ROBERT A. SPENCE is successfully engaged in general farming on Lot 21, 9th Concession, in Orford township, County of Kent, owning and cultivating a fine farm of 150 acres, and has an excellent brick dwelling upon it which was erected in 1882.  He was born on his present farm January 25th, 1869, a son of Peter and Jessie (Purvis) Spence, of Berwickshire, Scotland, where they were married.  They came to the County of Kent in 1859, locating in Orford township, where they took up 100 acres on which they remained a few years, and then settled on the present farm of their son Robert A.  By occupation the father was a blacksmith, and he followed his trade for some five years after arriving the county of Kent, then devoting his attention to farming until the spring of 1903, when he retired to Rodney, Ontario.  He was born in September 1st, 1830.  Mrs. Jessie Spence died in 1879, aged 39 years, and is buried in the Pursel cemetery.  Peter Spence was married for his second wife, to Anna Turner, of Fingal, Ontario.

During his active life, the father served in the township council for many years, and he always adhered to the principles of the Reform party.  Both he and his first wife early connected themselves with the Presbyterian Church.  The children of their union were:  John, a farmer of Manitoba; James a farmer of the county of Elgin; Peter, a farmer of Manitoba; and Robert A.

In March, 1903, in Aldborough, County of Elgin, Ontario, Robert A. Spence married Sarah Leitch, who was born in Aldborough township, County of Elgin, in 1882, daughter of Archibald and Amelia Leitch, of Aldborough.

Mr. Spence has remained upon the farm all his life, and is now most justly regarded as one of the most practical and successful young farmers of his neighbourhood.  Fraternally he is a Mason and a member of the Maccabees.  He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.  In politics he is a Reformer, but his personal affairs occupying his time and attention, he has never aspired to office, though he was elected councillor in 1904.  He has many warm, personal friends.

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