Santa Clara County
Biographies
DR. HUME ALEXANDER SPENCER
Numbered among the pioneers of 1852 in San Jose was the Spencer family, which has since been identified with the growth of this city. The head of the family at the time of its emigration across the plains was A. J. Spencer, M.D., a native of St. Lawrence county, N.Y., a graduate of the old Jefferson Medical College, and a man of marked professional ability, polished and refined, an uplifter of society and a typical representative of the old school gentleman. These qualities were his by inheritance as well as training, for his father, Alexander Spencer, a native of Spencertown on the Hudson river, was himself a man of superior character and mental attainments, and while superintending his farm lands also engaged successfully in the practice of law. During his early professional career Dr. Spencer practiced in the vicinity of Syracuse, N.W., with the exception of a short time in South Carolina. From New York, he removed to Plainfield, Ill. During the exciting period of 1849 he crossed the plains in a wagon-train and after his arrival at Placerville combined medical practice with prospecting and mining. After two years there ill health caused him to return to his eastern home, the trip being made via Panama, but an experience with the severe winter of 1851-52 reminded him so forcibly of the mild and genial climate of the Sunset state that he made preparations to remove there with his family.
Accompanied by his wife and two children, Dr. Spencer left for the west. At St. Joseph, Mo., he joined a caravan with mule teams and followed the old California trail. In October of 1852 he landed in San Jose, and afterward built up an extensive practice as physician and surgeon extending through Santa Clara county and the region surrounding. His broad professional knowledge and his skill in surgery gave him a standing surpassed by none, and made him an influential member of the various medical associations of county and state. After a continuous practice in this region and the east of about thirty-five years he retired and removed to Florida where he died in 1882, aged about seventy-six years. There are still living old settlers of the Santa Clara valley who testify from their own experience as to his remarkable skill in surgery.
By his first marriage Dr. A. J. Spencer had a son, Hon. Francis E. Spencer, who held a high rank among the attorneys and jurists of the Santa Clara valley and made his home in San Jose until his death in 1899. The doctor's second marriage united him with Eleanor Wright, who was born at Ticonderoga, N.Y., and became one of the first housekeepers at Congress hall, the now famous Saratoga Springs hotel. The ties of kindred allied her with various notable families. Among her relatives were John Quincy Adams and Silas Wright, both of whom were her second cousins. Her death occurred in San Jose in 1891, when she was eighty-seven years of age. Of her marriage the only child that attained maturity was Hume Alexander Spencer, who was born in Plainfield, Will county, Ill., July 24, 1848. When his fourth birthday anniversary occurred he was crossing the plains. His education was obtained in the San Jose public schools and the University of the Pacific. When a mere boy he received thorough instruction in anatomy from his father. In the care of stock he was always successful, but had no intention in early life of entering the occupation of veterinary surgery. However, when the people saw how skillful he was in dressing wounds and doctoring stock they began to call on him when such aid was needed. Thus he gradually drifted into the occupation. To better qualify himself for the work he took a course of study in the Pacific Coast Veterinary College, Department of the University of California, located in San Francisco. He is the oldest veterinary in the Santa Clara valley, having practiced since about 1878. Early associating himself with the California State Veterinary Medical Association, he used his influence there to promote interest in the state veterinary bill and was finally gratified in 1889 by the passage of the bill as a state law. At his veterinary hospital and office, No. 224 East St. John's street, he has a modern equipment of machinery and appliances. To assist in his work he engaged a large corps of assistant veterinarians including an adopted son, Thomas W. Healey, who at this writing is a student in the Chicago Veterinary College; and Dr. P. H. Browning, a graduate of the New York College of Veterinary Surgery and the Chicago Veterinary College. His activity in the organization and growth of the State Veterinary Medical Association was recognized by his election as president of that body, in which he was also for years a member of the legislative committee.
The marriage of Dr. Spencer occurred in San Jose and united him with Miss Millie McKean, who was born in Linn county, Ore., a daughter of Judge A. B. McKean, an Oregon pioneer of 1847. During her childhood she lived in Astoria, but in 1862 accompanied the family to San Jose. Of her marriage there are three children. Elinor, a graduate of the California State Normal, has been a successful teacher in the San Jose schools. Hume F., a graduate of the Chicago Veterinary College with the degree of D.V.S., is now engaged in professional work at Las Vegas, N.M., and is territorial veterinarian of New Mexico. The youngest child, Mildreth is the wife of Dr. P. C. Hartman, of Campbell, Cal. Dr. Spencer is a member of the South Bay Yacht Club, the Santa Clara County Pioneer Society, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A.M., in which he was made a Mason. While his attention has been closely given to his chosen work, he has found time to fill positions of a public nature, and for three years held office as county veterinarian, also for one term was a member of the city board of health.
Transcribed
5-14-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 602-605. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.