Henry C. Spencer

Henry Christian Spencer (June 24, 1915 – 2000) was an American chemical engineer and executive at the Kerite Company in Seymour, Connecticut. He was involved in discussions about unions at the company.

Early life and education

He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Dr. William Henry Spencer and Bertha Wenig Spencer. His father graduated from the Illinois College of Physicians and Surgeons Chicago, now the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1904. was a prominent surgeon, and his ancestors had been early settlers in Iowa. Bertha was the daughter of George Kaspar Wenig and Ida Ernst Wenig, both of Cedar Rapids. She graduated from the University of Chicago, and was active in St. John's Episcopal Church.

Henry Spencer graduated from Iowa State University in 1930 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.

Career

In 1969, he was elected Secretary of the Kerite Company.[1] Later, he was Vice President of Kerite. In 1973, he reported that the company employees had voted against joining the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum, and Plastic Workers Union. The vote had been 208 to 132 out of 380 eligible workers. Kerite was the largest employer in Seymour.[2]

He served as Chairman of the Manufacturers Council of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Chamber of Commerce, and worked on projects including a 'clergy-industry conference,' and work toward the Waterbury-Oxford Airport[3] He was also the Industrial Chairman for the first Valley United Fund drive, and he sought donations from over 150 corporations for a variety of community organizations.[4]

He was a corporator of Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT, a director of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the board of Junior Achievement of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, a deacon in the Middlebury Congregational Church, and master at King Solomons Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Woodbury, Connecticut.[5]

He was also president of the Spencer Society, and authored many important articles in its journal, Le Despencer.[6]

Family life

In 1938, he married Evelyn Burchard (1912-2002), daughter of Frederick Burchard, the owner of the Royal Laundry in Cedar Rapids. Evelyn graduated from Iowa State University in 1938. Together, they had 5 children, and one (William) who died in infancy: Samuel, Thomas, Stella, Michael, and Rebecca Spencer. They resided in Middlebury, Connecticut.

In 1972, he married Mary P. Adams and retired in Green Valley, Arizona.

Henry's brother, Dr. Carl G. Spencer, was a large animal veterinarian. A scholarship in his name at the Iowa State Veterinary School was for students interested in pursuing bovine and ovine medicine.

Genealogy

  • Henry Christian Spencer, son of
  • William Henry Spencer (1878–1936), son of
  • George Cogswell Spencer (1854–1926), son of
  • Abner Nutting Spencer (1820–1879), 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

  1. ↑ "Spencer Secretary of Kerite". Naugatuck Daily News. March 13, 1969.
  2. ↑ "UNION IS REJECTED BY KERITE WORKERS SEYMOUR". The Bridgeport Post. March 17, 1973.
  3. ↑ "PARREL TO HEAD CHAMBER UNIT ANSONIA". The Bridgeport Post. May 23, 1968.
  4. ↑ "Valley United Fund Names Industry Division Head". Naugatuck Daily News. August 5, 1968.
  5. ↑ "Valley United Fund Names Industry Division Head". Naugatuck Daily News. August 5, 1968.
  6. ↑ "Petersen Family History". RootsWeb.
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