Josephine Spencer was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1861. Her father, Daniel Spencer, was the mayor of Nauvoo before the Mormon Exodus. In Utah, he was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature and the president of the Salt Lake City stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church). Daniel died when Josephine was seven years old, and she was raised primarily by her mother, Emily Shafter.
