Hon. Henry Spicer

The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 20, 1820, at Brownville, Jefferson County, N. Y. He was the son of Silas F. and Charlotte Spicer. In 1821 his father moved with his family to Perch River, where he was engaged during the remainder of his life in the business of farming and the manufacture of boots and shoes. The elder Spicer was a man of sound judgment and strict integrity, and for many years held the office of justice of the peace. During the famous Morgan excitement, he was known as an “anti-Mason,” and took decided grounds in the controversy which then raged throughout the States. Subsequently, and until 1840 he acted with the Whig party, but in that year became identified morally and politically with the abolition movement, he steadily fought until the year 1864, when Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation obviated the necessity of further warfare. He was the instigator of the first abolitionist organization in the town of Brownville. Both himself and wife were deeply interested in the temperance cause, and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their house was always a home for the regular and itinerant preachers of that denomination.

The family consisted of fourteen children,--five boys and nine girls,--of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth. They were all afforded a good common-school education, and of the nine girls eight were teachers. Henry, from the age of fourteen to twenty-one, worked in summer by the month on a farm and attended district school in the winter. At the age of twenty-one he commenced business for himself, teaching district school in winter, and working at his trade-that of carpenter and joiner-in summer, until the fall of 1846, when he farmed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, the Hon. Hugh Smith, member of Assembly in 1874. They engaged in the business of merchandising, farming, and the manufacture of potash, and also dealt extensively in cattle. The copartnership continued for eighteen years, Mr. Spicer retiring in the fall of 1864. Since that time he has been engaged in farming, the breeding of horses, and various other enterprises, in all of which he has been eminently successful, and is widely known as a prudent, reliable, and sagacious business man. Mr. Spicer is now and was one of the original directors of the Black River Insurance Company, the name of which was subsequently changed to the Northern Insurance Company.

September, 1818, he married Miss Delia E., daughter of Capt. Beriah and Diana Allen, of Brownville. Capt. Allen was connected with the State militia, and served the town for several years as supervisor. A gentleman of irreproachable character, and highly respected by all who knew him. Mr. Spicer had two brothers in the Union army during the Rebellion, viz., Edward and George; the later being killed at the battle of Antietam. Politically, Mr. Spicer was a thorough Whig until the formation of the Republican party in 1854, since which time he has been a consistent Republican and an active member of that party. He has represented the town of Brownville as it supervisor four terms, viz., 1858, 1859, 1860 and 1869. He was elected presidential elector in 1872, and cast his vote for U. S. Grant. In 1876 he was elected to the Assembly, on the Republican ticket, by a majority of 367 over his opponent, who was elected the previous term from the same district by a majority of 386. Mr. Spicer is a thorough temperance man, and believes that the cause can best be aided by proper legislation, and to that end rendered valuable service while a member of the legislature. Personally he is a modest, unobtrusive man, courteous and affable, and possessing in an eminent degree, those qualities and virtues which win the respect of all who know him.

Back to Brownville Home Page

Transcribed by Holice B. Young from Jefferson Co. History by L. H. Everts.