Rexford, Jabez Burrows

Other Events:

• 1870 Census: 1870, Ellington, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1880 Census: 1880, Ellington, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Biography: Abt 1911

Notes:

1870 Census:
J B Rexford52
Rebecca Rexford58
Eben E Rexford22

1880 Census:
J. B. Rexford72
Sanford Rexford45
Eben E. Rexford33
Mary Rexford45
Horay Rexford21
Olive Rexford18
Lulu Rexford24
Elma Rexford12
Edith Rexford5

Biography:
Mentioned in History Of Outagamie County about first settlers in Stephensville;

It having been announced that a village would be laid off in the town of Ellington, the citizens were asked to vote upon a name for such. village and "Ellington Center" was chosen.

Evidently this did not suit many of the citizens there who thereupon suggested the name of "Stevensville." The following names were signed to the paper asking that the name should be changed from Ellington Center to Stephensville: J. D. Van Mick, Peter Prunty, George Huse, Elisha Bissell, Dave Matteson, George F. Nye, Walter Rynders, Richard Brown, John W. McWain, John Ferrell, W. T. Hardacker, Patrick Prunty, James Carle, William T. Traux, P. McKeefry, Joseph B. Barnum, J. G. Daniels, Herman Grunert, Hugh Moore, John McKeever, William McGee, Michael Pure, Julius Greeley, H. J. Diener, Patrick Newcomb, P. H. Pew, B. M. Gurnee, Thomas Caller, Eliob. Farnam, Horatio Heath, Henry Kethroe Isbon S. Smith, W. R. Manley, S. D. Mason, O. P. Peebles, John Nicholas, Jehiel Paxton; Lewis Hare, Ansel Greeley, Edwin Arnold, Edwin Barnes, Ernst Grunert, Charles Grunert, John Welch; Anthony Wallace, Bernard Newcomb, Sloah B. Carley, Henry A. Cooke, Owen Hardy.

Chauncey Smith settled in section 16 in 1851-2. John H. Jenne and family came in 1854; Byron M. Gurnee bought land in 1853, but it was two years later when he "cut the first tree and mauled out the rails to fence the first eighty." David and Caleb Matteson entered land in 1848 on which they afterward lived in section 29; Patrick Newcomb came about 1854; Francis Weissenberg and the family of Michael Wunderlich in 1857; William R Manley settled on section 19, removing later to section 28 in 1854. Robert and Henry Manley came about the same time and were probably the first shoemakers Phillip Zimmerman, an infidel, had considerable influence with his neighbors in the southern part of town until he left in the '60s. Nelson B. Draper settled in 1857 on section 27. Michael and John Bungert came about 1854. Charles Thiel and family came 1859. The Lairds came about 1855 to section 1. Jabez B. Rexford and family came to section 4 the following March. (1856)

From: History of Outagamie County, Wilsonsin
Thomas H. Ryan - Editor in Chief
Goodspeed Historical Allociates, Publishers
Chicago 1911

Jabez married Wilcox, Rebecca 7 Dec 1828, , , New York, USA. Rebecca was born Abt 1812, , , New York, USA; died 14 Jan 1871, Ellington, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; was buried , Rexford Cemetery, Shiocton, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Sanford married Downs, Mary 17 Jun 1855. Mary was born Abt 1835, , , New York, USA; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1900 Census: 1900, Bovina, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1905 State Census: 1905, Shiocton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Biography: 1911; History of Outagamie County, Wisconsin Page 1068

Notes:

