William "Billie" Washington Spence

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From FindAGrave:

William Washington "Billie" Spence was the son of William Spence and Phoebe "Faraby" Grubbs. He was born May 19, 1927 and died October 24, 1920. He married Susan Ann Brown on May 16, 1849 in Pike County, MS. Susan was the daughter of Daniel Brown and Catherine Rooks. Records at the China Grove Methodist Church indicate that Billie was baptized there.

As per his death certificate, he died October 24, 1920, of old age. Both Billie and Susan are buried in the Spence Cemetery, Salem, on property they owned and he designated for the family cemetery. The first intermittent in the Spence Cemetery was probably that of their daughter, Rosa Angeline Spence, born June 12, 1870 and died before August 25, 1870. She may rest between them in a no longer marked grave, as there is a large space between theirs.

The original house of Billie and Susan Brown Spence was located in the flat land on a small creek just northwest of the Spence Cemetery and almost directly behind the current home of Shirley Pigott Curtis. The land is now owned by Houston and Mary Jo Spence Brumfield. They have built a modern day log cabin on the exact location of the original log cabin. Remains of the old well are still there.

Billie is recorded as having bought 350 acres in Salem from John Yarborough Oct 1870 for $700. (NW qr of SW qr, sect. 17, T 3, range 11 east; NE qr of SW qr; South 1/2 of NW qr and South 1/2 of SW qr; west half of NW qr, sect. 20 & NE qr Sect. 19) Deed recorded Dec 16, 1871 in Book R. page 743. There is no earlier record of land ownership that has been found.

This is the only deed I have been able to locate, except for one for the cemetery itself. The cemetery deed is dated May 23, 1972, Walthall County (range 11E Township 3N Section 17, SW quarter of SW quarter.)

The size of the cemetery is listed as "210' X 105'", which is one-half acre. Note that although the cemetery existed obviously for many years, the land it occupies was part of the land in the original 1870 deed. The cemetery deed was drawn up in 1972 to clear up some dispute of the boundary line between it and the neighboring Hezzie and Thelma Rushing Dunaway family. (The elevation of the cemetery is 397 feet. It is at longitude 90 degrees and latitude 31 degrees.)

William Washington died on Sunday night, October 24, 1920. He is buried next to Susan, his wife of more than 53 years.

His obituary in the Tylertown Times written by W.M. Lampton, reads:

"Uncle Billy Spence died on Sunday night October 14, age between 94 and 98 years. There are about 250 descendents. It was my pleasure to have known him upwards of 60 years and during that time I never knew of him having trouble with anyone. If he ever had a court case I didn't know of it. To my knowledge he never took a train ride but once, and that was during the War Between the States, from Summit to Brookhaven and return. He served his country as a Militiaman. This consisted of boys between 16 and 18 and men over 40. He was never called to duty, but ready to respond. His wife died some 17 years ago, they having been married when she was only 13. It was my pleasure to visit him on seven occasions in the last six years. No one who has departed this life is more sure of Heaven than he. What a pleasure it would be to us all to know that we too were so sure of Heaven. I have been in business for 51 years during which time Mr. Spence has been a regular customer of ours and he has always paid his debts promptly." (Note that there is an error in the date of death. Indeed Billie died on Sunday, but the date should read October 24, not 14. His actual age at death was 93 years.)

THE COLUMBIAN 1920 -- Nov 04, 1920

WILLIAM W. SPENCE DIES

William W. Spence, 94 years old, one of the oldest persons of Walthall County, died at his home about 9 miles north of here on the night of the 24th. "Uncle Billie" as he was known, was born and spent his life in this community. He was the father of 13 children, eleven of whom survive him, together with more than 200 descendants. His wife died about 17 years ago. In spite of his advanced age he was able to get around the place until about a week ago. Funeral services were held by Rev. H. A. Gatlin, after which interment took place at the Spence Cemetery. -- Tylertown Times

Newspaper info by Shirley Fortenberry Ramshur.

