HISTORY OF GEORGE STERLING SPENCER

By Claudia Spencer Sadler

George Sterling Spencer was born on October 13, 1870 at the Spencer House located on the west side of lst East (State Street) between 2nd and 3rd South in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Claudius Victor Spencer and Matilda Price. Claudius was the eldest son of Daniel Spencer and was born in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He had lived in Nauvoo and at age 23 traveled to Utah with his father and uncle, Orson, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on September 23, 1847. Matilda was a convert to Mormonism in Birmingham, England in 1852. At age 18 she left her family in England and traveled in care of friends to Utah, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1861. Matilda was the fifth of Claudius' polygamous wives.

The Spencer House, built by Claudius, was a rather pretentious mansion. It was a beautiful home and the surroundings were of such character that the place was one of the points of interest and visited by tourists. George was 6 years old when Brigham Young died and he remembered going with his mother to see the body of the prophet lying in state. He was present in the stable when Orrin Porter Rockwell died on June 9, 1878. George completed school through the fifth grade. His mother having a very sweet spirit often read to him as she tucked him in bed and one of his boyhood favorites was Robinson Crusoe.

Little is known of George's boyhood but we do know his mother, because of the polygamous situation, had to leave Salt Lake on occasions with her three young children, William Samuel, George Sterling and Edward Price, and travel to Uncle Victor's ranch. This ranch was located in Almo on the Raft River, which is south of Burley, Idaho, close to the Utah-Nevada state line. She disliked this place, being a place of sagebrush and hills with very few shade trees. Uncle Victor had the Spencer boys up to the ranch on various occasions and Matilda kept house for him. George enjoyed his stays at the ranch. He would travel to distant areas for timber for buildings and fences to make the farm livable.

After the Manifesto in 1890 George, his mother and two brothers moved to a home owned by Claudius located at 32 South 2nd East. This home was known as the Spencer Boarding House. Matilda was the proprietor and cook. As a polygamous wife, Matilda's life was often that of a pioneer woman. She worked hard and supported herself by running the boarding house.

At age fourteen George was earning his own living. He started out working as an office boy for John W. Young, who was building the railroad from Salt Lake City to Park City. He later worked as a cashier for Wells Fargo and Company for five years and as cashier and office manager for the Pacific Express Company in Wyoming. He was often worried, for there had been a number of holdups and roughnecks would come into the office. On one occasion he thought he was going to be shot, but the men turned out to be drunk. He decided to quit this worrisome job and he took a trip to see the Eastern United States on his own.

At his first meeting with Fanny Elizabeth Ostler he heard a voice distinctly say, "She's to be your wife." He paid little attention to this but on the second meeting two years later, when the same thing happened, he began to inquire about her. He was working at Z.C.M.I. as a cashier and singing in the Tabernacle Choir. Fanny was also singing in the choir at the time. He sang in the choir for four years. They were married on April 11, 1894 when he was 24 years old and she 23. His father Claudius did not favor the marriage as he had someone else in mind for George to marry. The marriage ceremony was performed by John R. Winder in the Salt Lake Temple, which had been dedicated less than a year. Following the ceremony they had a quiet celebration with Matilda baking the wedding cake. Three days after their marriage, on April 4, 1894 he received a mission call to England. He accepted the call and went on his mission with few finances. Fanny went to live with her parents where she helped them in the home, taking care of their large family. She also helped support George in the mission field by sending him money she earned by sewing for a dressmaker.

When George arrived in England, Anthon H. Lund, who was President of the European Mission and also a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, was inspired to send him to the Netherlands. George remembered President Lund meeting with the large group of missionaries and looking them over quite carefully. Finally he spoke to George and said "Brother Spencer we have changed your call to Holland, there is a boat leaving tonight, plan to be on it." When George arrived in Holland he could see the need for help. The morale of the missionaries was low and things weren't progressing. His grasp of the language was very unusual and in a short time he could not only talk Dutch but could also write well enough to begin a publication of a missionary paper. He saw the need for the saints and the missionaries to have a paper that would bring to them the gospel in the way of sermons, instructions and messages from the First Presidency. When he became mission president on March 17, 1896, during the last year of his mission, he established a paper to fulfill these needs. He wrote in his introduction to the paper that he hoped the paper "would be like the star that led the wise men to Christ." George had some wonderful experiences while in Holland that brought him very close to his Heavenly Father. On one occasion he had the unpleasant experience of a trial of one of the members for immoral conduct and he was shown in a dream how it should go. On another occasion, which was probably the most striking experience he had while on his mission, he saw an evil spirit. One of his faithful branch presidents became over zealous and became subject to a bad spirit and was incapacitated, rolling around on his bed, going through the most extreme contortions. George took him by the hand and in the authority he held and in the name of the Savior rebuked the evil spirit and commanded him to leave. The effect was dramatic and the brother was immediately well and George saw the evil spirit leave the room. When he received his mission release he wrote a farewell to the L.D.S. people of Holland. In "De Ster". He admonished them "to be true defenders of the gospel and hold high the light entrusted to your care as an example for all men, so that many yet may take courage to break the chains of darkness and glorify our Father." He sailed for home on December 3, 1896. At the time of his death in 1957, this paper "De Ster" was still being published. George had a number of other dreams to help him in his missionary work and he was very instrumental in building a high morale among the missionaries.

