JUDGE SPENSLEY IS LAID AT REST
Lamented Pioneer of Galena is Interred At That Place Monday
BORN IN DUBUQUE COUNTY
Life of Deceased Was For Years Prominently Interwoven With History of Town

Galena, Ill, Feb. 14 – Special Judge William Spensley, one of Galena's pioneer and most prominent citizens who passed away on Saturday, was laid at rest in Greenwood on Monday afternoon.

Funeral services were held from the house. Rev. E. K. D. Hester, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, officiating. Services at the grave were conducted by Galena Commandery No. 40 Knights Templar. Interment was made in Greenwood, the pall bearers being, Judge Richard S. Farrand, Judge James S. Baume, J.C. Scott, J. B. Ginn, George S. Avery and Dr. M.H. Cleary.
Judge Spensley was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, but when a boy removed with his parents to Vinegar Hill township, Jo Daviess county. He received his education in the Platteville academy and took up the study of law in the office of Attorney E. A. Small of Galena, being admitted to the bar on January 27, 1866. Two years later he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Low, whose death occurred in July, 1907. Of this union were born six children, four of whom survive. These are, the Misses Jessie, Harriet and Mary Ethel, and a son, Roscoe, of Hibbing, Minn.
Judge Spensley engaged in the practice of law continuously in Galena for a period of over forty-four years. During that time he was an attorney in many cases of importance, and besides this was the legal adviser of numerous estates. He was elected county Judge of Jo Daviess county in 1872, which office he held for one term.
The deceased was a prominent member of the Masonic order, being a member of the four Masonic bodies in Galena at the time of his death. He was the oldest member in point of years of Miners Lodge No. 273, A.F.&A.M. and was a Past Eminent Commander of Galena Commandery No. 40, Knights Templar. He was also a charter member of the Galena Camp of Modern Woodmen.
Judge Spensley was considered an authority on the early history of Illinois and Iowa. He was a fluent writer and speaker and had delivered addresses at many cities in Illinois and Iowa upon political and historical topics. His most recent visit to Dubuque in that capacity was last year when he delivered the address of the day before the Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association.
A meeting of the Galena Bar association was held on Monday morning at which time resolutions were drafted and passed unanimously, expressing the sympathy to the family of the deceased.
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SPENSLEY, WILLIAM was born in Dubuque County, Iowa. His parents were English, having emigrated to the United States in 1829. He was reared to manhood in the township of Vinegar Hill, Ho Daviess County, Ill. where, during the winter months he attended the common school and in the summer worked for his father who was engaged in the smelting business. He attended Platteville Academy, located at Platteville, Wis., but did not graduate. In the year 1864 he began the study of law in the office of the late E.A.Small, then a leading lawyer in the city of Galena, was admitted to the bar on the 27th of January, 1866 and at once opened an office in Galena. On June 4, 1868, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Low. Six children were born to this union. In 1873 he was elected County Judge of Jo Daviess County, Ill., serving in that position four years, but declined a re-election and has ever since devoted himself to his profession. In politics he has always been a Republican and in 1888, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, which nominated Benjamin Harrison for President. In religious matters he has always cast his lot with the Methodist Episcopal Church.