The eleventh annual reunion of the Spencer-Benham
Association was held at the home of Mrs. Clarinda Case of
Eagle Point, Illinois, on June 18, 1908. The sky was overcast
with clouds early in the day but by nine o'clock they passed
away and members from Freeport, Mt. Carroll, Lanark,
Milledgeville, Chadwick and Polo began to arrive.
Those who registered were: Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Dimon, Mrs.
Geo. H. Dimon, Miss Viola Root, Robert Root, George A. Root,
Miss Lizzie Root, George A. Root, E. W. Schrock, Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Ingles, Mrs. Josephine Woodin, Mr. and Mrs. C. H.
Dimon, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Richmond, Mrs. Wesley Schriner, Mr.
and Mrs. A. W. Diehl, all of Lanark.
Dr. and Mrs. J.I. Krebbs, Mr. and Mrs. P.S. Ormsbee, Misses
June, Faith and Blanche Ormsbee, Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Hoffman,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lindeman, Mr. and Mrs. John Spencer and
children, Glenn and Clara, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Davison, Mr.
and Mrs. Dallas Davison, Mrs. Hal Spencer and daughters Alta
and Mildred, Mrs. C.S. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Woodin,
Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Duffey, and son Mason, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac
Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Woodin and sons Rex and Archie,
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Becker, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Case, Miss Orpha
Case, Luke Case, Miss Ruth Ripley, Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel
Sarber, Mr. and Mrs. Allen B. Spencer, Naaman Spencer,
Willis A. Ripley, Mr. and Mrs. Allen S. Elsey and daughter
Mildred, Mr. and Mrs. C.N. Ormsbee, Mrs. John Riggs and
children, Ruth and Frank, all of Polo.
E.J. Porter of Webber, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Elsey of
Hazelhurst; Mr. Bert Spencer and children, Pearl, Hazel,
Myrtle, Hallie and Grace of Coal Valley, Illinois; Mr. and
Mrs. Harry Spencer, Miss Nellie Spencer, Miss Matie Hubbard,
Rev. M.A. Witter, Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Fosdick, Mr. and Mrs.
Chas. Woodin and children, Ola, Reynolds and Esther, Mrs.
Emeline Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Dale, Vernon Dale, G.I.
Landon, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Spencer and children, Klea,
Celia, Romelia and Isaac, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Spencer, and
daughter Marie, Mrs. John Coffey, Mrs. Bessie Fahrney, Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Spencer and son Willis J. Spencer, Mrs. E.M.
Layton and children, James Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hart
and son Jacob L., Miss Maude Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. A.J.
Wood, all of Milledgeville.
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Frisbee, Mrs. Allie Meyers and son, Mr.
and Mrs. S.W. Spencer and son Alvin, Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Dorman, all of Freeport. Mrs. Eveline Hageman, Luman and
Spencer Hageman, of Chadwick; Mrs. Egbert E. T. Becker, Mrs.
John H. Zuck of Mt. Carroll.
The silver spoon which is given to the youngest member
present was handed over to Willis Jehial Spencer who is the
son of Frank and Bertha Spencer. Frank is the son of Jehial ,
who was the son of Naaman Spencer, Jr., who was the son of
Naaman Spencer, Sr., who with his wife Diantha Benham Spencer
were the progenitors of the Spencer-Benham association.
The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted in
the choice of J.I. Krebbs, M.D., of Polo as president and
Henry Elsey of Hazelhurst, as secretary. Rev. W.W. Richmond
of Lanark who was with us for the first time never dreamed
that he had so many aunts and uncles and cousins as he has.
He made a brief address to his many relatives which was
amusing and instructive. Future meeting will not be up to the
standard unless Brother Richmond and wife are present.
Between seventy-five and a hundred members could not be
present, time, distance and business cares preventing. But it
was a joyful occasion. New friendships were formed and the
friendships of long ago were renewed and strengthened. The
gathering sang "Blest be the tie that binds" and then the
vehicles of all kinds including three autos carried friends
to their respective homes. Henry Elsey, Secretary.
