ON THE JOB

 Today we are going to feature George Mitton Spencer Sr. (not on the fan) father of George Mitton Spencer Jr. (on the fan - next to  Eliza Ann Smith who is featured in dark orange).  George Sr. and George Jr. were both farmers.  He and his father were born, raised, farmed and died in Edenham, Lincolnshire, England.  They raised crops such as potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, wheat, barley and sugar beets.
George Jr. died when he was 32 years old, several years after he married Eliza Ann Smith, two years after his first son George was born and two months after his son, William James Spencer was born, pictured below (our ancestor).  With his young widowed mother and slightly older brother, this small trio managed to get to the Salt Lake Valley.  William had many jobs in Utah.  He served in Johnston's army, did some farming, building and supporting of his mother.  You remember that his mother, Eliza Smith, became the plural wife of Joseph Harker (dad's relative).  Joseph Harker was off on missions and William and his brother George really provided for their mother.  Eliza Smith worked as a part-time teacher to help the family.  William continued to work in various jobs.  He held public office, he was a road supervisor and supervised and built the South Jordan Canal.  He was a Justice of the Peace and was said to be just and fair.  He was a school trustee and built desks and classrooms to support the growing number of children in the Taylorsville area.

William James Spencer