IOF THE SPENCER FAMILY


 of the soldiers who vere absent at the front. From this cir-
 cumstance he was given the title of major by the people of
 that section, and he bore it for the remainder of his life.
 In 1871 Major Spencer removed to Enterprise, in Volusia
County, Florida, whore he remained for only a year, and then
went to reside at Wellborn, Florida, where he conducted a suc-
cessful mercantile and farming business up to the time of his
death. He was buried at Wellborn.
 Major John Basil Spencer was a very public-spirited mania,
 taking an active interest in political affairs and in every-
 thing that concerned'the welfare of the country. Though re-
 peatedly tendered public office, he always declined those
 higher than membership in the board of public instruction of
 his county. He was a prominent member of the Masonic frater-
 nity and of the Methodist Church.
 John Basil Spencer was three times married the first
 time to Sarah Frink, of Columbus Florida, who bore him one
 child, a daughter named Mary Gardnier, who married his cousin,
 Thomas K. Spencer of Tampa.- She was born December 21, 1852,
 and died January,21, 1874.
 He was married the second time to Sarah Caroline Hardee,
 daughter of Thomas Hardee, of Camden County., Georgia, and a
 niece of General William J. Hardee, of Georgia. They had five
 children, all born at White Springs, HamiltonrCounty, Florida.
 They were
 (1) John Basil, Jr., born March 15, 1859,, 'eds August 6,
 1891. After his removal to Tampa. he was associated with
 William B. Henderson in business in this city up to the time
 of his death, in which business he was very successful. He
 was a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and was kindly and charita-
 ble.
 (2) Charles Hardee, who was born at White Springs,
 Florida, where he grew to manhood. He then removed to Tampa,!
 and was employed as purser on the steamers of the Mills.& HenR
 derson line running between Havana, Cuba, and Cedar Keys, Flo-
 ida. In 1895 Charles Hardee Spencer and his younger brother,
 Joseph D., formed a copartnership in the wholesale grocery bub-
 iness under the fizm name of Spencer Brothers. This was their
 first establishment in its line in Tampa by natives of Florid,
 and is still the only one whose members are native Floridlans .
 'The firm is still in-business in Tampa in the same lian as at
 first. Charles H. Spencer is very prominent in the Masonic
 order, being the first person to contribute money for the es-
 tablishment of a Masonic Hoae in Florida. He has organized .
 there. Masonic lodges in Hillborough .ounty. He is a mmber!
 Vt~dfficer of the Presbyterean Church of Tampa, and takes to w
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