Lonnie Addison Spencer (1904 - 1977)

Born 4 Jan 1904 in Cook, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Zanana Corrine (Brown) Spencer — married 19 Feb 1925 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

Died 13 Feb 1977 at age 73 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dee Spencer-Carr [send private message]

Biography

Lonnie Spencer is a part of US Black heritage.

Lonnie Addison Spencer was an African American City of Milwaukee Police Patrolman who was hired by the Milwaukee Police Department on March 15,1935. He was assigned to serve in District 3, and later in District 1 within the City of Milwaukee during his career. He was on the vice squad in 1936 and by 1946 he became the Department's first African American Officer to be promoted to Detective rank along with his partner Calvin Moody. During his assignment to Detective on special night duty, he was responsible for patrolling within the First District which included Milwaukee's downtown area and eastside. Detective Lonnie Spencer’s career with the police department continued for 25 years.

Family Life

Lonnie Addison Spencer was born to Louis Spencer and Addie White, in Cook County Illinois. ^[1] Born on January 4, 1904, Lonnie was the second son of Louis W. Spencer and Addie A. White both of Nashville, Tennessee. After his parents divorced, his father relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, and joined the police force there.^[2]

During the heart of the “Great Migration” spurred by Ida B. Wells, which drew thousands of African Americans north from the Deep South, Lonnie’s family migrated north from Missouri to Chicago, Illinois. In 1910 he lived on Orleans Street in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 6 with his mother Addie, his older brother, James “Orville” Spencer, and his maternal grandmother Elizabeth Ferguson. ^[3]

His mother eventually remarried Fred Johnson in Cook County, Illinois, in October of 1911. Lonnie’s family relocated to Milwaukee when Lonnie was just a young boy. Lonnie, along with his mother Addie, his stepfather Fred, and his older brother “Orville”, and his half sister June, resided at 340 N Fifth Street in Milwaukee. AKA JOHSON HOTEL ^[4][5]

As a young man, Lonnie and his older brother, “Orville”, hosted events sponsored by the Milwaukee Free Press at the Alhambra Theater located at 3rd and Wisconsin Avenue. Lonnie was also a member of the Excelsior Club, Milwaukee,WI, which was once considered the premier social club for Black residents, to share, gather, and talk about history, talk about politics, or just socialize. He and his brother frequently held meetings at their residence. Lonnie left high school prior to graduation to play the piano and banjo in a local jazz band that played venues in the Bronzeville area of Milwaukee. Lonnie and his brother Orville hosted and attended many events at the “Johnson Hotel”. Lonnie was listed in the 1923 and 1924 Milwaukee City Directories as a musician residing on 4th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[6][7]

In 1925, at the age of 21, Lonnie married Zanana Corrine Brown in St Marks AME Church, Milwaukee, which became one of the most influential churches in Bronzeville. ^[8] Zanana’s family would come to play a key role in Lonnie’s life. No doubt, Lonnie was heavily influenced by his father-in-law, Reverend George A. Brown, who served as one of the pastors at St. Mark’s AME Church, Milwaukee, as well as at other parishes throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. Reverend Brown served as the publisher and editor of “The Wisconsin African American” and the “Northwestern Recorder.” Reverend Brown was elected president of Lincoln Colored Home, one of the first orphanages for African American children in the United States. Lonnie’s grandfather-in-law, John Mifflin Brown, the Eleventh bishop of the African Methodist Church, also inspired Lonnie. He was ordained on May 28, 1868, in Washington D.C. He worked within the Underground Railroad system and spent his lifetime actively promoting social justice, service to others, and spiritual guidance.

Lonnie and Zanana had 5 children:

Milton (1925-1999) age 73

Doris (1929-2008) age 79

Leon (1932-2023) age 91

Earl (1934-1936) , 2 year;died unexpectedly on Dec 3 1936.

David (1938-2004) age 66

Lonnie worked as a car washer in the city garage to support his young family. In the 1930 census Lonnie (age 26),was recorded as a car washer in the MPD city garage and was the married head of household with two children, living at 1111 Walnut Street, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.^[9]

In 1932, Lonnie was working as a laborer listed in a city directory in living at 433 W Highland ave, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.^[10]

Career

By 1935, a time when many African Americans had no means of employment, a 31-year-old Lonnie was hired as a patrolman with the Milwaukee police Dept. He was assigned to walk the Bronzeville beat on the graveyard shift from midnight to 8 A.M. He worked the area bounded by North Avenue in the north, State Street in the south, Third Street in the east, and 12th Street in the west. This area included Walnut Street, the economic hub of the Bronzeville community. The same community where his wife and 5 children resided. Lonnie walked that beat for 11 years earning a reputation for kindness and compassion mixed with a no-nonsense approach to policing. He consistently encouraged residents to “get on home,” and to get off the late-night streets of the neighborhood.

