USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
Mr. Spencer took a deep interest in historical subjects, especially those relating to his own county. When the Ashtabula Historical and Philosophical society was formed, in 1838, he was chosen its secretary ; an office he continued to fill till the time of his death. He loved the annals of the early times, and it was mainly through his efforts that the history of his county was gathered and re- corded for preservation.
While Mr. Spencer was widely known for his noble personal qualities and generous sympathies in matters of general interest and welfare, his name, in con- nection with his own profession, has become a household word throughont the land. The admirable system of writing which he produced forms the root whence nearly all others taught in the schools of our country to-day are but out- growths. In style he chose the golden mean between the labored fullness of the round hand and the rigid sharpness of the angular, aiming to combine the legi- bility of the one with the ease and directness of execution of the other. He introduced, also, improved forms of capitals, a simple and beautiful analysis and classification of both small letters and capitals, and a tasteful mingling of light and shade. With these he combined a correct theory of position and movement, and a free use of exercises to discipline and develop the muscles employed to wield the pen.
His idea was, as expressed in his own words, to present a system
" Plain to the eye, and gracefully combined To train the muscles and inform the mind,"
and he must be accorded the praise of having well achieved his high ideal.
The first publication of the system by himself was in the year 1848, and in the form of copy-slips with printed instructions. In this he was associated with Victor M. Rice, a former pupil, and afterwards superintendent of public instruc- tion for the State of New York. In 1859 he was induced to present the system in copy-book form. In 1861, in connection with his sons and Mr. James W. Lusk, an old pupil and well-tried friend, he revised his system and produced a new and beautiful series of copy-books, which were first published by Phinney & Co., Buffalo ; but in 1869 were transferred to the house of Ivison, Blakcman, Taylor & Co., of New York, the present publishers. The popularity of the system was shown by the fact that, during the year succeeding the publication of this series, more than a million of copics were distributed to the youth of the country.
Since Mr. Spencer's death the care of the system has fallen to his sons, assisted from time to time by other teachers of experience. And they have been enabled to build so well upon the noble foundation laid by the father, that his system now meets with perhaps wider use and favor than ever before.
Mr. Spencer's poetical spirit found early and frequent expression. His first attempt at versification, that has been preserved, was written at the age of twelve, when a pupil at Mr. Nettleton's school. This youthful effusion was again read at a reunion of the survivors of that pioneer school fifty years afterwards. It celebrated, in humorous style, the fall of the master through a rotten puncheon in the floor into an excavation beneath. His emerging thence, grected by the unbounded merriment of his scholars, is thus expressed in one stanza of the rhyme:
" He struggles up-he's out again, Greeted with sturdy roar, A shout that burst our paper panes, And died on Erie's shore."
Most of his poetical productions appeared from time to time under his own name or the assumed titles, " Clconora," " A Young Lady," and " The Western Bard," in the periodical press. These embrace poems humorous and sentimental, temperance and religious poems, and those historical and chirographic. They evince the presence of a genuine poetical instinct, and reflect well the rich current of their author's thought and feeling through life.
His favorite poet was Burns, and the influence of his fondness for that poet may be traced in some of his own productions.
His love for versification was continually manifesting itself, even in those things seemingly farthest remeved from the realm of the muses.
No prospectus for a writing class, no circular advertising his copy-slips, and no copy-book cover or sheet of instructions to accompany his slips or books, was regarded as complete without a few pertinent lines of poetry, which were usually of his own composition, and some of them veritable gems. On one of his copy - book covers we find the following :
" The tongue is not the only way, Through which the active mind is heard : But the good pen as well can say, In tones as sweet, a gentle word. Then speed we on, this art to gain,- Which leads all others in its train ; Embalms our toils from day to day,- Bids budding virtues live for aye ; Brings learning home, the mind to store, Before our school-day seeues are o'er."
In the calls for meetings of the historical society, which as its secretary he issued from time to time, he was wont to weave in bits like the following :
" Gather we from the shadowy past The struggling beams that linger yet, Ere o'er those flickering lights is cast The shroud that none cau penetrate."
