Peter William Spence

Peter William Spence
Born	c. 1882 Pic River
Died	1956-08-02 Port Arthur
Occupation	Grain elevator worker
Father	Gilbert Spence (born c. 1834)
Partner	Virginia Spence
Children	Kenneth Spence (died 1954)
Siblings	Allan Spence George W. Spence Gilbert Spence (born c. 1888) Kenneth Spence Mary Spence Nellie Radcliffe

Peter William Spence (c. 1882 – (1956-08-02)2 August 1956) was a grain elevator worker and pioneer resident of Fort William and Port Arthur, Ontario, born at the Hudson's Bay Company post at Pic River where his father was the factor.

Early life

• Born about 1882 at Pic River, recorded in 1956 as having then been an important Hudson's Bay Company post, where his father Gilbert Spence was the factor.
• The family later moved to Prince Arthur's Landing, and shortly afterwards to the family homestead at 1051 Dease Street, described in 1956 as one of the historic landmarks of the city.
• Completed his education at Fort William.

Career

• Entered grain elevator work in about 1903, first at Elevator D and later at Elevator B.
• Transferred to the United Grain Growers.
• Retired in about 1947, at which time the family moved to Port Arthur.

Community

• Member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

Family

• Married Virginia Spence, née St Pierre, at Port Arthur in June 1909.

Survived by:

• his wife Virginia Spence
• Mrs T. A. P. Jackson of Nanaimo, British Columbia
• his daughter-in-law Mrs Vivienne Spence of Fort William
• two grandchildren, Terry Spence and Peter Spence
• his sister Nellie Radcliffe, Mrs Frank Radcliffe, of 232 North Archibald Street
• his brother Kenneth Spence
• his brother George W. Spence of Abbotsford
• his brother Allan Spence of Minneapolis

Predeceased by:

• his son Kenneth Spence (died 1954), who is not the brother Kenneth Spence of the same name
• his brother Gilbert Spence (born c. 1888) (died at Winnipeg, 1920)
• his sister Mary Spence (died before 1956)

Death

• Died 2 August 1956 at his home, 332 Talbot Street, in the Current River area of Port Arthur.
• The Fort William Daily Times-Journal death index records the place of death as Fort William, which is inconsistent with the Talbot Street address and with the move to Port Arthur reported in the obituary.

Obituary

His death was reported in the Port Arthur News-Chronicle of 2 August 1956:

Pioneer resident of city Peter William Spence, 74, 332 Talbot St, died today at his home. Born at Pick River [likely misspelling of the Pic River], then an important Hudson Bay Company post, where his father the late Gilbert Spence was the factor. The family later moved to what was then known as Prince Arthur’s Landing and shortly after to the family homestead at 1051 Dease Street, one of the historic landmarks of the city. He completed his education at FW and started in grain elevator work 53 years ago, first at Elevator D and later at Elevator B and then transferred to the Unted Grain Growers. Retiring nine years ago at which time the family moved to PA. Married in PA June 1909 to Virginia St Pierre. Member St Andrew’s Presbyterian church. Surviving are wife, Mrs T.A.P. Jackson, Nanaimo BC; daughter in law Mrs Vivienne Spence, FW; two grandchildren, Terry and Peter Spence. A sister Nellie, Mrs Frank Radcliffe, 232 N. Archibald; brother Kenneth. Brother George W. Spence of Abbotsford BC; Allan Spence of Minneapolis. Son Kenneth died 1954. Also predeceased by brother Gilbert and a sister Mary.