Re: Brigadier General Bird W. SPENCER
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In reply to:
Brigadier General Bird W. SPENCER
Kurt Camp 1/31/03
Kurt,
Don't ever think that your postings aren't appreciated!This obituary is that of my great-grandfather in my surname line, and despite having done much research on his life, I had never seen it before.
I cannot state Bird Wilson Spencer's accomplishments without the discomforting sense that I will be perceived as exaggerating,so I'll just rattle off a few highlights:
Treasurer of the Erie Railroad at age 30...a founder of the New Jersey Firemen's Association, elected annually as President for fifty-three (53) consecutive years...Inspector-General of Rifle Practice (NGNJ) for 51 straight years...Brigadier General (NGNJ)...New Jersey State Tax Assessor...elected Mayor of the City of Passaic for 4 terms...First recipient ever of New Jersey's Distinguished Service Medal...Member, Board of Visitors to West Point...a founder of the National Rifle Association, having served on the Committee on Organization and then serving as President of the NRA from 1902 thru 1907...Founder and President of Peoples Bank and Trust Co. of Passaic...a personal friend to Ulysses Grant and Teddy Roosevelt... great-grandfather to Michael Conover Spencer ;)
A life-size statue -- unveiled and dedicated by the firefighters of New Jersey eleven years prior to his death -- stands before the New Jersey Firemen's Home (which he founded) in Boonton, NJ.
THANK YOU, Kurt, for taking the time to transcribe my ancestor's obituary.:)
More Replies:
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Re: Brigadier General Bird W. SPENCER
Susan Clarendon 7/02/10