It was this poctical spirit, in the main, that enabled him to throw about an art commonly regarded as dry and nninteresting a charm that made it attractive often to the most stolid and indifferent.
While Mr. Spencer's occupation through life was mainly that of a teacher, hc lived upon a farm which he owned and carried on. Though the work of the farm was intrusted to other hands, yet he was fond of joining at times in its labors: which afforded a pleasant and healthful relief from the confinement of his pro- fession. Fishing and bathing parties to the lake were also favorite recreations with him, into which he entered with the utmost zest even to the last years of his life.
In his domestic relations he was peculiarly happy. One could hardly be found fonder of his own fireside or more loved and respected there than was hc. Called much from home by his profession, it still remained to him the one grecnest, sunniest spot on earth. He wrote, --
" I would not change my humble eot, Reelining o'er blue Eric's waves, For India's richest, spiciest spot, With nought that friendship gives or craves."
These lines occur in a poem on " Home," written when that home was a log cabin in the woods. He loved to have his children about him, and for them would draw forth from his rich resources of knowledge, humor, and experience such things as would amuse and instruct, always inculcating lessons of the highest honor and truth.
In 1862 he met with a sad loss in the death of his wife. His intense sym- pathy for her in her long and trying illness, together with the affliction of her death, so wronght upon him that he seemed never to regain fully his wonted spirit and vigor ; nor, though continuing in the discharge of his duties, did he retain in the affairs of life the interest of former days.
He did not long survive his loved companion. As the spring of 1864 was beginning to open, his declining health obliged him to lay down his faithful pen, which was not again to be resumed. An illness protracted through several weeks, but comparatively free from pain, seemed to be yielding kindly to the treatment of his physicians, when an unexpected change in its character left little room for hope ; and on the 16th of May, -- when it was expected that he would still sur- vive some days or weeks, -- with scarcely a struggle, he passed peacefully away.
From the tributes to his memory we select the following from the gifted pen of his nephew, W. P. Spencer, as a fitting conclusion to this imperfect sketch of a truly noble, useful, and beautiful life :
" A debt of gratitude is due to thee, Great master of the Pen ! Thy beauteous forins, so bold, so free, In all the walks of life we see Amid the haunts of men !
" Wherever commerce spreads her wings To bear the wealth of trade, This noble art its offering brings, And ou its record daily springs The forms thy genius made.
" The Pen glides on, but others guide Its track along the page; But while time rolls its ceaseless tide, Who loves this art will point with pride To this, its golden age.
" Nor less thau in this peerless art Dost thou in memory shine ; For thou wast kiud and pure in heart,- In life's great drama was thy part Played with a will sublime.
1
110
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
" Gone but too soon, Teacher and Friend, Yet thou hast earned thy fame : It lives in all thy hand hath penned,- The work of art with which we blend Thy loved and deathless name."
HENRY CALEB AND HARVEY ALDEN SPENCER,
twin sons of Platt R. Spencer, were born in Geneva, Ohio, February 6, 1838. During infancy, childhood, and early manhood they bore such close resemblance to each other that even their own mother was often puzzled to distinguish between them. Their identity was the more difficult to establish from their roguish un- willingness during childhood to tell their names. When they were old enough to accompany young ladies to social gatherings, it was not unusual for one to es- cort home the young lady the other had called for, and spend an hour in the family circle without the slightest suspicion of the exchange on the part of the young ladies or their friends.
After the marriage of the brothers the continued resemblance caused laughable mistakes even on the part of their wives, cach of whom was confident of the supe- riority of her choice, and wondered that people in general could not observe the marked difference.
Persons who had met one of the brothers would invariably claim the acquaint- ance of the other ; so that for many years their friends and reputations were com- mon property. The pictures preceding this sketch show that after a separation of twelve years, living in different climates and under different conditions, the resemblance has not been maintained.
