JOSEPH BERNARD SPANGLER SR.
|
SECTION : ?
LOT : ?
GRAVE # ?
|
Joseph Bernard Spangler Sr.
b. January 14, 1788
Paradise, York County, Pennsylvania
d. February 17, 1862
Decatur, Macon County, Illinois
buried: February 19, 1862
|
FATHER
Joseph Spangler
(1745-1802)
MOTHER
Maria Elizabeth Gardner
(1763-1826)
MARRIED
BARBARA BENTZLEY
(1789-1847)
1809
Dover, York County, Pennsylvania
ELIZABETH ZORGER
(1828-1906)
October 9, 1853
Macon County, Illinois
|
CHILDREN
with Barbara
with Elizabeth
|
|
NOTE:
Joseph's father,
Joseph Spangler,
fought in the
REVOLUTIONARY WAR
|
FROM THE
'PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY
OF DECATUR AND MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS'
The S. J. Clarke publishing co., 1903.
JOSEPH SPANGLER
No man was better known in Macon county in the period of its early development than was Joseph Spangler, who settled here in 1834. The conditions which prevailed at that time are within the memory of few men of the present. The Indians were numerous in the county at that time, the lands were unclaimed and uncultivated and the work of civilization and progress seemed scarcely begun. It remained to such intrepid pioneers as Joseph Spangler to reclaim this district for the uses of the white race and to plant here the seeds of advancement and development that have ripened with time and have made Macon county one of the most important in this great common wealth. After residing here for a short time here moved to Springfield,Illinois, in order that he might afford his sons better business opportunities, but after six months he returned and settled near the village of Oreana in Whitmore township, where he entered land from the government at the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. From time to time he added to his property until he was the owner of an extensive farm. Mr. Spangler was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, born January 14, 1788. His parents were natives of Germany, and at an early day came to America, first settling in York county, Pennsylvania, whence they afterward went to Cumberland county, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death. His wife also passed away there. The educational privileges of Joseph Spangler were extremely limited. He was but thirteen years of age at the time of his father's death and soon afterward he began to learn the miller's trade, which he followed in his native county for several years. He then removed to York county, Pennsylvania, where he entered into partnership with a Mr.Ernst in the establishment and conduct of a mill. They engaged in grinding flour and meal for several years and also carried on a distillery there. While living in York county Mr. Spangler was first married and a number of years afterward he sold his mill and distillery and started for the west with the idea of establishing his home in Ohio. He was not pleased with that state, however, on account of the heavy growth of timber there and accordingly returned to York county, Pennyslvania, where he continued to reside for a year longer. During that year he sent his oldest son back to the west to look for a location and the son reported favorably upon Macon county and its prospects, writing for the father to join him here. Accordingly in the year 1834 Joseph Spangler arrived. He entered land from the government in different townships and finally entered three hundred and twenty acres on the Sangamon river in Whitmore township, where he built what is still known as the old Spangler mill. There he engaged in the milling business and also in farming. There was no market here for grain at that time and he had to haul his wheat to Chicago. Throughout his remaining days he engaged in general farming and milling and was one of the early and prominent representatives of trade relations in Macon county. As before stated Joseph Spangler was married in York county, Pennsylvania, the lady of his choice being Miss Barbara Bentsley, who was born in the Keystone state, but died in Macon county. They were the parents of nine children: Betsey Elizabeth, Polly Mary, Jacob. John, Susan, Joseph, Felix, and Daniel, all now deceased; and Eliza, the widow of D. Daniels, who now resides on a farm five miles east of Decatur. Mr. Spangler's second marriage was celebrated in Macon county, at which time Miss Elizabeth Zerger became his wife. She was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, born August 27, 1828, and a daughter of John and Polly (Ferringer) Zerger, both of whom were natives of York county, where her father engaged in the distilling business and also in the conduct of a farm. In 1839 he made his way westward by the river route and settled in Macon county near the village of Oreana, where he continued to engage in the tilling of the soil until his life's labors were ended in death. His wife also passed away there. They had seven children, five of whom are living: Elizabeth, Andrew, Ann, Mary, and John. Caroline and Mary Ann are both deceased. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Spangler: Lydia, the wife of William Strong, who is engaged in the poultry business in Missouri; Hattie, who died at the age of seven years; Caroline, the deceased wife of Thomas Daniels; and Frank, who is residing with his mother and superintends the farm. Mr.Spangler died on the 17th of February, 1862, and thus passed away one of the valued pioneer settlers, whose efforts were very helpful in the early work of the county as it emerged from pioneer conditions. On several occasions his friends desired him to become a candidate for office, but he always refused. His vote was usually given to the Democratic party, but he took no active part in political affairs. He and his wife were at one time members of the Universalist church of Decatur, but Mrs. Spangler now attends the Christian church. Mr. Spangler was a very successful businessman and became well-to-do. Prior to his death he told his wife to select her future home and she decided upon her present location in Decatur, which he purchased for her. She resides at the east edge of the city where she has a good residence on a street, standing on a high hill and commanding an excellent view of the surrounding country. She still owns fifty acres of valuable land and she and her son Frank are carrying on farming. Mr. Spangler was a man of strong character and marked individuality and firm purpose and such qualities are valuable in the pioneer who braves the hardships and dangers of life on the frontier in order to establish a home in a new country.
|
|
|
|
|