Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Spencer, Francis Elias

SPENCER, Francis Elias, jurist, b. in Ticonderoga, Essex co., N. Y., 25 Sept., 1834. When he was twelve years of age his parents removed to Plainfield, Ill. Hearing exciting accounts of the wealth that was to be acquired in California, he removed to that state in 1862 and located at San José, where he has since resided. Soon after his arrival he began the study of the law, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and soon secured an extensive practice. In 1861 he was elected district attorney of Santa Clara county, which office he filled until March, 1866. Desiring to make a specialty of land practice, he studied the Spanish language and made himself thoroughly familiar with the legislation of Spain and Mexico regarding real property. In 1871 he was elected to the lower branch of the legislature as a Republican, and was made chairman of the judiciary committee. In that capacity he was of great assistance to his colleagues in shaping the code legislation of the session. At its close he retired from political life. In 1879 he was elevated to the bench of the superior court of Santa Clara county, where he still (1898) remains. For a number of years he was a member of the board of fund commissioners of the city of San José, and was mainly instrumental in settling its title to the large body of its Puebla lands. He has recently been appointed a trustee of the Leland Stanford, Jr., university, California.