Spencer Isom Greer was born June 8, 1825 in Grayson
County, Virginia, as son of George and Nancy Isom Greer. In 1834,
his parents left Virginia and brought their family to Lawrence County,
Indiana where Spencer grew to manhood. He met and married Serena
Edwards there, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Cox) Edwards.
They were married in Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana on Oct 15, 1850. He
and Serena were the parents of nine children:
1) Frankie
b) before 1860
d) before 1860
Frankie is listed first in his mother's obituary
2) George W.
b) before 1860
d) before 1860
George W. is listed second in his mother's obituary
3) Mary Elizabeth "Betsy"
b) 1856 MO
d) 26 Jul 1878 Schuyler Co MO
4) David Isom
b) unknown
d) uknown
David is listed fourth in his mother's obituary.
5) John R
b) unknown
d) unknown
John is listed fifth in his mother's obituary.
6) Nancy Ann
b) ca 1865 MO
d) before 25 Apr 1910 (she was deceased prior to her mother's death
according to her mom's obit)
m) 29 Apr 1884, Scuyler Co MO, P.M. Epperson
7) Charles Wesley
b) 19 Aug 1869 Schuyler Co MO
d) 27 Oct 1886, Schuyler Co MO, aged 17 years 2 months, 8 days
8) Edward M
b) 24 Nov 1862 Schuyler Co MO
d) 2 Oct 1910 Unionville, Putnam Co MO
m) 29 Apr 1884 Schuyler Co, Anna Lucinda Jones
9) William Henry
b) 30 Apr 1871 Lancaster, Schuyler Co MO
d) 30 Oct 1943, Schuyler Co MO
m) 8 Apr 1896, Schuyler Co MO, Lulu Hortense Myers
Spencer and Serena came to Schuyler County in 1852, and settled at
Tippecanoe where they lived until the county seat was moved to Lancaster.
They then moved to a farm between Lancaster and Glenwood, where they lived
until they moved into Lancaster between 1885 and 1890. Spencer was in the
mercantile business in Schuyler County between his arrival in 1852 until
about 1857, when he sold out his business and turned his attention to
farming and stock raising. As he grew older and his health began to fail,
he sold his farm and moved to Lancaster, where he engaged in the banking
business.
In July, 1891, Spencer purchased Judge Caywood's lot on the corner
occupied by a tin shop, for $800. His intent was to build a brick business
building. According to a newspaper article dated September 1891, the
building would be ready by January 1. This building stood on the corner,
known as the Greer Building, until this past summer (2000) where age and
neglect took it's toll and the building began to fall. How sad to see
another part of our heritage lost forever.
Spencer Greer died January 17, 1904 in Schuyler County and was buried
January 18th, 1904 in the Lancaster City Cemetery by the I.O.O.F., of
which he was a member. Serena died April 25, 1910 in Lancaster. Her
funeral was held from her farm and she was buried in the city cemetery.