Submitted by Norma Jean Huss
Where the history of Southern Illinois is written by some one competent to record the personality and achievements of those men most closely identified with the development of this section, the subject of this biography will have a merited place among those who have given of their time, their means and their ability to the upbuilding of that portion of our illustrious state known as Egypt.
W.A. Spence is a native of Massac county, born near New Columbia on March 20, 1873, the son of Allison C. and Nancy J. Spence. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools, he later attending the Central Normal College at Danville, Ind., and the Southern Illinois Normal Institute at Carbondale. After his graduation he taught school in Massac and Johnson counties for a period of twelve years, and during that time, being religiously inclined, he took up the study of theology, and was ordained as a minister of the Baptist denomination three years at Vienna, one year at Golconda, and three and one-half years at Metropolis. Recognizing his abilities as a teacher and an executive, the people of Massac county elected him to the office of County Superintendent of schools in 1902, to which position he has been three terms re-elected, and is the present incumbent serving his fourth term. And it can be truthfully said that the people showed wisdom in their choice as the present high standard of efficiency among the teachers o four county, and the improvement in school buildings and equipment will evidence. He was president of the County Superintendent's section of the S.T. Teachers Association and at the recent convention of that body in Harrisburg, he was honored with the highest office in the association, that of president.
Though persistently active in church and school work, Mr. Spence has not confined his activities to those calling and his interest in public affairs and in matters affecting the welfare and progress of his home county, induced him to enter the newspaper field, which he did in January, 1911, purchasing an interest in the Journal- Republican and assuming the position of editor. His control of the editorial columns of this paper has been marked by a spirit of fairness, a rigid adherence to the principles of morality and justice and an unswerving allegiance to the doctrine and tenets of the Republican party, of which he is an active energetic and efficient member. Recently Mr. Spence purchased the other interest in the Journal-Republican, and is now sole owner.
He was married in 1902 to Miss Ada Fogg, and their union has been blessed with two children, Alph Mignon, eleven years of age and William A., now in his second year. Mr. Spence is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and also a member of the W.O.W.
In all matters tending towards the advancement of the material welfare of Metropolis or Massac County, he is invariably in the vanguard, and no movement for the improvement of the community lacks his sincere support and earnest efforts. His interest in politics has been entirely unselfish, for although he has given freely of his time, his means and his energy to the success of the party ticket, and although his judgement is deferred to and his counsel sought by the leaders of his party, he has asked no signal honor as reward. It remains to be seen whether they will not, ere long, call him to a position of prestige and influence, an honor which he assuredly merits.
Possessing the sterling qualifications of honesty, integrity and morality, imbued with an earnest desire to assist in the work of making Metropolis in fact what it is in name, our city if fortunate in numbering him among her citizens, and when in the years to come we will have attained that envied position in population and prestige where Metropolis rightfully belongs by reason of her natural advantages, much more that a modicum of the credit will be due to W.A. Spence.
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