The eighth annual reunion of the descendants of Naaman and Diantha
(Benham) Spencer took place at the home of Mrs. Clarinda Case at
Eagle Point, Ill., on August 31, 1905. The day was as fine as one
could wish for and upon the lawn beneath the maples with the stars and
stripes above and flowers of every shade and hue around them about 150
members of the family assembled and passed a few hours together
talking of bygone days, of absent and departed ones and of loved ones
that were present.
Since the 1904 meeting, Naaman Spencer, Jr., had made tables and
seats to accommodate the assembly. The tables were loaded with the
best the land affords and there was much more than needed. The little
folks had a table by themselves and some of them we doubt not will, a
half century hence, recall to mind the reunion of 1905.
The president, E. R. Spencer, of Rockford, Ill., not being present,
the meeting was called to order by the secretary and Dr. J. I. Krebbs
of Polo was elected president pro tem. It was then moved and carried
that the doctor be made president for the ensuing year and that H.
Elsey be made secretary and treasurer. Two deaths were reported during
the past year, namely, Mrs. James Asa of Mt. Carroll, Ill. and Mrs.
Stephen Woodin of Sunnyside, Wash. The oldest member present was
Allen B. Spencer of Eagle Point who is nearly 86. The youngest present
was Frank Riggs, aged two months. Frank is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Riggs of Polo and being the youngest present he was presented
with a souvenir spoon, one of which is given to the youngest member
each year. Frank Riggs is in the fourth generation from the founders
of the western branch of the family. His mother is the daughter of
Mrs. Mary Fosdick of Milledgeville who is the daughter of Mrs. Lucinda
Jenkins of Barnes City, Ia., who is the daughter of Naaman and Diantha
Spencer.
There were music and singing by some of the older folks but that
which deserves special mention was rendered by the children. The song
"xxx to xxxx," by Miss Julia Spencer Sword of Lanark was fine as was
also the recitation by Miss June Ormsbee and the song "What Would You
Take For Me Papa?" by Master Mason H. Duffy of Polo. Brief as was the
entertainment by the little folks it was greatly enjoyed by the older
members and all present hope to hear them again at future reunions.
The president appointed Mrs. Willis Davison, Mrs. Mary Duffy, Mis
Bessie Coffey, George Asay and Porter Ormsbee a committee on
literature and music for the ensuing year. The time of holding the
next reunion is left to the president. The following is a list of the
members present as shown by the register: Allen B. Spencer and wife;
Isaac Spencer and wife, Naaman Spencer, Mrs. Clarinda Case, Miss Orpha
Case, Elmer Case, Luke Case, Willis Davison, wife and son, Dallas,
Hiram Woodin and wife, Walter Woodin, wife and children, Allen S.
Elsey and wife, all of Eagle Point; Henry Elsey and wife of
Hazelhurst, Mrs. Alice Lindemann, Mrs. John Riggs and children, Dr. J.
I. Krebbs and wife, C. N. Ormsbee and wife, Benjamin Duffy, wife and
son, Mrs. E. J. Spencer, Wesley Schriner, wife and son, Mrs. Charles
Woodin and children of Polo; George Dimon and wife, Miss Julia Spencer
Sword, A. W. Deal and wife, James Ingles, wife and children, Mrs.
Josephine Woodin, of Lanark; Mrs. John Coffey, Miss Bessie Coffey,
Martie Coffey, Ralph Coffey, Harry Spencer, wife and daughter, Clyde
Spencer, Charles Spencer and family, Mr. L. B. Fosdick, Mrs. Edmund
Dale, Mrs. George Hubbard and children, Mattie, Beulah, Clara, John
and Paul, all of Milledgeville; Miss Lottie Frisbee of Lena, S. W.
Spencer and wife, Marvin Spencer, Alvin Spencer, Florence Myers, J. C.
Frisbee, of Freeport; Hal Spencer and family of Briar Bluffs, Ill.,
George R. Asay and family, James H. Asay, Mrs. Ed McGinty and
daughter, Miss Bertha Asay, Mrs. T. M. Funk, John H. Zook and family
of Mt. Carroll, F. A. Booth and family of Oregon, Leslie Lewis and
Miss Marilla Fellows of Chicago, Mrs. Eveline Hageman, Luman Hageman,
Spencer Hageman, Miss Fannie Hageman of Chadwick.
