James Allen Spencer was born on the 30th day of January, in the year 1834, in what was then Greene county, but is now Jersey county. He was the son of Reuben and Mary (Lofton) Spencer, both deceased. His father was a native of Virginia and died here in the fall of 1844. His mother was a native of Kentucky, she died here, also, in the summer of 1851. James was the fifth in a family of eight children. He lived with his parents on a farm, until their death, after which he worked around at one place and another until the year 1855, when he and his brother-in-law bought 80 acres of land together, on section 25. About one year later he sold out there and bought 40 acres on section 14, and moved to that place. On the 5th day of April, in the year 1855, he was untied in marriage with Sarah Rowden, daughter of William and Mary (Pruitt) Rowden. They are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living - Mary, wife of George Seago, now living in English township; Ellen, wife of William Beaman, living in Kansas; William; Frank and Kate, twins; Lucy and Nellie, twins. Those dead are - Jeanette and Mariette. Mr. Spencer participated in the civil war, having enlisted in Co. C, 122d Ill. Inf. He served three years, going through several hard battles. He was mustered out in the moth of June, 1865, at Mobile, Ala.