BIO: James SPACKMAN, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 416 & 417.
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  JAMES SPACKMAN, a well known and highly respected citizen of Lawrence 
township, Clearfield county, Pa., now living retired on his valuable farm of 
172 acres, situated five miles from Clearfield and three miles from 
Curwensville, was born December 10, 1841, on the Richard Spackman farm in this 
township.  He is a son of William Spackman and a grandson of Daniel Spackman.
  Daniel Spackman came to Clearfield county from Chester county, Pa., in 1818, 
accompanied by his wife and children and his subsequent life was spent on the 
farm in Lawrence township that was then bought by his sons, Benjamin and Thomas 
Spackman.  The children of Daniel Spackman were as follows:  Benjamin; John; 
Mary, wife of Thomas Leonard; Elizabeth, wife of William Mitchell; Thomas; 
William; Jane; Hester, wife of James Mitchell; Sarah, wife of Jerdon Read; and 
Debbie, wife of David Brown.
  William Spackman attended the Pine Grove School in Chester county, grew up on 
the home farm and after marriage settled on an adjoining farm, where he cleared 
twenty-five acres.  He married Isabella Read, a daughter of Thomas and Mary 
(Jerdon) Read, and four children were born to them:  Thomas, who resides at 
Detroit, Mich.; James; Margaret, who is the wife of Edward Wise, of Knox 
township; and Alexander, who lives in Lawrence township and married Annie 
Baker.  William Spackman was a member of the Friends' church at Curwensville, 
Pa.; his wife was a Presbyterian.  In early life he was an old-line Whig, but 
in later years became a Democrat.  He lived to the venerable age of eighty-four 
years, and his burial was at McNaul Cemetery in Pike township.
  James Spackman obtained his schooling in his native township and as soon as 
age and strength permitted he went to work in the woods and for many years was 
engaged in lumbering, during that time living with his maternal uncle, 
Alexander Read.  In 1867 he bought his present farm but did not locate on it 
until 1882, from the time of his marriage in 1869 until the above date living 
along the river.  Mr. Spackman had no clearing to do but has done a large 
amount of repairing and rebuilding.  The brick house, which was built in 1833, 
and the barn, in 1831, were in remarkably good condition considering their age, 
but each needed modern conveniences.  This barn is a landmark, having been the 
first frame barn erected in Clearfield county and in the main the materials in 
its original construction are still preserved.  It was put up for Thomas Read 
by carpenter George Leech.  Mr. Spackman's farm is valuable in many ways.  In 
1903 a 34-inch vein of coal was opened and in that year 5,000 bushels of coal 
were taken out and since that time the vein has supplied fuel for family use.  
Since Mr. Spackman retired from active labor, his sons have had the management 
of the farm and stock interests and have done well.  They raise full blood 
Percheron horses and have high grade mixed cattle and carry on operations 
according to modern ideas, regarding agriculture as a business and profession.
  In October, 1869, Mr. Spackman was married to Miss Mary E. Read, a daughter 
of J. R. and Mary Read, who were both born in Lawrence township and spent all 
their married life on this farm.  Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Spackman, two sons and one daughter:  L. E., L. W., and L. H.  Neither son has 
married.  The daughter is the wife of Ernest Aughenbaugh, of Curwensville.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Spackman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Curwensville.  In politics, Mr. Spackman is an Independent Democrat, keeping 
faith with the old-time principles of Democracy but reserving the right to vote 
as his judgment dictates.  Mr. Spackman has served his township as auditor, 
supervisor and school director and has also been overseer of the poor.  He is a 
member of the county agricultural society and belongs also to the Grange, 
Patrons of Husbandry.  He is a stockholder in the Farmers and Traders Bank of 
Clearfield.  Although his purchase of the old Driftwood schoolhouse and its 
erection on his farm as a shed was a practical matter, there was also some 
sentiment in it, for it was in that building that he passed his entire school 
boy period, and many pleasant memories cluster about it for this reason.