Biography of Daniel Spencer Jr. by Claudia Sadler

Daniel was born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, July 20, 1794. His father, Daniel Spencer Sr. (1764-1844) was a shoemaker early in life and later a farmer and blacksmith. He also fought in the Revolutionary War. His mother was Chloe Wilson (1765-1845). Daniel went to the district school house in the winter and helped work his father’s farm in the summer. West Stockbridge exported marble to surrounding areas and Daniel at age 12, was frequently sent with loads of marble to Hudson City in the state of New York. Because of his father’s poor health received from the war, Daniel and his brother Theron were placed in charge of the family farm. One day Daniel’s plowing didn’t satisfy Theron. Theron scolded Daniel and when that didn’t remedy the trouble Theron endeavered to give him a flogging. Daniel wrestled Theron and held him until he promised not to try it again. When Daniel was 14 he was given charge of all the farm work. In 1813 he hired out to Joseph Cone of Harwington, Connecticut, He was first put to work as a farmer, but it was Daniel’s desire to travel as a merchant so he was given a chance. His first trip was in September of that year, carrying a load valued at $700 to New York. He returned after five weeks a successful merchant. in 1818 Daniel returned to West Stockbridge and entered into business himself. He borrowed $3,000 from a cousin and signed notes amounting to $10,000. This with the money he had saved, Daniel purchased $18,000 worth of merchandise. He hired Theron and Hiram to work with him, and later Claudius. The brothers carried freight in the winter to North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. In the summer they freighted in the New England States. Daniel worked for Augustine in his mercantile store for a short time and helped Augustine pay his debts. The following year Daniel opened his own store and began to acquire considerable property and influence. He built a large storehouse which housed a ballroom, owned the hotel and became Chairman of the School Board.

Daniel came from a close-knit family, and family councils were held often. His mother and father were active in the Baptist Church and Daniel was baptized by his brother Orson. In early 1839, Daniel was baptized by Elder Stephen Burnham in the Williams River. He issued a public notice that, at noon, on a certain day the ordinance would take place. He took Elder Burnham’s arm and walked down the main street of town to the river’s edge, where they broke the ice. Following his baptism he spoke in tongues. He became active in missionary work, and on April 19, 1840 became President of the newly organized Richmond and West Stockbridge Union Branch comprised of 30 members. He baptized his brothers Orson and Hiram and his son Claudius on August 18, 1841. In June 1842, Daniel and his family left for Nauvoo with wagons loaded with satinets, and broadcloths to open a mercantile business in Nauvoo. Orson and his family had left the year before to make preparations. Daniel traveled by wagons to Albany, New York, then went on a canal boat on the Erie Canal to Buffalo, from Buffalo to Chicago on a steamboat and then by wagons to Nauvoo. In Nauvoo, Daniel built a two story brick house on Block 11 Lot #2. He set up a mercantile store in the front of Orson’s house and purchased property for farming six miles from town (Section 6, 160 acres and Section 200 acres). He built a barn and farmhouse and shared the farm with his brothers. He was active in freighting farm produce, wood and stone. Daniel was among the top 10% of those of, financial ‘wealth in Nauvoo. In February 1843, he was elected a member of the City Council of Nauvoo, and in the April Conference of that year Daniel was called on a mission, to Canada. The prophet Joseph Smith asked him to go on an exploring expedition to find a new home beyond the Rocky Mountains on February 21, 1844 but was prevented from going by the death of the prophet. The following year in June 1845, Daniel (age~ 51) was, called to the Indian Mission. He left in August and suffered from the heat, mosquitoes and ague (malaria). When he returned on September 1, 1845, he suffered with fever and delirium for four weeks. He only partially recovered. While preparing his wife Sarah’s funeral, he took fever again for eleven weeks. During 1845, Daniel was active ‘ in Nauvoo as stockholder of the Nauvoo House Association, Committee on Foreign Relations and was made Foreman of the Grand Jury. On Sunday February 15, 1846 at 2:00 p.m., Daniel and his family started their exodus from