In the early part of the 20th century Horatio Moses Spence was manufacturing hit-and-miss engines and oil well supplies under the name H. M. Spence. After his death in 1924, his wife, Dora Davis Spence, reorganized the business as the Spence Machine Co., manufacturer of gas and gasoline engines plus related items such as pumps. Mrs. Spence operated the business until 1928 when she sold the business. The new owners reorganized it as the Spence Machine & Supply Co. Under that name the company survived into the 1960s, at least.
Information Sources
- 1928 issue of Oil & Gas Journal (Volume 27 page 62).
The business of the Spence Machine Co., Parkersburg, W. Va., has been sold to D. G. Williamson, J. A. Williamson, D. E. Williamson, W. T. Elliott and George Sisk. The new owners will incorporate the business under the name of the Spence Machine & Supply Co. Dora S. Spence has owned and conducted the business for several years.
- Findagrave.com entries for Horatio Moses Spence (1852-1924) and Dora Davis Spence (1860-1953).