1900 Census:
Eben E Rexford58
Hattie Rexford42

1905 State Census:
Eben E Rexford54
Hattie Rexford42
Lydia Kattke20

Biography:
EBEN EUGENE REXFORD, whose gifts as poet and author have made him widely known, and whose songs possess that tender something that appeals to every heart, has been a valued and admired citizen of Shiocton, Wisconsin, since 1883, when he erected here his attractive residence. He is a native of New York, born at Johnsburg, in Warren county, July 16, 1848, and is a son of Jabez B. and Rebecca (Wilcox) Rexford. The Rexfords came to New England from England at an early day, and although military prowess has never been associated with the name, the solid, substantial qualities which make for good citizenship have alway belonged to the family. From Rhode Island the Rexfords moved into adjacent states and the grandfather of the distinguished subject of this sketch settled in Hartford township, Washington county, New York. He was the father of twelve children and one of these, Jabez B. Rexford, moved from Washington to Warren county, there married Rebecca Wilcox, and they reared a family of three children, the youngest of whom they named Eben Eugene. The eldest son, Jacob Rexford, moved to the far west, locating in the State of Washington, where he resides with his family. The second son, Sanford, died a few years before his father and is survived by children. In 1855 the parents of Mr. Rexford disposed of their property in Warren county and came as pioneers to Wisconsin, settling on a farm of ninety-five acres in Ellington township. In the clearing, improving and developing of his land, Jabez B. Rexford spent the remaining active years of his life. In many ways conditions of living were extremely hard, and during the earlier years on the pioneer farm much had to be endured, many hardships to which the family had never been accustomed.Eben Eugene was a boy of seven years when the family reached Wisconsin and easily recalls many of the adventures of the trip from New York and the subsequent settling in Ellington township, Outagamie county. The nearest market at that time was Appleton and journeys to and from were made with oxen. He remembers as a great occasion the time when the first team of horses was brought into this section, there being relatively as much excitement as when the first steam railway train went through. The father of Mr. Rexford survived the mother, his death occurring in 1888. Their burial was in the Ellington township cemetery. They were members of the Baptist Church, in which the father was a deacon. In the rather indifferent district schools of' Ellington township, as they were at that time, Eben Eugene Rexford secured his preliminary educational training, which was supplemented by attendance at Lawrence University, at Appleton, Wisconsin, an institution which, in 1908, conferred on him the degree of Litt. D. By inheritance Mr. Rexford undoubtedly should have been a farmer, his forefathers, as far back as can be traced, having lived by the products of the soil. To this youth, however, came the love of growing things in a different fashion. From boyhood he has loved the ground and its products, not in a material way but as contributory to that inner sense of beauty which has made him a poet. The growing of flowers has been an enthusiasm with him for years and it is now his chief recreation. It has provided him with interesting subjects for books for many years, and an article on floriculture signed with his name in any periodical, commands the immediate attention of every intelligent reader. Between 1888 and 1901 he published "Home Floriculture"; in 1890, "Grandmother's Garden"; in 1897, "The Swamp Secret"; in 1898, "Flowers--How to Grow Them"; in 1907, "Four Seasons in a Garden"; in 1908, "The Home Garden"; and in 1910, "Indoor Gardening." Beginning to publish his writings when but fourteen years of age, Mr. Rexford has contributed to almost all of the leading journals of America, and attentive readers for more than forty years have been permitted to enjoy his productions. He has contributed stories and poems to the New York Independent, Outlook Magazine, Youth's Companion, Lippincott's, the Harper publications, St. Nicholas, Adcvance, Forward, Golden Rule and many journals of less note, all of these being permeated with the same vein of tender sentiment which makes them universally admired. He is the author of several romances and of numerous songs. His fame would be lasting were it founded alone upon two tender melodies which are included in the repertory of every American songstress and are included in every choice collection for the home vocalist, "Silver Threads Among the Gold" and "Only a Pansy Blossom." Mr. Rexford is a member of the Boston Authors' Club. He is identified also with the fraternal orders of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. In his earlier political life he was a Democrat, and during the first administration of the late President Cleveland was appointed postmaster at Shiocton. He has subsequently served several terms as town clerk. At present he holds an independent attitude, having a liberal mind and no political ambitions, and casts his vote as his judgment dictates. On December 22, 1890, Mr. Rexford was married to Mrs. Harriet (Bauman) Harsh, whose lamented death occurred February 15, 1910. Her burial was in the Bovina township cemetery. For many years she had been active in the Congregational Church and was the center of a wide circle of appreciative friends.

Eben married Bauman, Hattie 22 Dec 1890. Hattie was born 9 Feb 1857; died 15 Feb 1910, Shiocton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; was buried , Bovina Cemetery, Shiocton, Outagamie, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Obituary: 5 Dec 1953; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
SpencerOlive5/18/186212/5/1953Post Crescent12/5/195324

Olive married Spencer, Frank Simeon 4 Jul 1888. Frank (son of Spencer, Blanchard and Smith, Elizabeth) was born 24 Apr 1852, , , , Canada; died 14 Jul 1921, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Blanche — Molstad, Unknownm. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Military Service: Bef 1919; WWI

Notes:

Military Service:
Corporal

Frank married Sibley, Fannie Bef 1920. Fannie (daughter of Sibley, Albert and Unknown, Unknown) was born Abt 1893; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Birth - Church Record: 26 Apr 1895
• 1940 Census: 1940, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA

Notes:

Birth - Church Record:
Name:Rexford Loren Spencer
Birth Date:26 Apr 1895
Birth Place:Grand Chute, Outagamie, Wisconsin
Gender:Male
Race:White
Father's Name:Frank S Spencer
Father's Birth Place:Canada
Mother's name:Olive E Rexford
Mother's Birth Place:Wisconsin
FHL Film Number:1305138

1940 Census:
Rexford Spencer44
Delphine Spencer44
Robert Spencer13
Eugene Spencer9

Other Events:

• Education - High School: 1939, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Obituary: 23 Oct 2016; APC

Notes:

Education - High School:
Appleton High School Class of 1939

Obituary:
Long-time Sylacauga resident Frank Spencer died on September 16, 2016 at the age of 94. He was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, on February 6, 1922.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy; his parents Fannie and Frank E. Spencer, and his aunt Mabel Sibley. Frank is survived by his loving children - Reverend Jim (Jean) Spencer, Bishop Rick Spencer, Bill (Elaine) Spencer, Reverend Robert Spencer, and Peggy Spencer Fetyko (Joe). He is further survived by seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. The family also extends special appreciation to Carol Calhoun, his friend/primary caregiver for his last eleven years.
Frank was a proud Veteran of the US Navy, serving in WW II. His father Frank E. was a WW I Veteran, his wife Dorothy served as a Marine Sergeant in WW II, and his sons Rick and Robert are career military retirees who now continue to serve their Church.
He spent his entire working career with Kimberly-Clark Corporation, first at Neenah, Wisconsin, and then at Coosa Pines, Alabama.
Frank was a blue-collar worker who somehow was able to be actively involved in the lives of his five children while assuming numerous leadership positions. The Sylacauga Little League community, the Sylacauga Boy Scout community, the Coosa Campers, St. Jude's Catholic Church, and too-many-to-list fishing tournaments all owe him a debt of thanks.
Frank will be remembered for his sense of humor, his work ethic, his love of sports, and his devotion to his family and to his Church. Fellow workers at Coosa Pines called him "Yank" - and he wore that title proudly.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 11 AM on Saturday October 29. Internment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Appleton.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent from Oct. 23 to Oct. 28, 2016