Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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school master. He married, in England,<br />
in 1635, Eleanor Chandler. 1 1 is eldest<br />
son, John Trumbull, was the grandfather<br />
<strong>of</strong> Governor Jonathan Trumbull, <strong>of</strong> <strong>Connecticut</strong>.<br />
His second son, Joseph Trumbull,<br />
was born March 19, 1647, in Rowley,<br />
and settled in Suffield, <strong>Connecticut</strong>, in<br />
1670. The perilous conditions during<br />
King Philip's War drove the settlers away<br />
from that section, but in 1676 he returned<br />
there, was a freeman in 1681, and one <strong>of</strong><br />
the few qualified voters at the first town<br />
meeting. His homestead was on the bank<br />
<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Connecticut</strong> river. He married,<br />
May 6, 1669, Hannah, daughter <strong>of</strong> Hugh<br />
and Mary Smith, <strong>of</strong> Rowley, born March<br />
24, 1647. Their eldest child was John<br />
Trumbull, who was born November 27,<br />
1670, in Rowley, and settled in Enfield,<br />
<strong>Connecticut</strong>, in 1694, removing thence, in<br />
1700. to Suffield, where he died January<br />
3, 1751. He married there, September 3,<br />
1696, Elizabeth, daughter <strong>of</strong> David and<br />
Elizabeth (Filley) Winchell, <strong>of</strong> Suffield,<br />
born December 9, 1675, in Windsor, <strong>Connecticut</strong>.<br />
Their third daughter was Mary<br />
Trumbull, who became the wife <strong>of</strong><br />
Thomas Spencer, as above related.<br />
Their youngest son, Hezekiah Spencer,<br />
born December 16, 1740, was a farmer in<br />
Suffield, and died August 3, 1797. He married,<br />
March 4, 1762, Olive Nott, born October<br />
11, 1735, in Wethersfield, died February<br />
2, 1771, daughter <strong>of</strong> William and<br />
Abigail Nott, granddaughter <strong>of</strong> Sergeant<br />
John and Patience (Miller) Nott, greatgranddaughter<br />
<strong>of</strong> John and Ann Nott,<br />
who were in Wethersfield in 1636.<br />
Hezekiah Spencer, son <strong>of</strong> Hezekiah and<br />
Olive (Nott) Spencer, born April 30, 1766,<br />
was a farmer, a staunch Whig in politics,<br />
a leading member <strong>of</strong> the Baptist church,<br />
and died October 12, 1820. He married,<br />
June 5, 1793, Jerusha Nelson, born December<br />
17, 1771, in Suffield, died August<br />
17. 1854.<br />
i:\CYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
They were the parents <strong>of</strong> Hezekiah<br />
Spencer, who was born in Suffield, was<br />
reared on the paternal homestead, sharing<br />
in the outdoor life <strong>of</strong> the farm, and<br />
acquiring a sound frame and high ideals.<br />
He became a dealer in furs in the city <strong>of</strong><br />
Hartford, and was the only representative<br />
in the American market <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
large importing houses <strong>of</strong> Leipsic, Germany.<br />
He married Cecelia Spencer, and<br />
they were the parents <strong>of</strong> four children<br />
Thaddeus H., Israel Luther, Calvin C.<br />
and Celia Jennie.<br />
Israel Luther Spencer, second son <strong>of</strong><br />
Hezekiah and Cecelia (Spencer) Spencer,<br />
was born May 3, 1833, in Suffield, where<br />
he continued to make his home, and died<br />
December 31, 1897. He enjoyed the ordinary<br />
advantages incident to life on the<br />
home farm, and the educational oppor-<br />
tunities supplied by the town school. In<br />
early manhood he traveled westward and<br />
saw a great deal <strong>of</strong> wild life while carrying<br />
on the business <strong>of</strong> buying furs from<br />
the Indians for his father. It was in this<br />
business that he laid the foundation <strong>of</strong> his<br />
future success. He made several fortu-<br />
nate investments, and was for many years<br />
reckoned as a capitalist. Early inter-<br />
ested in political movements, he was a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the Republican party from its<br />
organization, and was elected on its ticket<br />
in 1863 to represent the town <strong>of</strong> Suffield<br />
in the Lower House <strong>of</strong> the State Legislature.<br />
In 1879-80 he was a Senator from<br />
what was then the second district, served<br />
as chairman <strong>of</strong> the committee on insurance,<br />
and made a record for thorough<br />
investigation and understanding <strong>of</strong> public<br />
questions, and for absolute uprightness as<br />
a legislator. In 1884 he was a candidate<br />
for presidential elector on the Blaine<br />
ticket, and in 1888 was a delegate to the<br />
National Republican Convention, and<br />
would have presented the name <strong>of</strong> Mr.<br />
Blaine as a candidate for the nomination<br />
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