In childhood the "twins" were in constant companionship. They attended district and select schools, Hiram Eclectic institute, and the business college, manifesting early the family talent for writing and teaching. During their minority they taught writing-schools together and separately in East Ashtabula, at Ashtabula Harbor, Saybrook, Geneva, Jefferson, Madison, Hiram, and else- where. Their father gave each of his sons and daughters practical training as teachers by making them assistants in his numerous schools and classes.
Here it is proper that the twins be noticed separately.
HENRY C. SPENCER, at twelve years of age, was regarded by his father and other competent judges the best penman of his age in the country. He assisted his father in many of his writing-schools, and in the public schools of Buffalo and Sandusky. In 1858 he taught in the Bryant & Stratton Cleveland business col- lege, the first of the celebrated chain of colleges, and, being then nineteen years of age, was offered a partnership. Having other plans in reference to Spencerian, he did not accept.
In 1859 he was in charge of penmanship in the public schools of Buffalo and in the Buffalo business college. Subsequently, when the Spencerian copy-books were published for general use, hie introduced them and systematized instruction in penmanship in the public schools of many cities and towns cast and west. Among them were Rochester. Syracuse. and Oswego, in New York ; Detroit and Ypsilanti, in Michigan ; Richmond and Fort Wayne, in Indiana ; Madison, Wis- consin ; and St. Louis, Missouri. He was called the " Prince of Blackboard Writers." and in this respect never found a successful competitor.
In 1861 he located in New York city, teaching in the various institutions of the great metropolis and adjacent towns, introducing and firmly establishing the Spencerian system, and aiding in founding the Brooklyn business college. He also taught in the Bryant & Stratton New York business college.
In 1863 his father and himself had together prepared copies for engraving for new copy-books, and upon submitting them to Mr. Jas. W. Lusk, that he might select the mnost perfect, he selected for one book, from Henry's writing, twenty-two out of twenty-four of the written copies, and for another all of Henry's copies were chosen. His father was proud of the result.
In 1864 he was appointed superintendent of penmanship in the Bryant & Stratton chain of business colleges, comprising forty institutions located in the most important cities of the country. In December, 1864, he married, in Pough- keepsie, New York, Miss Sara J. Andrews, a talented and estimable lady, whose acquaintance he had formed in St. Louis. They have two promising boys.
In 1865 he had main charge of the revision of the Spencerian publications.
In 1866 he located in Washington, District of Columbia, where, for more than twelve years, he has successfully conducted the Spencerian business college, of which he is principal and proprietor.
As a penman his reputation and acquaintance is co-extensive with our country. He has instructed personally more than fifty thousand persons within twenty years, and has trained many teachers for the profession. His penmanship, on large specimens, may be found upon the walls of business colleges in all parts of the country.
Henry enjoys the confidence, respect, and fellowship of the best citizens of
Washington, and may be counted an honored representative of Ashtabula County at the national capital.
HARVEY A. SPENCER is a fine penman and an experienced commercial teacher. From 1864 to 1866 he was engaged as teacher in the business colleges of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Since then he has taught chiefly in the western and southern States.
He married, in 1866, a Boston lady, one of his pupils, who has the usual New England energy and force of character.
Mr. Spencer was for several years superintendent of writing in the public schools of St. Louis, and later occupied the same position in the public schools of New Orleans. He has traveled extensively through the south, teaching in the principal cities and towns.
During the last five years he has been a citizen of Dallas, Texas. He is busi- ness manager of the Commonwealth business college, and is also a dealer in Texas State lands.
Harvey has the genial characteristics of his father, a clear head, a ready flow of language, and a rare faculty of making warm personal friends.