Nauvoo. He was placed in charge of Company V. Among those under; his direction were Orson Spencer, Hiram Spencer, Daniel Cahoon, William Cahoon and Daniel Hendrix and others. When they reached the Mississippi, the winds were too strong to cross so they slept that night in their wagons and crossed by ferry the next afternoon on February 16 at 3:00 p.m. That day they camped on the west bank of the river in their tents. They moved on to the Sugar Creek Camp and arrived on February 21, 1846.. Daniel suffered much from rheumatism and ague but helped chop 5500 rails to procure food for his company. On March 9, they camped at Indian Creek, where he helped chop 1600 rails and suffered from chills and fever. In Winter Quarters, Daniel built a house for his family and plowed for wheat, hay And buckwheat. That winter he was made a bishop of one of the wards. In April, 1847, they had trouble with the Indians driving off and killing their cattle. He was appointed a member of the committee to visit the Indians on the subject. It was decided to give the Indians 500 bushels of corn and the Indians would try to restrain their men. Daniel outfitted Francis Hoggs, Elijah Newman and Levi Kendall with farming tools and seeds for the first trip to the Salt Lake Valley. In June 1847, Daniel and his family crossed the Elk Horn River by a log raft. His original company was reorganized, and he was made captain of 362 saints with Ira Eldredge as his assistant. At 9:00 a.m., June 22, 1847, all five organized pioneer companies left the Elk Horn for the valley. Daniel’s company was first to arrive, starting on September 19-24, 1847. They spent the first winter in the fort that was being built. In the spring of 1848, he built a temporary house located on North Temple and 3^rd West. He acquired farm land in the Sugarhouse area and spent his time building houses for other saints and planting vegetables. He planted his garden in March and soon found the climate was different from Nauvoo. In June 1848, he had trouble with the crickets eating all his barley and most of the wheat. The seagulls, came and stayed for two weeks and finally by July 2, they got the crickets out of the corn. In July, Daniel left with John Van Cott and Parley Pratt in search of a road to Bear River. They camped at the mouth of the canyon and named it Parley’s Park, then went up through to Silver Creek Canyon. Through July and August Daniel helped build the road to that point. As a member of the Council of Fifty, he helped write the constitution of the State of Deseret. In November, 1848 he purchased a great amount of land from Joseph Young located in Magna where the Garfield Smelter is now located. This land was used for grazing cattle and became known as the Toronto Ranch after Daniel’s death. On February 13, 1849, Daniel was sustained as President of the Salt Lake Stake, with David Fullmer and Willard Snow as counselors. Besides these duties, he acted, as Chief Justice of the Church and nearly all cases were tried under him. Daniel purchased property for Orson and built a one room adobe home for Orson’s children who had arrived from Winter Quarters in the fall of 1848. They stayed in the fort until their home, was finished in 1849. He purchased property on the north west corner of State Street and 3^rd South were he commenced to build a two story adobe home with two kitchens. At times there were sixteen people living in this home. He also purchased property in Emily Thompson’s name on the south west corner of State Street and 5^th South which was used for gardening and fruit trees. -In the semi-annual conference on September 6’, 1850, Daniel was placed on a committee with Willard Snow and Edward Hunter to transact business for the newly formed Perpetual Emigration Fund Company. The following year at the semi-annual conference of October 1852, Daniel (age 58) was commissioned to go to Europe on a mission. He arrived in England on December 20, 1852. His residence was the Mission Office at #107 Finch Street in Liverpool. A few days after his arrival, his son Claudius, who was also serving a mission in England, went to the London Conference to meet his father. "The meeting between father and son after so long an absence was truly affecting. There were no tears... Mr. Spencer is tall you know, his son is the reverse—and he clasped him in his arms as though never more to part, and held him without speaking for a minute or two. He is a good man, there is no mistaking him, but he looks as though he had suffered much." (Hannah Tapfield King Journal) After he was made President of the Mission on May 14, 1853, he traveled