Upon returning to Salt Lake, following his 33 month mission, he had acquired a mustache and beard which he thought made him more distinguished looking. Fanny did not recognize him when he came to the door and wouldn't let him in. There wasn't enough money to build a home so George and Fanny set up housekeeping: in a remodeled chicken coop located at 632 St. Louis Avenue, approximately one block north and east of Fanny's family home. Fanny's mother died while George was on his mission and George wanted her to be close by to help her father with her young brothers and sisters. Work was hard to find but George found a job wrapping parcels in Z.C.M.I. At this time there was a building project in the ward where they lived and they were asked to contribute $50. They had practically nothing, but they gave it all. Their first child blessed their home in 1898 and they named him Orson after George's great uncle Orson Spencer. In 1900 George started work for the First National Bank of Salt Lake City as a bookkeeper. After a while, he noted that President Heber J. Grant wouldn't give him the raise in wages he thought he deserved so he left that institution and on June 1, 1900, he began work for Zions Savings Bank. In January of that year twin daughters were born, Louisa Ruth and Laura Matilda. George and Fanny now moved from their remodeled chicken coop to a home located on the block south and west of the Ostler home at 372 North 6th West. In this home they began raising their family when the typhoid and whooping cough epidemic hit Salt Lake. They lost all their children within 11 days. Orson age 2 years and 3 months died on August 26. Louisa on August 17 and Laura on August 15 at ages 7 months. They were so upset they decided to terminate keeping house on their own and lived with Fanny's older sister Louie, (Sarah Louisa Ostler Barber ) for a short time and then moved in with George's mother Matilda at the Spencer Boarding House.

In the summer of 1901 they made a fresh start by purchasing some ground in Forest Dale from George M. Cannon. He was selling only to friends of his who were L.D.S. Originally the land was part of Brigham Young's farm. Fanny was approximately five months pregnant and to help her get enthusiastic about the house he set her up in a tent next to their home site while their home was being constructed. The home was finished in the fall in time for the birth of a son George Q. in November. The home was a four room brick house known as No. 824 Ashton Avenue. A small conservatory was built in the southwest corner with two walls of glass. Here they grew plants, which they used to beautify their lots. They had land behind their two home lots where they had their animals and assorted fruit trees. They tried to keep it as rural as possible within the city ordinances. George had great love for the soil and plants and often he wanted to become a farmer, but his mother begged him not to because of the hardships she experienced as a polygamous wife on the Raft River. In the years following 1901 through 1908 three more children were born, Claron Ostler, Hope and Ione and in 1910 twin boys, Joseph Ostler, and Hiram Ostler. When the twin boys arrived George decided that if children were going to come two at a time, he would have to enlarge the house. So he had his Uncle Eli Edwin Price build a two story red brick home to the east of the original home. It was a lovely sunny home. It. had a large dining room and living room across the entire width of the house. This opened into a parlor and entry hall. Many parties for friends and relatives were held in the home, including parties for bank employees. The Ostler's enjoyed family parties and often congregated in such gatherings. George's uncle, Walter Lawrence Price was in the wholesale produce business and he would bring in crates of oranges and big stalks of bananas for the parties. The home seemed like a palace to the children. It was in this home that their seventh child Elizabeth was born. The rooms were furnished with heavy oak furniture and beautiful carpets. One of the items of furniture, which impressed the children, was a walnut dining table, which could be expanded to accommodate a large group for dinner. The pieces of walnut had been selected so that the grain in the wood formed a star in the middle of the table. In 1913, three years after his father's death George brought his mother to Forest Dale to live in the little house next door and also an orphaned girl named Jeanett Rudelett. Jeanett's mother and father had lived in the Spencer Boarding House on Social Hall Avenue. Her mother died while she was quite young and then her father died when she was in her teens. When Matilda came to live at No. 824 Ashton Avenue, George brought Jeanett to live with her. Matilda lived in that home until her death at age 77 in 1920. Jeanett then moved in with George and Fanny. She went on a mission at which time George and Fanny supported three missionaries at the same time, George Que, Claron Ostler and Jeanett. She later moved to Washington D.C. when she was in her late 20's and never married. George and Fanny were very generous and often took people in. In 1914 George was called to serve on the Granite Stake High Council. One of his many assignments on the council was as chairman of the Elders Quorum Committee. He said to the committee that they had been given a great job to do. "We must humble ourselves before the Lord. There are many who need help and we must get the inspiration to touch them - touch their hearts and bring them into activity in the Church. We must teach them that they hold the Priesthood of the Living God." He was inspired to go into the homes and meet with the twenty elders quorum presidencies and their wives. He talked to the wives and told them what their husbands were called to do and asked for their help. Both husbands and wives worked together. Tithing increased, love at home increased and great progress was made in living the gospel. George believed that the physical welfare was needed too, so he organized a baseball league among the Elders Quorums. This physical activity increased the brotherhood in the stake. It was during this time in 1914 that George was invited to go up the Upper Weber River Valley with other members of the High Council and the Granite Stake Presidency and find a place for the group to build summer homes. This was the beginning of the Pines. George walked along the mountainside looking for a spring and when he found it he picked that spot as his cabin site. The Pines was dedicated by President Joseph F. Smith as a place of "peace and wholesome recreation. George loved the Pines. He often brought Matilda up to the cabin. He had great love for the beauties of nature. He would often say, "remember the tall straight pine trees, steadfast and firm, reaching heavenward - we should pattern our lives likewise". In 1930 George purchased the cabin directly east of the Spencer cabin. This cabin was owned by Howard Lee Taylor, son of Frank Y. Taylor. The Taylor's didn't have any children and his wife was ill with spinal meningitis and could no longer enjoy their cabin. He gave George first right of refusal to the cabin. George and Fanny's generosity was such that they would give the keys to that cabin to the not so fortunate families in the Forest Dale Ward and tell them to use it.

