On Thursday, Sept. 7th, the descendants of Naaman and Diantha Benham Spencer, together with those who are directly connected to the family by marriage assembled at the home of Mrs. Clarinda Case in Eagle Point.
This reunion called together relatives from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and many places in Illinois. Among those present from a distance were Robert Porter, Webber, Kans.; C.S. Woodin and wife, Coburg, Iowa; Mrs. Helenor Bingaman, Yuma, Colorado; Mrs. Wm. Rubendall, Julian, Neb.; Mrs. Lotie M. Bellows and Mrs. Candace Shook, Newall, Kansas (sic); Judd Dimon and family; Mrs. Geo. Dimon and daughter, Lanark, Ill.; Henry Dorman and wife, S. W. Spencer and family, Freeport, Ill.; Alanson and Floyd Bellows, Newall, Iowa; Mrs. Chloe Kinner and son Hubert, Elberon, Iowa; J. C. Frisbee, wife and daughter, Sterling, Ill.; J. H. Zook and family, J. C. Assay and family, Mt. Carroll, Ill.; Mrs. Clara Spencer and children, Dr. J.I. Krebbs, wife and son; Simeon Ripley and family, Polo, Ill.; Naaman Woodin and wife, Elkhorn Grove; Fred Booth, wife and son; Mrs. Emeline Russell and her daughter, Mrs. Emilo Easterbrooks, Milledgeville, Ill.; Mrs. Lucinda Jenkins and Mrs. A. Darrow, Barnes, Iowa; Mrs. Alanson Spencer, Elias Spencer and wife, Mrs. Eveline Hegeman and family, Chadwick, Ill.; Mrs. Laura Case Davison, Hampton, Iowa; Stephen Woodin and family, Lanark, Ill., and several columns more.
The banquet was fine. Queen Victoria don't get better rations. Master Luke Case delivered the address of welcome and he did well for a ten year old. The address was as follows:
"I have been chosen by the members of the Spencer family who reside
upon and near the old Spencer homestead to extend to all of the
grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunts and cousins who have come from far
and near to meet with us at this reunion, a glad and hearty welcome.
We earnestly hope that this and succeeding reunions will make stronger
the bonds of love and friendship that bind us together. We call this a
'Spencer Reunion,' but we desire that the 'Benham' side of the house
meet with us, for we hold the names of Naaman Spencer, Sr., and
Diantha 'Benham' Spencer, who were the pioneers and progenitors of
this, the western branch of the Spencer family, in equal veneration.
Again we say: "Welcome!" and may this reunion be remembered with
pleasure as long as memory lasts."
The Eagle Point band gave some fine music and Allen S. Elsey read a
paper which contained a few reminiscences of the founders of the
western branch of the Spencer family. We give it in part:
"This grand rally of the descendants of Naaman Spencer, Sr., and
Diantha Benham Spencer is ample proof that neither time nor distance
can sever the bonds than binds then together. In all ages and in all
lands mankind have venerated the memory of their ancestors. But the
motive for such veneration is not always the same. The Indian and the
Zulu vie with each other in extolling the bloody deeds of their
fathers. The nobility (?) of Great Britain point with pride to their
'coat of arms' as proof they are ??? descendants of the Norman
invaders who killed the Saxon landlord and confiscated his lands. The
American patriot loves to relate the part his fathers took in the wars
of the revolution and the crushing of the slaveholder's rebellion and
how they suffered or died while contending for human rights and
liberty. The older members of the Spencer family tell us of its early
history. The leaving of the old home in Connecticut, the long and
weary journey by wagon to Elkhorn Grove, and the early pioneer life.
Grandpa and Grandma Spencer were 'Connecticut Yankees' They were
married in that state on the 16th day of July 1811 and their nine
children were born in Connecticut. They came to Elkhorn Grove in
1837, and resided five years upon the T.G. Smith farm, they then moved
to the farm now owned by Isaac Spencer, in Eagle Point. In person
Naaman Spencer, Sr., resembled his son Allen B., who is now with us,
He was small in statue, quick to act, and of high nervous temperament.
He, together with his wife were outspoken in opposition to human
slavery, when to do so was almost treason against the U. S.
government, and nothing so offended them as to see the needless
suffering inflicted upon any living thing. Their religious views can
be briefly told. With Longfellow they exclaimed: 'I can but hope that
some great good will be the final goal of all.' And their idea of
prayer was : 'He prayeth best who loveth best all things both great
and small, for the dear God above us did make and love us all.' Their
direct descendants who are now living are: Sons and daughters 5,
grandchildren 33, great-grandchildren 116; great-great-grandchildren
56, total 210."
The oldest member present was Mrs. Alanson Spencer, aged 81. The
youngest was Miss Klea Spencer, daughter of Chas. and Fanny Spencer,
of Milledgeville, aged four months. The only death in the family since
the reunion of Sept, 22d, 1898, is that of Mrs. Benham Johnson of
Freeport.
One hundred and sixty-three members of the family placed their names
upon the register. There were many more who were present, but did not
do so. They were too busy greeting relatives they had not seen for
years. The most popular young lady present was Miss Ola Woodin, who
had the misfortune to loose a foot and otherwise hurt by a mowing
machine.
The committee will give notice of the time and place of holding the
next reunion by letter and through the newspapers.
