The Fascinating Life of Truena Geddes

Truena Geddes

Truena Jane Geddes was born in 1871 in Highland Village, Colchester County, Nova Scotia to James Geddes and Susannah Dechman.  She was my 2nd cousin, 3 times removed.  One of eight children, she must have shown her independent streak at an early age.  Described as having dark, flashing eyes and dark hair that glinted with copper streaks in the sunlight, it is a wonder she wasn't snapped up by some young lad of the Village.  But Truena had ideas of her own and as a young woman, she made her way to Boston where she opened a little store that sold fine ladies wear.

Later in life, she began to spend her winters in the millionaire's playground of Palm Beach, Florida where young debutantes and society women eagerly purchased her dainty wares from her little shop on the corner.  It was here in Palm Beach that she came to the attention of Colonel George Clinton Batcheller of New York.  A widower, George was 80 in the summer of 1913 and a very wealthy man.  His business was manufacturing ladies corsets and his factory employed over two thousand women who made his high end ladies fashion.  He was taken by the lovely young woman and proposed marriage.

George Clinton Batcheller

After much deliberation, Truena finally accepted and the two were married in Boston on September 18, 1913.  From very humble beginnings, the life of New York high society was a huge adjustment for the lovely young woman but her happy personality and kind demeanor quickly endeared her to all she met.

On January 25, 1916, George died at the age of 84 leaving Truena a millionaire many times over and as a young widow, her thoughts turned to her old home.  She returned to Nova Scotia to assist her brother, Amos in caring for their widowed mother.

Never one to take a back seat, Truena quickly became involved in the life of the village and soon set out to build a new home on the family farm.  Within two years she had renewed her acquaintance with William Edward Spencer (my 3rd cousin, 3 times removed) and the two married on the 29th of October 1918.

Truena and William's Home in Great Village

During the building of their home, Truena decided she wanted electricity, which was not yet available in the town.  She petitioned the authorities in Truro and was turned down because she lived too far from the existing electric grid.  So, being the independent lady she was, and having plenty of resources at hand, she decided to generate her own power by using the grist and carding mill belonging to the Peppard family.

William and Truena spent much of their time travelling the world and supporting many good causes in Great Village.  She took particular interest in preserving local farmlands and marshes.

William died on July 9, 1949 and Truena followed him in 1953.  Both are buried in the Mahon Cemetery in Great Village.