John and Sarah Spencer

John Spencer was born on December 17, 1833, in Indiana to John and Perthany Spencer. On September 4, 1856, he married Sarah DeSelam in Davis County, Iowa. Sarah was born on March 14, 1836, in Ohio.

The couple began their family in Iowa, where their first four children were born: Laura (1857), Henry (1859), Ira (1861), and Addie (1863). Seeking new opportunities in the West, the family later relocated to Martinez, California, where two more children were born: William (1866) and Emma (1868).

Around October 1870, John and Sarah moved to Potter Valley, where they established permanent roots and welcomed five additional children: Minnie (1870), Luther (1872), Russell (1875), Alta (1878), and Clara (1881). The 1870 census lists John as a farmer and Sarah as a housekeeper, reflecting the hardworking partnership that sustained their growing family.

By 1884, John was farming 280 acres of land. He raised wheat, hops, cattle, and other crops and livestock necessary to support a large household. Transporting goods was no small task; John regularly hauled his produce by wagon and team to Cloverdale, returning with supplies and provisions for the family.

The Spencers’ first home in Potter Valley was located atop what became known as Spencer Hill. Later, they purchased property just south of the hill near the edge of Pomo and built a two-story home. Following John’s death, the house was sold to Dr. John and Grace Hudson. Remarkably, the historic two-story residence still stands today.

Spencer Hill marked the northern edge of Pomo and served as the dividing point between the communities of Pomo and Centerville. Travel between the two areas was often difficult due to the steep terrain. In 1914, local residents organized a community picnic during which Spencer Hill was graded, making travel between the towns much easier.

As the Spencer children grew, they married into many prominent Potter Valley families, including the Lierly, Spotswood, Pickle, Eddie, Smith, Wattenberger, and Adams families. Their descendants became deeply woven into the history of the valley. Today, nine of John and Sarah’s eleven children are interred in the Potter Valley Cemetery.

John Spencer passed away on October 21, 1899. At the time of his death, he and Sarah had 39 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, a testament to the family legacy they had built.

In 1905, Sarah married Dayton Weldon. After Dayton’s death on March 23, 1913, Sarah passed away just nine days later, on April 1, 1913. Together, John and Sarah Spencer left an enduring mark on Potter Valley, and their descendants continue to be an important part of the region’s history.