Being possessed of a liberal mind and a charitable disposition, he exercises a broad humanity in his quiet way, and believes in whatever is calculated to advance and elevate mankind. The fact that he was chosen as the General Solicitor of the Burlington lines in Missouri proves without question his high capacity as a lawyer, and the satisfactory manner in which he has fulfilled the duties of the responsible position demonstrates that he is what may be aptly termed a "man of affairs."
(Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Buchanan and Clinton Counties, Missouri. Publ. 1893. Transcribed by Charlotte Slater)
excerpt from St. Joseph News-Press June 5, 1924
In 1875 Judge Spencer was joined in marriage to Lillian Tootle, a daughter of the late Joseph Tootle. Mrs. Spencer died in 1880, aged twenty-four years. leaving tow sons, Harry Heddens born July 20, 1877, and Edwin M. Born July 4, 1879. Harry died twenty years ago March 5, 1895, Judge Spencer was married to Miss Katherine Turner of Columbia, Mo., A son, Tom, and a daughter Sarah were born to them..... |
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Burial Number: 9733 |
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| Other Relatives in Plot: Edwin O.M. Spencer (ashes),
Katherine Turner Spencer (ashes),
Lillian Tootle Spencer |
| Lot Owner: O MSPENCER |
| Lot Location: 3 |
| Block Location: 9 |
| Section/Range Location: D |
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| Cost of Interment: 10.00 |
Date Paid: 09/30/24 |
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