to conferences in Belfast, Dublin, Wales, Scotland, Sweden, Copenhagen, Stockholm and England. In 1855, Franklin D. Richards returned to England and asked Daniel to stay another year. Daniel wrote, "health is poor ... personal determination are to overcome all disease and enjoy good health, my spirits are good, feelings quite agreeable to stay another year." During the course of his mission, Daniel had several dreams to help him in his missionary work. On May 10, 1855, he asked for a dream concerning his desire to go to America to assist Erastus Snow in helping to immigrate the saints. He purchased a flute for his brother Orson and sailed on a British ship May 12, 1855. He docked at New York, took the train to Boston and Cleveland, a steamboat to St. Louis and teams to Atchison, Kansas, which was the starting point that year for the trek west. Daniel (age 61) was busy purchasing oxen, cattle, and flour for the immigrants. He spent days breaking oxen and wild Texas cows and completely wore out his boots, pants, hat and socks. He was also appointed magistrate to act as Justice of Peace in Atchison. His brother, Orson, came from St. Louis from his mission to visit him. On July 21, the outfits for all camps were completed. On his return to Boston he took the train to West Stockbridge to visit friends and relatives. He arrived back in Liverpool on August 25, 1855. On October 30, 1855, he received a letter from Brigham Young saying, "well pleased on labors in America and England and are at liberty to go home." In November, he received news of Orson’s death. Daniel set sail on March 15, 1856 on the ship Canada for Boston, bringing with him a gold pocket watch with his initials engraved, a silver head cane, and his patriarchal blessing, which was presented to him, written in gold letters and framed. The same day he departed from Liverpool, he received a letter to act as forwarding agent for the Perpetual Emigration Fund passengers. He arrived in Boston March 30 and stopped in West Stockbridge to visit. For the next six months the center of his activities was Iowa City, Iowa. He spent time inspecting camp grounds, making camp grounds, contracting lumber, purchasing supplies, building handcarts and traveling to Boston, New York, St. Louis and Chicago for bank loans.In the early part of August, Daniel expressed concern over the late start west by some of the pioneer companies. Franklin D. Richards assured him that there would be no problem with the companies traveling across the plains. On August 24, Erastus Snow called a council meeting of all those involved in the immigration. The council was composed of: Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Daniel Spencer, Cyrus W. Wheellock, Joseph A. Young, John Van Cott, William H. Kimball, Nathaniel H. Felt, George D. Grant and W.C. Durham. A vote was taken and the decision made to let all companies that were outfitted to travel through to the valley. His mission completed, Daniel left September 3 from Florence, Nebraska for home in Salt Lake. He had sent 2100 immigrants across the plains by handcart, 400 by wagons, built 200 handcarts, purchased 90 wagons and 1800 cattle. Upon his arrival in the valley October 4, he and Franklin D. Richards reported to Brigham Young the plight of the pioneer companies who had started late enroute to the valley. Franklin D. Richards returned to help rescue the immigrants and Daniel sent four wagons loaded with provisions. Daniel resumed his Stake President’s job and commenced to repair and paint his house. The remainder of his years were filled with more committees and farm life. In December, 1856, he was appointed treasurer to the University of Deseret and a member of the Board of Regents. He resumed his legislative work in the House for two terms (1856-8) and was a member of the Legislative Council for three terms (1861-5). Daniel died (age 68) at his home in Salt Lake of consumption (tuberculosis) on December 8, 1868 and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Daniel’s will was written so that property and money were left to each of his wives, and he was concerned in his will that sufficient funds be left for the education of his children. The provisions of the will were not carried out as Daniel had directed because Emily took the matter to court to receive a larger share of his estate. Daniel was faithful in accepting assignments. He was known for his faith, humility and self sacrifice. He was admired for his wisdom and his direct approach in speaking his mind. He had great power to heal the sick, rebuking the dreaded disease of cholera on many occasions.