LYMAN POTTER SPENCER,
youngest son of Platt R. Spencer, was born May 11, 1840. He early manifested a talent for drawing, inherited from his father. At the age of ten years he would draw striking likenesses, with pen or pencil, of those who sat for him, aud he also sketched readily and faithfully from nature. At the age of thirteen he designed and executed with pen the index page of Township Maps of Ashtabula County. This piece of work, remarkable for a boy, consists chiefly of appropriate lettering, pen portraits of Mr. Giddings and Mr. Wade, and may be scen in the office of the county auditor at Jefferson. Lyman was a faithful student in the district schools, attended Hiram Eclectic institute and Oberlin college. In September, 1862, Lyman was one of the Ohio "Squirrel Hunters," specially called out to protect the State from invasion. In June, 1863, enlisted as a private in the Second Regiment, Ohio heavy artillery, for three years or during the war. Was made quartermaster sergeant of the regiment, and subsequently promoted to second lieutenant, and acted as aide-de-camp on staff of Colonel H. G. Gibson. Was on duty with his regiment and disconnected from it, to the end of the war. Was engaged in actions in Cleveland, Tennessee, and Decatur, Alabama, aud in the celebrated battle of Nashville. To the pages of his sketch-book he committed many interesting views, and curious and amusing incidents of camp and army life.
Since the close of the war, with the exception of two years in the State de- partment at Washington, Lyman has been employed chicfly upon the publications of Spencerian penmanship, his skill in designing and producing work for the engraver being considered as eminently adapted to that work. Those who visited the Centennial Exhibition may have seen the remarkable display of Spencerian peumanship by the Spencer brothers. Prominent in the collection was a mammoth piece, the " Declaration of Independence," designed and chiefly executed by Lyman. It is without doubt the most artistie finished specimen of pen-work in the world. It is valued at five thousand dollars. With the soul of an artist, Lyman Spencer has studied and practiced art from boyhood, and produced many gems. Some of his fine vignettes and beantiful ornamental designs and many specimens of his matchless writing have been rendered imperishable by the en- graver, and multiplied in almost countless numbers by the press.
In 1863, Mr. Lyman Spencer, the subject of this sketeh, married Fidelia Bartholomew, daughter of Calvin Bartholomew, Esq., of Geneva, Ohio. She is a devoted wife and mother. They have four children,-two sons and two daughters, and reside in Washington, D. C.
PLATT R. SPENCER, JR.,
third son and namesake of his father, was born May 3, 1835, in Geneva, Ohio. At three years of age he entered school at Jefferson, where his parents were temporarily residing. Their return to Geneva two years later secured to him the advantages of the " old red school-house," near the homestead, and the healthful exercise incident to farm life. When eight years of age he entered the academy at Jefferson, his father being engaged, incidentally to his duties as county treas- urer, in teaching writing in the ball-room of the Jefferson. House. The youthful Platt was one of his most zealous pupils, and it soon became evident that the peculiar gifts of the father were inherent in the son. When he had attained the age of twelve years the fame of "Spencer's Log Seminary" was attracting pupils front all parts of the land, and Platt junior was relegated from the position of learner to that of assistant teacher. He labored successfully in this capacity, with
111
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
intervals of work upon the farm, until fifteen years of age, when he opened his first school in East Ashtabula, followed by others in neighboring towns. A year later we find him at Hiram college, zealously pursuing his studies and defraying his expenses by teaching writing. The same system of labor and study was maintained subsequently at Kingsville academy. In the spring of 1856 he entered Bryant & Stratton's college at Cleveland, and completed the business course during the following year, having charge of the writing department during the time. He then went to Pittsburgh as instructor in the Iron City college. The next year he became connected with the Bryant & Stratton college of Chicago, where he remained several years. Iu 1860 he assumed a similar posi- tion in the Bryant & Stratton college of Philadelphia. In December of this year Mr. Spencer married Mary Duty, of Cleveland, a lady of fine culture, a daughter of one of the pioneer residents of that city, and began his married life in Philadelphia. They have, living, four interesting children. A little later the certainties of civil war began to divert the energies of the youth of America from the peaceful pursuits of learning to the sterner duties of the camp and field. Mr. Spencer therefore turned his attention to a new field of labor and secured the position of teacher of writing in the publie sehools of Cleveland, which office he discharged for two years with great credit to himself and profit to the city. In 1863, Mr. Spencer became resident principal and half-owner of the Bryant & Stratton college of Indianapolis, and conducted a very successful business. While iu