It has been written in many newspaper articles that Detective Lonnie Addison Spencer was the first African American to be promoted to Detective in Milwaukee Police Department history, along with his partner Calvin Moody. Lonnie was promoted to detective in the Milwaukee Police Department at the age of 42. He continued to work at the rank of detective, gaining respect for his competence and diligence until 1960 when he retired after a 25-year career. In his tenure with the Milwaukee Police Department, he earned a level of respect that left his authority unchallenged, never once being confronted because of his race.

2 Jan 1935 - Patrolman - Assigned to 3rd District

17 July 1936 - Transferred to Vice Squad - Deputy Inspector's Office, Special Duty

9 Oct 1936 - Transferred to 3rd District-Night Patrol

10 Sep 1937 - Transferred to 1st District-Night Patrol

5 June 1946 - Transferred to Detective Bureau - Nights-Special Duty

18 Feb 1949 - Transferred to the Day Shift - Detective Bureau

16 Mar 1960 - Retired as a Detective

In the 1940 census Lonnie (age 36), was a city policeman, and the married head of household living at 2214 N 10th St. in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife and 4 children.^[11]

In the 1950 census Lonnie (age 46), detective, was incorrectly identified as white and correctly recorded as married in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.^[12]

Lonnie died suddenly in his home the day before Valentine’s Day 1977 at the age of 73, after having delivered quality service and protection to the city of Milwaukee and his community. He was buried on February 17, 1977, in Lincoln Memorial, (Wanderer's Rest Cemetery, Milwaukee County). He currently does not have a headstone on his grave. ^[13]

Research Notes

This author has made a successful request for posthumous recognition for Detective Lonnie Addison Spencer with Mayor Johnson’s Office. To be presented Sept 1 2024. Milwaukee, Wisconsin , USA.Spencer-24565

Sources

1. ↑ [[Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, database, FamilySearch[1]]
2. ↑ 1917 Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," database with images
   Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 2469 #620239712 ($, accessed 27 April 2024)

   Residence Place	Kansas City, Missouri, USA
   Street Address	1818 Tracy
   Name	Louis W Spencer
   Residence Year	1917
   Occupation	Police
   Publication Title	Kansas City, Missouri, City Directory, 1917

3. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910,FamilySearch Record: MKZ6-KDR] citing enumeration district (ED) ED 965, sheet, family, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll; FHL microfilm FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRVX-49S Image number 00417, Lonnie Spencer (6), single son, in household of Addie Spencer (27) in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Born in Illinois.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968," database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 004271256; FHL microfilm: 1030509; Image number: 616; Packet letter: G; Indexing batch: M00991-0
   FamilySearch Record: N7CF-QYL (accessed 27 April 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6QM3-QHS

   Marriage Place	Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
   Vis Status	VISIBLE
   Marriage Date	02 Oct 1911
   Birth Date	1883
   Name	Addie Spencer
   System Of Record	SLS
   Record Nbr	16
   Age	28 years

5. ↑ 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 74; Digital film/folder number: 004969064; FHL microfilm: 1821997; Image number: 1010; Sheet number: 4; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03100-1
   FamilySearch Record: MFK9-WCT (accessed 23 February 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRVM-8L3
   Lonnie Spencer (16), single son, in household of Fred Johnson (34) in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Born in Illinois.
6. ↑ 1923 Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #1128953851 (accessed 28 March 2024)

   Residence Place	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
   Name	Orville Spencer
   Residence Year	1923
   Publication Title	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1923

7. ↑ 1924 Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information, Ancestry Record 2469 #1133644223 (accessed 29 March 2024)

   Residence Place	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
   Street Address	290 4th
   Name	Lounle A Spencer
   Residence Year	1924
   Occupation	Musician
   Publication Title	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1924

8. ↑ Marriage: "Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Records, 1820-2004," Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Wi Marriage Records 1907-1939,[ Ancestry Record 61484 #1099960]
9. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0107; FHL microfilm: 2342322
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 6224 #58886221 ($, accessed 26 February 2024)

