Spencer, Virginia

[4] The Spencer family built Grassdale Farm, their tobacco plantation, beginning in the eighteenth century.

[6] The Spencer family also controlled the Danville & Western Railroad (later merged into the Southern Railway), which stopped in the town, as well as a small collection of other buildings, including a post office, doctor's house and other appurtenances.

[11] In addition to Grassdale Farm, the Spencer-Penn School and Aurora are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[12] Margaret Spencer Shackelford's sister Mary Holt married Kennon C. Whittle, a justice of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, who lived at Belleview, built by their shared ancestor Major John Redd.

A third sister, Blanche Spencer, married Julian H. Robertson Sr. of Salisbury, North Carolina, a textile company executive, private investor and philanthropist.