Born 21 Oct. 1837 in Savona, Steuben Co., New York.[1] Daughter of Orra Andrews and Elizabeth Loomis.[2] Moved with her family to St. Louis, 1850.[3] Attended the Normal School, 1850; taught school, 1853–1856; principal of Mound female grammar school, 1856–1863.[4] Moved to New York City, 1863, and wrote for Horace Greeley at the Scientific American.[5] Married Henry C. Spencer, 26 Dec. 1864, in New York City; two children.[6] Moved to Washington DC, 1866, where they opened the Spencerian Business College, 1866–1905.[7] President of the Woman Franchise Association of Washington DC, 1871–1876.[8] Wrote a series of articles for the National Republican on women’s issues and began working with leading women suffragists, Jan. 1871.[9] With seventy-two other women, attempted to register to vote but was refused, 14 Apr. 1871.[10] Secretary of the National Woman Suffrage Association, 1874–1881.[11] Copublisher and writer for Woman’s Words, 1878–1879.[12] Corresponded with EBW and supported the effort to retain the right to vote for Utah women.[13] Author of two books.[14] Died 17 Oct. 1909 in New York City; buried in Washington DC.[15]
[1] John W. Leonard, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States, 1906–1907 (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1899–1906), 4:1680. Day Otis Kellogg, ed., New American Supplement to the Latest Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (New York: Werner, 1900), 5:2767. “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 24 Oct. 2019), Sarah Jane Andrews (KCNT-SDZ).
[2] “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162. New York, NY, Department of Health, Bronx Death Certificates, 1898–1948, certificates no. 4326-5500, 1909, Sara A. Spencer, microfilm 1322747, DGS 4005933, FHL.
[3] “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162. James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600–1889 (New York City: D. Appleton, 1900), 5:631.
[4] John W. Leonard, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States, 1906–1907 (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1899–1906), 4:1680. “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162. New York, NY, Department of Health, Bronx Death Certificates, 1898–1948, certificates no. 4326-5500, 1909, Sara A. Spencer, microfilm 1322747, DGS 4005933, FHL.
[5] “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162–163.
[6] “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162–163. “Mrs. Sara A. Spencer Dead,” Evening Star (Washington DC), 18 Oct. 1909, 11.
[7] Day Otis Kellogg, ed., New American Supplement to the Latest Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (New York: Werner, 1900), 5:2767. ““Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162–163. “Mrs. Sara A. Spencer Dead,” Evening Star (Washington DC), 18 Oct. 1909, 11. John W. Leonard, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States, 1906–1907 (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1899–1906), 4:1680.
[8] John W. Leonard, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States, 1906–1907 (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1899–1906), 4:1680.
[9] Day Otis Kellogg, ed., New American Supplement to the Latest Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (New York: Werner, 1900), 5:2767. “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162–163.
[10] James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600–1889 (New York City: D. Appleton, 1900), 5:631. John W. Leonard, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States, 1906–1907 (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1899–1906), 4:1680. ““Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162–163.
[11] James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600–1889 (New York City: D. Appleton, 1900), 5:631. “Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,” Woman’s Words (Philadelphia, PA), Feb. 1878, 162–163.
[12] EBW, Diary, 2 May 1877, note 2; 15 Feb. 1878, note 28. “Explanatory,” Woman’s Words, July 1878, 232.
[13] EBW, Diary, 15 Feb. 1878; 26 Jan. 1878; 20 May 1890. Carol Cornwall Madsen, An Advocate for Women: The Public Life of Emmeline B. Wells, 1870–1920 (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006), 155–158, 161–165.
[14] Day Otis Kellogg, ed., New American Supplement to the Latest Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (New York: Werner, 1900), 5:2767. John W. Leonard, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States, 1906–1907 (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1899–1906), 4:1680.
[15] New York, NY, Department of Health, Bronx Death Certificates, 1898–1948, certificates no. 4326-5500, 1909, Sara A. Spencer, microfilm 1322747, DGS 4005933, FHL. “Sara Andrews Spencer,” Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, DC; Find a Grave, posted 5 Aug. 2014, memorial no. 133906828 (http://findagrave.com, accessed 23 Mar. 2018). “Mrs. Sara A. Spencer Dead,” Evening Star (Washington DC), 18 Oct. 1909, 11.