When spring came Grandfather Spencer and family moved to Ashley, Illinois where for a few years they managed a hotel, then moved to the town of Nashville.  My parents continued to live on the farm.  I was born there.

Three years later the farm was sold to George Huegley whose wife still owns it, and we moved north of Nashville for a year.

In August, 1895, we went to live on Aunt Mattie Jack’s farm, located two miles south of Beaucoup, and five miles east of Nashville.  There the other children in the family were born, Vera, Florence, Herschel and Lillian, and there we spent many happy days.

Recalling a few of those days –

Springtime -- I’m reminded of a poem called “Apple Blossoms.”

Have you seen an apple orchard in the spring?

            In the spring?

An English apple orchard in the spring?

Have you walked beneath the blossoms in the spring?

            In the spring?

When the pink cascades are falling

And the cuckoo bird is calling? 

            In the spring?

If you have not, then you know not, in the spring,

            In the spring,

Half the color, beauty, wonders of the spring.

No sight can I remember half so precious,

No sight can I remember half so precious,

            Half so tender,

As the apple blossoms render, in the spring.

Yes, back of our house was an apple orchard and while I enjoyed the fruit, it was there glorious pink and white blossoms that I remember mostly.

Of course there was plenty of work in spring and summer, inside and out, and we helped with both, but often there would be a party on Saturday nights to look forward to, and some weeks a picnic.

Then there was always church, summer and winter and we usually attended.  On week days we walked to Beaucoup to school, but Sunday came and my mother and usually father were included in the group going to town, the two seated surrey was brought out and we rode in style.

Sunday was a day to look forward to.  We could wear our best clothes and sit in church with the other children dressed their best, to say nothing of listening to the services and joining in the songs lead by the town’s family doctor.

The doctor, short and stout of stature, would stand by the organ and sing with much enthusiasm, patting his foot on the down-beats in an effort to keep the congregation in time.  This we became accustomed to, but it always seemed to be a source of amazement to visitors who attended the church; however, his leadership produced what was supposed to be a number of good singers in the community who favored with duets and quartettes on all special occasions.  None of us, however, excelled in this line.

Our schooling led three of us to teaching school in the county.  But eventually we all came to St. Louis to live.

Figure 3: Dubois, Illinois-Vera Spencer teacher of the primary room.

Figure 4: Richview, Illinois School.  Ella Spencer-teacher.