From the Rock County Wisconsin mail list. Thought someone might be looking for info on SPENCER and DYE. >From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 763-764 JOHN C. SPENCER, of Janesville, Rock County, was born in the village of Little Falls, Herkimer Co., N.Y., May 17, 1838, the third son of A. C. and Lucina (DYE) SPENCER. The father was a native of Vermont, and of English descent; the mother was born in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., and came of Irish ancestry. In the autumn of 1845 our subject came with his parents to Danville, Ill., where his father followed the profession of school teacher. Later the family moved to Covington, Ind., and from there to Bloomington, Ill., in December, 1852, coming to Janesville. John C. SPENCER obtained the greater part of his education, which was somewhat limited, in the private schools of that early day. In the winter of 1849 he attended the school at Covington, the first term of the free public schools in Indiana. In his earlier boyhood he was employed during the summer in herding sheep and cattle on the Illinois prairies. In the summer of 1852 the young man drove team, hauling earth in the construction of the Illinois Central railroad, between Bloomington and Randolph Grove, and also north of Bloomington to the present site of Normal. He also drove one of the ox-teams (four yoke) employed in breaking the ground for the Phoenix nursery at Bloomington. The same year he secured employment with the Janesville Gazette, to carry papers one day each week; the newspaper was owned at that time by Levi ALDEN and Charles HOLT. In March, 1853, he entered the office to learn the printing trade, and with the exception of January and February, 1854, was ! constantly employed there for many years, filling in turn every mechanical position in the establishment. In 1877 he took charge of the local department of the Gazette as city editor, continuing in this position until 1896. At the formation of the Janesville fire department, in 1855, Mr. SPENCER was appointed torch boy of Water Witch No. 2, and had George PECK, afterward governor of the State, as his associate. He is still a member of that organization, having filled every official position in his company, and was secretary of the department for twelve years; assistant chief engineer for two years, and in 1885-86 chief of the department. He was assistant chief until 1892, when he was appointed chief engineer by Mayor ROWE, and holds that office to the present time. Many changes and much reorganization have taken place in the department during Mr. SPENCER's connection with it, each move advancing its efficiency, and many of these innovations have been brought about by Chief SPENCER, until at the present time the city of Janesville can take great pride in the possession of one of the very best fire departments in the West. No city of the same size can present a superior equipment or a better ! fire record. Mr. SPENCER is frequently appealed to for information regarding the history of Janesville and Rock County, so well versed is he in its every detail. Socially our subject belongs to the A.F. & A.M. and the I.O.O.F, and politically he is an outspoken Republican, though he never allows his politics to cause estrangements from his friends. Mr. SPENCER and Miss Helen M. BROWN, a native of Portage, Wis., and a daughter of the late Daniel G. BROWN, of Janesville, were united in marriage Oct. 30, 1870. This union has been blessed with six children: Marion E., born Aug. 28, 1871; Clara, Feb. 6, 1874; Llewellyn R., Jan. 30, 1882; Jessie, Nov. 13, 1884; Harrison M., Nov. 11, 1887; and Percy R., May 24, 1890. Marion was married to Joseph L. HAY, of Janesville, Aug. 1, 1897, and makes her home in the city, her husband being employed in the office of the Janesville Machine Co. Clara was married July 20, 1898, to Arthur H. BOEDEKER, of Blue Earth, Minn., where he is engaged in the mercantile business. The other children are still in the home of their parents, at No. 217 North Bluff street.