   Name	Lonnie Spencer
   Birth Year	abt 1904
   Gender	Male
   Race	Negro (Black) [Black]
   Age in 1930	26
   Birthplace	Illinois
   Marital Status	Married
   Relation to Head of House	Head
   Home in 1930	Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
   Map of Home	Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
   Street Address	Walnut Street
   Ward of City	9
   Block	872
   Institution	x
   House Number	1111
   Dwelling Number	13
   Family Number	43
   Home Owned or Rented	Rented
   Home Value	18
   Radio Set	No
   Lives on Farm	No
   Age at First Marriage	21
   Attended School	No
   Able to Read and Write	Yes
   Father's Birthplace	Missouri
   Mother's Birthplace	Missouri
   Able to Speak English	Yes
   Occupation	Washer
   Industry	Garage
   Class of Worker	Wage or salary worker
   Employment	Yes
   Household Members (Name) Age Relationship	Lonnie Spencer 26 Head Zanana Spencer 29 Wife Milton Spencer 4 Son Doris Spencer 1 Daughter

10. ↑ 1932 Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #1129001916 (accessed 29 March 2024)

    Spouse	Zanana Spencer
    Gender	Male
    Residence Year	1932
    Street Address	433 W Highland Ave
    Publication Title	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1932
    Name	Lonnie Spencer
    Residence Place	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
    Occupation	Laborer

11. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1940; Census Place: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Roll: m-t0627-04550; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 72-226
    Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    Ancestry Record 2442 #75802382 ($, accessed 26 February 2024)

    Sheet Number	3A
    Street	North Tenth Street
    Marital Status	Married
    Income Other Sources	No
    Inferred Residence in 1935	Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Race	Negro (Black)
    Weeks Worked in 1939	52
    Occupation	Policeman
    Name	Lonnie Spencer
    Highest Grade Completed	High School, 2nd year
    Relation to Head of House	Head
    Gender	Male
    Farm	No
    House Number	2214
    Household Members (Name) Age Relationship	Lonnie Spencer 36 Head Zana Na Spencer 39 Wife Milton Spencer 14 Son Doris Spencer 11 Daughter Leon Spencer 8 Son David Spencer 2 Son
    Birthplace	Illinois
    Estimated Birth Year	abt 1904
    Residence in 1935	Milwaukee
    Class of Worker	Wage or salary worker in Government work
    House Owned or Rented	Rented
    Number of Household in Order of Visitation	48
    Income	2216
    Attended School or College	No
    Age	36
    Hours Worked Week Prior to Census	48
    Home in 1940	Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

12. ↑ 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census"
    National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Roll: 3876; Page: 76; Enumeration District: 73-231
    Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    Ancestry Record 62308 #119680172 ($, accessed 4 March 2024)

    Worker Class	Government
    Supplemental Income	none
    Mother Birth Place	USA
    Home in 1950	Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
    Dwelling Number	220
    Weeks Worked	52
    Name	Lonnie Spencer
    Inferred Previous Residence Place	Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Hours Worked	40
    Household Members (Name) Age Relationship	Lonnie Spencer 46 Head Zanana Spencer 49 Wife Doris Spencer 21 Daughter David Spencer 13 Son
    Other Income	28
    Income	3783
    Street Name	No 7th
    Father Birth Place	USA
    Farm	No
    Relative Other Income	none
    Race	White [Black]
    Grade Completed	Yes
    Marital Status	Married
    World War II Veteran	No
    Veteran	Yes
    Relation to Head of House	[Head]
    Residence Date	1950
    Birth Place	Illinois
    Industry	City
    Relative Income	700
    School Completed	S10
    School Attendance	30 or over
    Gender	[Male]
    Birth Date	abt 1904
    Occupation	Detective
    Age	46
    World War I Veteran	No
    Same House	Yes
    Apartment Number	2728
    Occupation Category	Working
    Acres	No

13. ↑ Wanderer's Rest Cemetery Records, 1880-1979 FamilySearch 1 [2]:1:CJT9-PR3Z : 15 March 2020, Lonnie A Spencer, 1977.

• 1959 Directory:

"U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information, Ancestry Record 2469 #1127775965 (accessed 29 March 2024)

• THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL, Thursday, Feb 24, 1949 | Milwaukee, WI | Page:56 City Has First Team of Negro Detectives, Officers Successful in Police Career So Far Are Praised for Work in Sixth Ward.
• news clip
• Wanderer's Rest Cemetery Records, 1880-1979 FamilySearch [3]:1:CJT9-PR3Z : 15 March 2020, Lonnie A Spencer, 1977.
• 1917 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com," The Wisconsin Weekly Blade 15 Mar 1917, page 1, [Newspapers Clip: 114998744]
• [4]/Chicago WorldChicago, Illinois,12 Feb 1949, Sat, Page 7.
• The La Crosse Tribune 09 Jun 1957, page , 16 [Newspapers Clip: 75024312]

Acknowledgments

• Milwaukee Police Historical Society , David Baker, Vice President and Kathy Schult,Treasurer
• WikiTree contributors, "Lonnie Addison Spencer (1904-1977)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Spencer-25421) with special thanks to Steven Greenwood,[5]