William B. Spencer
Encyclopedia
William Brainerd Spencer (February 5, 1835 - February 12, 1882) was a U.S. Representative
from Louisiana
.
Born on "Home Plantation," in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
, Spencer received his early schooling under private tutors.
He was graduated from Centenary College, Jackson, Louisiana
, in 1855 and from the law department of the University of Louisiana at New Orleans in 1857. He married Henrietta Elam, sister of Joseph Barton Elam
, who would later serve in the United States Congress.
Spencer was admitted to the bar in 1857 and commenced practice in Harrisonburg, Louisiana
.
He served in the Confederate States Army
, with the rank of captain, until 1863, when he was captured. He remained a prisoner of war at Johnson's Island
, Ohio
, until the close of the Civil War
.
He resumed the practice of law in Vidalia, Louisiana
, in 1866. He successfully contested as a Democrat
a special election against Frank Morey
; he was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress and served from June 8, 1876, to January 8, 1877, when he resigned to accept a judicial appointment.
He was appointed Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court January 9, 1877, which position he held until his resignation April 3, 1880. He again resumed the practice of law in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
According to his tombstone, he died in Cordóba
, Mexico
, April 29, 1882. He was interred in Magnolia Cemetery
, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
in 1882.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Born on "Home Plantation," in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Catahoula Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Harrisonburg, located on the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern boundary of the parish. In 2000, the population of the parish was 10,920.-Prehistory:...
, Spencer received his early schooling under private tutors.
He was graduated from Centenary College, Jackson, Louisiana
Jackson, Louisiana
Jackson is a town in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,130 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, in 1855 and from the law department of the University of Louisiana at New Orleans in 1857. He married Henrietta Elam, sister of Joseph Barton Elam
Joseph Barton Elam
Joseph Barton Elam, Sr. , was a two-term Democratic U.S. representative from Louisiana.-Early life and education:...
, who would later serve in the United States Congress.
Spencer was admitted to the bar in 1857 and commenced practice in Harrisonburg, Louisiana
Harrisonburg, Louisiana
Harrisonburg is a village in and the parish seat of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 746 at the 2000 census.- History :...
.
He served in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, with the rank of captain, until 1863, when he was captured. He remained a prisoner of war at Johnson's Island
Johnson's Island
Johnson's Island is a island in Sandusky Bay, located on the coast of Lake Erie, 3 miles from the city of Sandusky, Ohio. It was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate officers captured during the American Civil War. Johnson's Island was the only Union prison exclusively for Southern...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, until the close of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
He resumed the practice of law in Vidalia, Louisiana
Vidalia, Louisiana
Vidalia is a city in and the parish seat of Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,543 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Vidalia is located at and has an elevation of ....
, in 1866. He successfully contested as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
a special election against Frank Morey
Frank Morey
Frank Morey was a U.S. Representative from Louisiana.-Biography:Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Morey attended the public schools but moved to Illinois in 1857.-Civil War:...
; he was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress and served from June 8, 1876, to January 8, 1877, when he resigned to accept a judicial appointment.
He was appointed Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court January 9, 1877, which position he held until his resignation April 3, 1880. He again resumed the practice of law in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
According to his tombstone, he died in Cordóba
Córdoba, Veracruz
Córdoba, officially known as Heroica Córdoba, is a city and the seat of the municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It was founded in 1618....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, April 29, 1882. He was interred in Magnolia Cemetery
Magnolia Cemetery (Louisiana)
Magnolia Cemetery is a cemetery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The cemetery is located at 422 North 19th Street and is bordered on the north by Main Street and on the south by Florida Boulevard. The west and east sides are bordered by 19th Street and 22nd Street, respectively. The land for the...
, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
in 1882.