Biographical Sketch of Isaac SPACKMAN (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 229-30. "ISAAC SPACKMAN, a well qualified business man, and who has served for twelve years as secretary of the old and reliable Chester County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, is a son of Thomas and Hannah (Maxton) Spackman, and was born in what is now Caln township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1829. His paternal great-grandfather, Isaac and Esther (Beale) Spackman, were residents of Hankerton, near Malmsbury, in Wilt- shire, England, where the husband, who was a worsted comber, died about 1746, and left his widow and seven children in straightened circumstances. Their son, Isaac Spackman (grandfather), was born November 21, 1739, and in 1750 was brought by his uncle, William Beale, to Pennsylvania, where he was bound out to service for a sufficient length of time to pay for his passage. He grew to manhood in Chester county, and in 1785 purchased the farm in Caln township which his grandson, the subject of this sketch, now owns. He died April 15, 1823, aged eighty-four years. He married, April 21, 1768, Susanna Clayton, of West Bradford, and their children were: George, Ann, James, Isaac, Mary, Susanna, Thomas, and Edith. "Thomas Spackman (father), the youngest son, was born in 1782, and died February 20, 1846, at sixty-four years of age. He was a prosperous farmer, and always resided on the home farm. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and an old-line whig in politics, and served as one of the early school directors of his township. He married Hannah Maxton, a native of Bradford township, who died September 17, 1884, when in the eighty-second year of her age. They had six children, one son and five daughters. "Isaac Spackman grew to manhood on the home farm, received his education in the common and boarding schools, and was engaged in farming for fifty years, excepting two winters, during which he taught school. In 1880 he was elected as secretary of the Chester County Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, and removed to Coatesville, where he has resided ever since. "On January 5, 1854, Mr. Spackman married Ann Eliza Branson, daughter of James G. and Elizabeth Branson, of West Brandywine township. Mr. and Mrs. Spackman have six children: Thomas, Horace B., George H., William W., John E., and Owen F. "Isaac Spackman is a republican in politics, and a member of the Presby- terian church. While residing in Caln township he served one term as assessor, three years as supervisor, sixteen years as school director, and eight years as county auditor. He does some land surveying, still owns the old homestead farm, and is a good business man. In September, 1862, he served as a soldier in one of the emergency militia regiments that were called out by Pennsylvania to repel Lee's threatened invasion of the State. "The Chester County Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized in 1840, has had its office at Coatesville since 1861, and has twenty-five million dollars insurance, with over eight hundred thousand dollars of storm in- surance. The aim of the company has been to furnish insurance at the lowest possible cost, which it has done successfully. It has paid over one million dollars of losses to its members, and has a membership of over nine thousand. Its operations are mainly confined to Chester county, and it is considered as one of the best managed and most solid and suc- cessful fire insurance companies in the United States. Its popularity and prosperity are on the increase, and much of its able management and success is due to the efforts of its present secretary, who has labored most faithfully in its interests. Isaac Spackman is a man of thorough experience, as well as energy and excellent business ability, and has always served creditably in any business enterprise in which he has ever been engaged. He is pleasant and courteous, easily approached, and is known throughout the county as an honest citizen and an upright man."