GEORGE STERLING SPENCER

by Hope Spencer Beus 1958

My father, George Sterling Spencer, was born October 13, 1870 on State Street, Salt Lake City. Later the family lived on Social Hall Avenue. He completed schooling only through the fifth grade. His first work was as office boy for John W. Young who was building the railroad from Salt Lake City to Park City. At fourteen father was earning his own living. He worked as cashier for Wells Fargo and five years for the Pacific Express Company as bookkeeper. It was while here that he met mother at a masquerade in her ward. He dressed as George Washington and she as Little Red Riding Hood. Two years later he met her again minus the masquerade and began courting her.

At their first meeting he heard a voice distinctly say, "She's to be your wife." He paid little attention to this, but on the second meeting the same thing happened. He inquired then and found she was the same girl he had met only in disguise two years before.

While cashier for Wells Fargo he was sent to Rawlings, Wyoming, a trouble spot at the time. The company had been unable to keep cashiers because of worry over hold-ups when the miners pay came in, which had occurred several times. The manager gave him guns and told him to put up a big front for his own protection. It was a part of his duty to check the messengers with gold and silver. One morning the messenger came early and father checked in so many sacks of silver and gold the safe and reserve boxes were filled. The overflow was stacked on the floor, After the messenger left he was alone. Suddenly a rough looking character came in and eyed the sacks and father for some time. He then came to the counter and said, "Barkus is willin!" Dad was trembling in his boots but he smiled and the man smiled in return and left. While here he stayed in the office practically day and night. He had no trouble but it was living under a heavy strain, At the end of two years he resigned and went to Chicago for a vacation.

As a boy father lived on his brother Victor's ranch in Idaho. This was because grandmother (Matilda Price) being a polygamous wife had to stay there some time. It was while here he gained his love of farming and ranching which he kept all of his life.

He remembered going with his mother to see Brigham Young's body lying in state. His mother had to lift him up to see as he was just six years old at the time. He remembered throwing something in anger at his brother Will and hitting him in the head. It was a hard blow. He was sent off immediately to bring the cows from pasture and all the way there and back he kept saying to himself "I hope he doesn't die, I hope he doesn't die."

Grandmother read often to him after he was tucked in bed at night* One of his boyhood favorites was Robinson Crusoe.

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A favorite form of recreation was attending the Salt Lake Theatre performances. He saw many of the finest actors of his day. He loved this, especially Shakespeare,

Grandfather (Claudius) did not favor his marriage to mother, having picked out someone else for him. It was celebrated quietly at home with grandmother Spencer making the cake herself. John R. Winder performed the ceremony in the Salt Lake Temple on the llth of April 1894,

Four days later he left for the mission field in England. He was there sent to Holland. He was mission president during his last 9 months there. When he returned home, work was hard to find. He wrapped parcels in ZCMI. Later he worked for the Old State Bank of Utah, later called the First National Bank, Heber J. Grant would not give him the raise in pay he felt entitled to, so he joined Zions Savings Bank and advanced to Executive Vice President. He served this bank for 50 years, retiring in 1950. Served in many church positions, as high council member of the Granite Stake, counselor to President Frank Y. Taylor of the same stake, bishop of the Forest Dale Ward, Patriarch and member of the Church Auditing Committee.

He was member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and sang in the Tabernacle Choir for several years when single.

According to his own statement he was interested in everything. He loved flowers, children, out-of-doors fishing, hunting and baseball. As his health failed in the last few years of his life the last thing he gave up was work in his flowers. Two other loves were his home on the Weber and reading. By nature he was reserved, rather abrupt, humble and generous.

I love and admire him for many things, especially for his devotion to the truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that anything the Lord would ask of him he would gladly do. He had an unshakeable integrity and a good sense of humor, It was always been a source of regret that we lived so far from him our children did not have the opportunity to know him well.