Abner Nutting Spencer (May 11, 1820 – November 14, 1879) was an American farmer and landowner, for whom
Spencers Grove, Iowa is named.
Early life
He was born in
Orange County, Vermont to
Hon. William Spencer and Martha (Nutting) Spencer. He moved to
Benton County, Iowa
Benton County is a county in the U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defin ...
in 1841. He moved back to
Manchester, New Hampshire four years later, and married Judith Abigail Osborne.
Iowa
Back in Iowa, he began with a small farm in
Polk Township, Benton County, Iowa
Polk Township is one of twenty townships in Benton County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,803.
History
Polk Township was founded in 1848.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Polk Township ...
, but when he died, he had hundreds of acres to his name, including a fruit grove known across the county. He received land grants from President
Zachary Taylor in 1848 and from President
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804October 8, 1869) was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was a northern Democrat who believed that the abolitionist movement was a fundamental threat to the nation's unity ...
in 1855. He built a luxurious home in 1858 where he hosted westbound
stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...
travelers.
He was a devout Christian, he contributed the land, and funds for a church building. He also served as postmaster in Spencer's Grove.
He is buried along with many relatives in the Spencers Grove churchyard. These relatives include his son George Coggswell Spencer and grandson William Henry Spencer.
Genealogy
* Abner Nutting Spencer, son of
:*
William Spencer (1781–1871), son of
:* Ashbel Spencer (1737–1808), son of
:* Caleb Spencer (1709–1789), son of
::* Obadiah Spencer (c. 1666–1741), son of
::* Obadiah Spencer (c. 1639–1712), son of
::*
Thomas Spencer (1607–1687)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Abner N.
1820 births
1879 deaths
Farmers from Iowa
Farmers from Vermont
People from Orange County, Vermont
Place of death missing