Dr. B. C. H. SPENCER. There is no more famous painting in the world, if fame may be taken to mean the acquaintance of the greatest number of people with the subject, than the one which is simply and pointedly entitled " The Doctor." It hangs in almost every physician's office in the country, and in many private homes. It is so natural in its meaning, so inspired in its execution that the most unskilled tyro in art may readily catch the full significance. Day is almost breaking and the low burning lamp on the table in the humble cottage shows that it has been an all-night vigil for those in the room. Beside the table, with her head on her arms, shaken with grief and anxiety, is the young wife, while standing behind her with comforting arm upon her shoulder is the one who has promised to shield and sustain her through life's journey. There are but two other figures in the apartment, pathetic in the natural ness of its humble furnishings. A little child lies in the cradle and be side it , chin in hand, intent upon every flutter of the breath , sits the doctor, modest descendant of the Great Physician, who walked beside the Sea of Galilee centuries ago, and, like Him, intent upon saving those about him. The picture shows that it has been a hard fight, and whether it is lost or won, the artist , with true artistic instinct, left to the individual conception of the beholder. But amid it all the eye centers upon the grave figure of the Disciple of Aesculapius and the mind instantly reverts to similar scenes in each individual experience, and the beholder instinctively accords a meed of respect, a silent tribute of praise to the repre sentative of one of the noblest of callings since time began.

Such a type may be found in Doctor B. C. H. Spencer, the president of the village of Rochester, who for thirty-one years has practiced med icine, and now , in the meridian of life, is still spared for further useful ness . He has been to his community like the doctor of “ before the war" days, at once physician, friend and counselor to those about him. In his public and private capacities he has never shirked the call of duty , never been foundlacking in the time of need. It was with heartiest accord that his fellow townsmen gave to him the position, which entitles him to rec ognition officially as the chief citizen.

Dr. Spencer was born in Oakland, November 10, 1859, a son of John H. and Laura G. (Riggs) Spencer. His parents were natives of New York and located in Michigan in 1830, Avon township being their home. He was a farmer and afterward a merchant in Rochester, where he died in 1875. The grandfather of Dr. Spencer was Chauncey G. Spencer, who came from New York in the early ' 30s and farmed in Avon town ship. In 1849 he crossed the desert and mined on the Pacific slope, dying in San Francisco in 1883. His son, John H., to whom reference has been made, was born in Genesee county, New York, and, like his father after locating in Michigan was attracted by the west . He crossed the plains to California in 1857, and for three years was engaged in mining, meet ing with a considerable degree of success . He went to Idaho eight years later and remained for two years, returning home at the expiration of this time to take up farming once more. He held various township of fices and was one of the best known residents of the vicinity. His wife, whose maiden name was Laura C. Riggs, was born in Dutchess county, New York. She is still living, at the age of eighty-two, making her home with Dr. Spencer. There were four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Spencer. Alice M., the eldest, is the widow of A. C. J. Bateman, of Seattle, Washington. Adelle, married Erastus D. Hellman, and they are both now deceased. Their sons are located at Seattle and have eighty-five acres of ground near that city. Belle married Frank B. Kline, of Seattle, and Dr. B. C. H., the subject of this sketch , is the youngest of the family.

Dr. Spencer attended the Rochester high school in youth , then went to the Detroit College of Medicine for his professional training, grad uating therefrom in 1881. He practiced at Orion for eighteen years, then went to the Santa Clara valley of California for two years . He located in Rochester in 1896, and has been practicing here ever since.

In 1885, Dr. Spencer married Josephine B. Laird , and they had two children : Laird B., of Ann Arbor, who is the manager of the Michigan State Telephone Company, and Bernice L. , who is now a student in the University at Ann Arbor . Dr. Spencer took for his second wife Frances L. Davis, daughter of Charles and Kate ( Sullivan ) Davis. By this union there is one child, Adele Beatrice, who was born July 22, 1906. Miss Bernice is an extremely gifted young lady, and was the class prophet for the graduating class of 1910 of the Oxford high school. She surprised and delighted teachers, pupils and friends by the cleverness with which, in verse, she foretold the future for each member of the class. This was in twenty-four stanzas, of eight verses each , and of so marked literary merit that it will stand for many years as a classic of the school. Its delightful cadence and smooth rythm should inspire the author to further efforts of the kind.

A lifetime of devotion to his profession has brought to Dr. Spencer some substantial reward and he owns a home on Puget Sound, called Birmingham , where he goes every year. He also owns a handsome residence in Rochester. He is a man of quiet tastes, thoroughly versed in the questions of the day, and affable and courteous in his personal con He is a Democrat politically, and in addition to being village president is health officer for the town. He holds membership in the State Medical Association. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masons, both Blue Lodge and Royal Arch, with the Maccabees, Elks, Knights of Pythias, Foresters of America and Ancient Foresters. Mrs. Spencer is a member of the Episcopal church.