Biography

DEATH OF THE HON. JOSHUA A. SPENCER.
The Hon. Joshua A. Spencer died at Utica, N. Y., on Saturday morning, the 25th inst., shortly after 6 o'clock.
Mr. Spencer has filled a large space in the public estimation for many years. The early period of his life was not one of historic or biographical interest, having been bred an honest house carpenter, and proud to take up the broad axe, and show to his friends how he was wont to work.
Forty years since he entered upon the practice of the law, and from the first took a prominent stand in Oneida county. He there formed and built up a reputation that will mark him with posterity as being one of the most distinguished gentlemen of his profession, alike remarkable for his urbanity, for his sound judgment, for his legal learning, for his integrity, and for his fine Christian character.
Mr. Spencer's early advantages, as I have before intimated, were small, and he was a self-made man, who rose to his professional rank by the force and energy of his mind, aided by untiring industry. He has long held a high rank at the bar, and filled with eminent usefulness the position of State Senator for one term, and District Attorney of the United States for the Northern District of New York. In the latter office he had charged for the United States of the celebrated McLeod case, and concurred in enforcing Mr. Webster's views of the question of public law involved. Both these able jurists held, that as the case depended on a right to regulate our foreign relations, the State courts had no jurisdiction of the matter, and that it belonged exclusively to the national government. An act of Congress, it will be recollected, was subsequently passed enforcing this position, and depriving State courts of all power of interference in such cases.
Mr. Spencer was ever sound and sensible in all his views of law, and was emphatically an honest man and a pure minded christian gentleman. He has left behind him the influence of a noble example as a legacy to the bar, and to the American people.
Source: The New York Herald, New York, New York, 27 Apr 1857, Page 4

At Utica, N.Y., April 25, Hon. Joshua A. Spencer, in his 67th year.
Joshua Austin Spencer was born at Great Barrington, Mass., the 13th of May, 1790. He was descended from the same family as the late Chief Justice Spencer and John C. Spencer, though not closely related to them. While quite young, he came to Greenville, Greene County, in this State. While there he learned the trade of a clothier and also that of a carpenter and joiner, at which latter employment he labored for a time before commencing his legal studies. In 1808, he went to Canistota, and became a partner of his brother, General Spencer. He soon acquired a high reputation. In 1829 he removed to Utica, and formed a professional connection with the late William H. Maynard, which was dissolved by the death of Mr. Maynard in 1832. In 1841 Mr. Spencer was appointed Attorney for the United States, for the Northern District of this State, and held the office for the legal term of four years. At the annual election in 1845, he was elected to the Senate of this State and became ex officio a member of the Court for the Correction of Errors. In 1848 he was elected Mayor of Utica. He was for many years, and at his death, a member of the Board of Trustees of Hamilton College. His elevation of character was not less marked than his great abilities.—Albany Atlas
Source: The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 30 Apr 1857, Page 3

THE HON. JOSHUA A. SPENCER
Was born in Great Barrington, Mass., in 1790. He was a descendant from the same family as the late Chief Justice Spencer and John C. Spencer, though but remotely connected with them. Early in life he came to Greenville, Greene county, and commenced his long career of usefulness as many of our greatest men have done, by teaching school. He was consequently a self-made man, and rose to his professional rank by the force and energy of his mind, aided by untiring industry.
At the bar he very early gained a high rank, and his services were sought for in all the most important cases occurring in his vicinity. In 1829 he removed to Utica, and formed a professional connection with the late William H. Maynard, which was dissolved by the death of Mr. Maynard in 1832. In 1841 he was appointed Attorney of the United States for the Northern District. While in this office he a charge for the United States of the celebrated McLeod case, and concurred in enforcing Mr. Webster's views of the question of public law involved. Both these able jurists held that as the case depended on a right to regulate our foreign relations, the State courts had no jurisdiction of the matter, and that it belonged exclusively to the national government. An active Congress, it will be recollected, was subsequently passed, enforcing this position, and depriving State courts of all power of interference in such cases. In 1845 he was elected to the New York Senate. He was several times the candidate of his party for high stations, as member of Congress and Judge of Appeals. In 1848 he was mayor of Utica. Notwithstanding his public duties, Mr. Spencer never enjoyed even a temporary respite from the labors and duties of his profession, but continued actively employed until arrested by his last illness. While living, he built up a reputation that will mark him with posterity as being one of the most distinguished gentlemen of his profession, alike remarkable for his urbanity, for his sound judgment, for his legal learning, for his integrity, and for his fine Christian character.
Mr. Spencer was twice married, first to Mrs. Phelps, who died young, and who was the mother of his first two children, Hamilton Spencer, Esq., now of Illinois, and Clarissa, the wife of Dr. Kennedy, of Troy, N.Y. His second wife was the daughter of Judge Dean, of Westmoreland, N.Y. By his second marriage he has had a numerous family, nearly all now settled in life, and who, with the widow, are left to deplore his loss.
Source: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, New York, New York, 16 May 1857, Page 372