Indianapolis Mr. Spencer was baptized and confirmed in Christ church, of the Episcopal denomination, of which he is still an active member. In 1865, Mr. Spencer established the Spencerian Institute of Penmanship at Geneva, Ohio. The great advantages of the school, aided by the historic associations of the town as being the place where the illustrious author of the " Spencerian" had lived and labored, drew hither as pupils a great number of ladies and gentlemen from all parts of the Union. Mr. Spencer here enjoyed the privilege of residing at the " old homestead," amid the cherished associations of his boyhood ; but his duties became too burdensome, and the institute was removed to Cleveland and incorporated with the Union (old Bryant & Stratton) college. In 1877 he beeame sole owner of this college, and later changed its name to " Speneerian Business College." This eollege, under other names, has for twenty-six years occupied a leading position among schools of its kind; but under Mr. Spencer's intelligent management, aided by a large corps of teachers of wide experience and ability, and in the closest sympathy with his plans and principles, the college has attained a popularity hitherto unknown. In Mr. Spencer's peculiar department, his reputation as penman and teacher is second only to that of his father, and undoubtedly a greater number of the best penmen of the United States owe their proficiency to his instruction than to any other living teacher. But it is not alone in his skill with the pen that Mr. Spencer seems most worthily to bear his father's name. The same elose sympathy that existed between the father's pupils and himself seems to be a marked feature of the son's work as teacher. Mr. Spencer not only takes a genuine, practical interest in the welfare of all his pupils, but strives to imbue them with his own high sense of honor and refine- ment of taste and character. This has proved very helpful and elevating to his pupils generally, but especially to the young when at the formative period of character.
ROBERT CLOSSON SPENCER,
son of Platt Rogers and Persis Duty Spencer, the oldest of eleven children,-six sons and five daughters,-was born June 22, 1829, in the village of East Ashta- bula, Ashtabula County, Ohio ; removed in infaney with his parents to Geneva, in the same county, where he grew to manhood, attended the district schools, worked on the farm, with several terms at Jefferson and Kingsville academies ; graduated at Gundry's Mercantile college, Cincinnati, in 1851 ; soon after joined Hon. Victor MI. Rice in a commercial school at Buffalo, New York ; then united with Bryant, Stratton & Co. in organizing and extending their chain of commercial colleges, having charge successively of schools at Buffalo, Chicago, St. Louis, and at Mil- waukee, where he went in 1863, and has established his permanent residence.
At the outbreak of the war of secession he was in the St. Louis college, but joined the Union army under General Nathaniel Lyon. On his return to the St. Louis college, he found the sentiment in the school strongly disloyal. Con- federate flags were raised by students over their desks without objection from teachers. Mr. Spencer announced that the college would live or die under the Stars aud Stripes, and at onee proceeded to gather and destroy all emblems of secession that were displayed in the institution. This act drove away nearly all the students and made enemies of the secessionists in the community, but enlisted the warm sympathy and support of Unionists, and the college soon began to prosper more than ever before.
In 1865, Mr. Spencer led a reformatory movement in business colleges that separated him from Bryant & Stratton and some of his old professional associates and co-laborers. The movement caused a somewhat heated and bitter conflict, but resulted successfully in the formation of the International Business College associ- ation upon a basis that enlisted Mr. Spencer's hearty co-operation, in which he served two years as corresponding secretary and member of the executive board ; was then elected president, and in his annual address to the association outlined what was pronounced the most comprehensive, practical, and elevated view of the scope, functions, and future of business education and business colleges that had ever been presented. It was the opinion that the ground mapped out and the work indicated in that address comprehended all that could be accomplished in the next half-century.
In the field of business edueation Mr. Spencer's influenee and views are widely felt, and are distinguished for their solid merit and elevated character. Although his best energies are devoted to his eollege in Milwaukee, in the education and training of young men for business, he is at the same time an ardent and active friend of public schools, advocating and leading the most liberal and progressive measures on that subject. Through his instrumentality organizations have been formed in Milwaukee around the publie schools of the city " to promote publie education, encourage culture, develop social life, and foster general improvement in the interest of all the people." In the board of school commissioners of Mil- waukee he has done mueh for the improvement of the publie schools and the development of the school system.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.