Coopersville Observer, April 5, 1935
Death Claims Another Veteran of the Civil War
John L. Spencer
John L. Spencer, aged 93, one of Coopersville’s few remaining Civil War veterans, answered the final roll call, Sunday. Death came at the home of Walter Douck, where he had made his home for some time. His passing leaves but four of the "boys in blue" in this community: A. C. Muzzall, John Jackson, Charles Nichols and John Park.
Mr. Spencer was born June 14, 1841, in Brownsville, Jefferson County, New York, and when but a babe of nine months, he was left fatherless, making his home until the age of 13 with his grandparents. He found employment on a farm, but when 18 years old, the life of a sailor beckoned to him, and for four years he sailed the lower lakes.
In 1862, at Cleveland, Ohio, he left the boat which had been his home and answered his country’s call for volunteers, enlisting in Co. G, 103rd Ohio Volunteers. After enlistment, his company began a march across Kentucky and into Tennessee to join the army of General William T. Sherman at Chattanooga, and in 1864 had progressed as far as Resaca, Ga.
May 29, 1864, Mr. Spencer was wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain and was taken to an emergency field hospital where an operation was performed. He was discharged from the hospital at Chattanooga April 29, 1865, practically the end of hostilities.
In 1867 Mr. Spencer came to Coopersville and since that time has resided here, for several years serving his community as Justice of the Peace, and otherwise taking an active interest in local affairs.
He is survived by three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The body lay in state at the home on Lincoln Street until Wednesday morning, when it was removed to the Van Allsburg Funeral Home, where funeral services were held at 2 P. M., the Rev. Jas. Hailword of Grand Rapids, officiating. Members of Raymond Rankans Post, American Legion, acted as pall bearers, and the Legion also had charge of the services at the Coopersville Cemetery, the veteran being laid to rest with full military honors.