In January of 1918 George was promoted to the position of cashier at Zions Savings Bank. In 1935 he became active manager of the bank and served as Vice President and Executive Vice President until his retirement in 1950. From the time he became cashier until his retirement as Executive Vice President, he piloted the bank in growth both in assets and deposits. All of this was accomplished during some of the most hectic periods in the economic history of the United States. He was humble during his successful business administration and never hesitated giving credit to others for a job well done. The board of directors of the bank at his death said: "He often made supplication to the Lord for inspiration in making the weighty decisions which daily had to be made. His rare foresight could have come from no other fountain. His integrity and loyalty were unblemished and he never selfishly profited or took advantage of opportunities which often are presented to one in his position. His every thought and effort were for the welfare of the institution he served."

A severe influenza epidemic hit the country in 1918 and George caught the flu, which turned into pneumonia. He was practically recovered when he reclined near an open window and the pneumonia worsened. He almost died, but a Swedish nurse named Teekla N. Jansson, who had come to America on her own and was befriended by George at the bank, came to nurse him back to health. She was the nurse in the home from then on. One of the highlights of life in the Spencer home was home night. George would sing and Fanny would play the piano. He told stories and taught the gospel. He had a sense of humor which was demonstrated when he shot his shotgun out of the house window at a cat or telling teenagers that it was late and time to go home and get to bed. (Good night Elias story)

On May 25, 1924 he was made second counselor to President Frank Y. Taylor in the Granite Stake Presidency. He served in this position for four years, and then became first counselor in 1928. He then was released from the Stake Presidency and sustained as bishop on February 11, 1929 in the Forest Dale Ward, which needed to undertake a building program. He served as bishop for two years.

George loved all kinds of animals and birds. He kept on his farm in Forest Dale, cows, ducks, pigeons, bull dogs, pigs, chickens, horses, sheep, goats and game cocks. He treated his animals kindly, giving them extra grain on holidays. For activities he liked to garden and read. He hunted ducks, geese, and deer and he enjoyed fishing. On one fishing trip to the Snake River his fishing companions discovered a nice hole to fish. They fished Friday and hoped to fill up but didn't. So they fished Saturday and still did not catch their limits. Frank B. Bowers reported at his funeral: "Two men in the group were not members of the Church and did not understand the importance of the Sabbath, so they said let's fish early Sunday morning and see if we can load up. Everyone went fishing but Brother Spencer, and the fishing was great. Brother Spencer paced up and down the river and then he put on his boots and paced up and down the river watching us haul in the fish. We could tell he was much distressed but he never went for his pole." He was admired and loved by all who knew him and for one man in the fishing party it was the last time he went fishing on Sunday.

Hiram left for the German-Austrian Mission in 1931, and as he left he said, "don't sell the old home, I want to come back to it." There had been some thought of selling the home, with three children married and the others growing up. But with Hiram gone it was decided to keep the home. He died in the mission field at Basil Switzerland. George and Fanny were heart broken. Although the gospel sustained them, they could not attend missionary farewells for several years.

The next year, 1934, they moved to a home located in the Parley's Ward. The address of the home was 2002 East 21st South. On their land behind the home, George planted acres of peonies of every color. He loved flowers and he got up early in the morning to tend the peonies. He gave them to the hospital in Salt Lake, to the people in Oakley for their chapel and to many others. He planted three sycamore trees on the lot where the Bill Gillespie home now stands, with the intention to build a home for Fanny but never did. Soon after they moved into their home George built a home close by for Fanny's widowed sister, Aunt Millie (Emma Melvina Ostler Gillespie) He wanted Fanny to be close by her family. On May 16, 1943 he was ordained a patriarch in the Highland Stake by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith. The next year in 1944 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a family dinner followed by an open house at the Lion House. George was a member of the Church Finance Committee and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He stood about 5' 7" and weighed 150 lbs. He had brown hair, brown eyes and he had excellent health. He had a brilliant and resourceful mind. He was a man of rare soundness of judgement and sweetness of character. He had unsurpassed devotion to his wife and deep love for his children. Anything the Lord would ask of him, he did gladly. Fanny died September 26, 1957 and George died 8 months later on May 31, 1957 at the age of 86.