SPENCER, Newton - Putnam

Newton R. Spencer, who has been seriously ill for several months died  in Greenfield on Saturday. He was born near Portland mills March 6,  1855 and was the son of Robert and Mary A. Spencer. He attended the  Waveland Academy and Indiana University graduating in 1885. He taught  school for 3 years meantime studying law and was admitted to the bar in  1888. After practicing in Johnson City, Kansas he removed to Greenfield  where he practiced his profession until 1889. In that year he took  charge of the Tribune for W.S. Montgomery, the postmaster of Greenfield.  He succeeded Mr. Montgomery in that office. At the close of his term he  bought an interest in the Glove and Star, but sold these 3 years later  and established the Daily Reporter. He bought the Star in 1909 and the  Tribune in 1910, and continued them as a weekly edition of the Reporter.  November 26, 1885, he married Miss Viola Banks of Greenfield. She  survives him with one son, Dale who is a sophomore at Indiana  University. Mrs. James Crutchfield is the only surviving sister. Mr. and  Mrs. Crutchfield attended the funeral at Greenfield on Monday. Mr.  Spencer was a newspaper man of much ability. He was Republican in  politics and showed his faith by establishing a Republican paper in a  strongly Democratic county which had been the graveyard of many similar  enterprises. The daily and weekly editions of the Reporter are on a  sound financial basis and will be continued by the widow and son.

Source: Greenfield Reporter Sat 22 Dec 1917 p 1

Photo: Newton Ramsay Spencer, editor and proprietor of the Daily Reporter and Weekly Republican of this city passed awawy at 10:45 o’clock Saturday morning Dec 22, at his home on Pennsylvania street following an illness of almost six months. During a greater part of this time he had been confined to his home and bed. Early in July he was compelled to give up his work at the office and a few weeks later underwent an operation and gained some strength for a time but for the past few weeks he has gradually grown weaker and for several days past his death had been expected. The deceased was one of Greenfield’s most prominent and substantial citizens whose word was as good as a bond. He was broad-minded and general and on all moral questions took a firm stand for the right and never swerved from that position under any circumstances. He was a man who inspired and merited confidence a lover of home, and always interested in all public questions. Mr. Spencer was a patriotic to the innermost recesses of his heart and had he lived and kept his health would have been a great force in maintining a high patriotic standard in the community during the present great world war. His government was first with him and all that he possessed he was ready to offer to his country.  In politics Mr. Spencer was a stanch Republican, whose influence was more than local, having served as president of the Indiana State Republic Editorial Association in 1915 and was always vigorous in the interest of his party as well as in all other lines in which he was engaged. His death removes a citizen who can ill be spared and many expressions of sincere sorrow and deepest regret were expressed by his friends today when word of his death reached them. Newton R. Spencer was born at Portland Mills, Parke County, March 6, 1855. He was the son of Robert and Mary A. Spencer both of whom are deceased. Mr. Spencer received his elementary education in the public schools of his home village and supplemented the same by a course at Waveland Institute after which he entered Indiana University from which he graduated in 1885, with the degree of Batchelor of Art. For three years thereafter he taught school in Fayette & Henry counties and served as principal of the schools at Springport and East Connersville. In the meatime he was studying law in the office of Joseph J. Little and David W> McKee of Connersville and in 1888 at Indianapolis was admitted to the bar.  He then went to Johnson City, Kansas where for three years was engaged in the practice of law and where he served one term as prosecuting attorney. In 1890 he returned to Indian and located at Greenfield, where he opened an office for the practice of law.  In 1899 he took charge of the Evening Trib and Weekly Repu for WS Montgomery and continued in this position until his appointment as postmaster of Greenfield in 1902. Upon the expiration of his term of office four years later, Mr. Spencer purchased an interest in the Greenfield Weekly Globe and Evening Star and was connected with them until 1908, when he sold his interest and established the Greenfield Daily Reporter. In Feb 1909 he bought the Evening Star and combined that paper with the Daily Reporter. The next year, 1910, he bought from Walter s. Montgomery the Evening Trib and Weekly Republican and merged these papers with his weekly edition, the Republican in which he has championed the principles of his party but has at all times maintained the Daily Reporter as strictly non-partisan. In addition to his interests as an editor and publisher, Mr. Spencer was also interested in agricultural pursuits having been manager of the Banks-Dale Grain and Stock farm for a number of years and took great pride in the production of fine cattle on that farm.  Mr. Spencer was affiliated with the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity since his college days at Indiana University.  On Nov 26, 1885, Mr. Spencer was unite din marriage to Viola Banks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Banks of this city. He is survived by the widow and one son, Dale B. Spencer now in his second year at Indiana Univeristy and one sister, Mrs. James B. Crutchfield of Waveland; one sister is deceased. The funeral service will be held at the home at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon with Rev. Charles H. Smith of Peru in charge. Interment at Park Cemetery. Friends may call after 3 o’clock Sunday.