James Monroe Spencer was born February 7, 1836 in Alabama, to Greene B. and Emelia (Taylor) Spencer. Before 1840, the family moved to Mississippi to join Greene's father Elias Spencer who had moved there earlier from Alabama. The Spencer's settled along what was the boundary between the Chickasaw/Choctaw Tribes and now is the southern Calhoun/northern Webster counties boundary. James married Louisa Caroline Gable b.5/24/1840 abt. 1859 and farmed with his Grandfather, Uncles and Brother's mainly on the Calhoun County side of the county line. A son, James Walter Spencer, was born August 31,1861.

James was mustered in the CSA as a private in Cap't. James M. Hampton's Company, Mississippi Volunteers, March 6, 1862 at Bellfountaine. Another CSA document indicates that he was mustered in at Pittsboro June 30, 1862. By September 1862, he had been promoted to Sergeant. A letter from Col. Brantley, 29th Miss. Regiment dated January 29, 1863, states in part:

"Because of what I consider extraordinary valor and skill I take great pleasure in recommending for promotion to the position of Junior 2nd Lieutenant with his company - Sgt. J. M. Spencer. During the engagement near Murfreesboro, Tenn. he was acting 1st Sgt. and constantly at the head of his company urging the men on to the conflict. And ... one occasion on the 31st met when his Captain was wounded and the Company very much confused Sgt. Spencer fearlessly came to the front and led the Company in a charge upon the enemy under a most terrific fire from both Infantry and Artillery." He was subsequently promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. In a battle near Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, November 24, 1863, he was shot in the chest and captured by the Federal troops. A Federal prisoner list shows him at the General Field Hospital at Bridgeport, Alabama, December 1, 1863. The records show he was "wounded at the Battle of Shell Mound and taken prisoner, admitted Nov. 28..." Other records indicate he was transferred December 2, 1863, to the Nashville Prison Hospital where he died December 10,1863.

James Monroe Spencer is buried in Confederate Circle in Nashville, Tennessee.