A full list of the children of William Washington "Billie" Spence and Susan Ann Brown all born in the Salem Community, Pike (current Walthall) County, MS:

James Marion "Jimmy Spence born 27 Nov 1851, died 24 Aug 1925 Walthall Co., MS, buried Boyd Cemetery; m/ 10 July 1872 to Sarah Elizabeth Gartman and had nine children.

John "Wesley" Spence born 24 Feb 1854, died before the 1880 census; m/ Mary Ann Walters and had one daughter.

Quinea Louis "Quinny" and "Q.L." Spence born 7 Aug 1856, died 26 Jan 1923 Walthall Co.; buried Spence Cemetery; m/ 29 Jan 1873 China Grove Methodist Church to Maranda Jane Duncan; 16 children.

Henry Jabes "Jabe" Spence born 6 May 1859, killed when hit by a train in a new buggy 28 Oct 1933, Walthall Co.; m/ 29 Jan 1873 to Mary E. "Molly" Andrews. No known children. m/ 5 March 1892 to Vickie Brewer. No known children.

William A. "Willie" Spence born 31 May 1861; m/ Mary Conklin/Coglin. No further info.

Mary Matilda "Molly"and "Sissy" Spence born 28 Oct 1863, died 5 June 1938 Walthall Co.; buried Tylertown Cemetery; m/ before 1880 census to Calvin Anderson Beard; 12-13 children.

Susan Abagale "Abbie" Spence born 25 March 1866, died 3 Feb 1943 Walthall Co.; buried Spence Cemetery; m/ William James "Billy" Duncan; 9 children.

Joseph Packwood Spence born 13 Jan 1868, died 16 July 1931 Montpelier, St. Helena Parish, LA; m/ 23 Dec 1886 to Emma Beard; 4 children.

Rosa Angeline Spence born 12 June 1870, died before 25 Aug 1870 Salem, Pike Co., MS; most likely buried Spence Cemetery.

Thomas W. "Tommie" Spence born 9 June 1872, died 28 Feb 1939 Walthall Co.; buried Spence Cemetery; m/ 27 Dec 1887 to Harriett R. Yawn. No known children. m/ 15 April 1891 to Ella Marbury; 8 children. m/ 10 June 1913 to Myrtis Boyd. No known children.

Jesse Oscar Spence born 28 Dec 1873, died 12 April 1940 Walthall Co.,; m/ 6 Jan 1890 to Eliza Ginn; 2 children.

Walter Howard Spence born 31 Aug 1876, died 2 Feb 1949 Shreveport, LA; buried Spence Cemetery; m/ c1893 to Fanny May Oren; 5 children. m/ 16 Aug 1930 to P.J. Foxworth; no children.

Benjamin M. "Bennie" Spence born 15 Nov 1879, died Dallas, Texas; m/ 17 Nov 1900 to Julia Moak. No further info.

Of the above thirteen children, only five are buried in the Spence Cemetery:

Quinny and wife, Maranda Jane Duncan Spence

Abbie and husband, Billy Duncan

Rosa (died as infant and was the first burial in the cemetery; grave is now unmarked and is probably in the space between her parents, Wm. W. and Susan)

Tommie and wife, Ella Marbury Spence

Walter

The other children are buried as follows:

Jimmy and wife, Sarah Elizabeth Gartman Spence in Boyd Cemetery, Salem

Molly "Sissy" and husband Calvin Beard in Tylertwon Cemetery

Joseph and wife, Emma Beard Spence in Montpelier Cemetery, St. Helena Parish, LA

Jesse – unknown (his wife, Eliza Ginn Spence is in the Sim Morris Cemetery, Walthall Co., but no record of him being there)

Jabe - Rylie Cemtery, Dallas Co., TX

Bennie - Dallas, TX

Wesley and Willie – unknown

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