HENRY
SPANGLE
Was
born in Hopewell township, Ontario
county, New York, March 8, 1821, and
died at his home in Jackson
township, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 1907, aged
86 years, 5 months
and 5 days. At the age of 4 years he
came with his parents to Seneca county, Ohio,
where he grew to manhood. At the age of
23 he came to Steuben county, Ind.,
where, with the earnings and savings of previous years, he, in 1844,
purchased
the land on which he has lived the last fifty years.
He was married three times: to Mary Coy in
1846, and to them was born one child, Emeline, who died at the age of
18
months, and the next spring the wife and mother was called away. In August of 1853 he was married to Elizabeth
Alcott, who was formerly the wife of Michael and mother of Charles
Alcott, of
Jackson Prairie and they spent 20 years of life together, when she,
too, was
called to the higher life. In September,
1873, he was again married to Miss Sarah Metzgar, of Jackson township,
who survives to mourn the
loss of a good husband. To this union
were born two children, Carrie, who died in June of 1905, and Clyde,
who has always lived near the old home and who has the rich heritage of
the
example of a good father. Mr. Spangle
was one of a family of seven brothers and one sister who have all
preceded him
to the spirit world, leaving only one half-sister and two half-brothers
of a
large family. He was a man of great
energy and keen foresight, with determination to succeed.
Coming into the county when it was new and
purchasing land hitherto inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts, he
began
the task of founding a home. What perseverance and industry he brought
to the
task and how he succeed, none who were acquainted with him need be
reminded.
Henry
Spangle was
a good man. What more need be said! What better could be said!
He had faith in God and accepted Christ as
his Savior. More than 40 years of ago he
became a member of the Methodist church, of Jackson Prairie, but after
a few
years, finding that some of the rules of the United Brethern church
were more
in harmony with his views, he took a letter from the Methodist and
joined the
U.B. church of Jackson Prairie. Later,
he was transferred to the church at Pleasant View, which has since been
his
church home. He was always prudent and
frugal in his business management, but always gave freely for the
support of
religious enterprises and was a generous contributor toward the
building of
several churches in his community and farther away; not only the church
of his
own choice but others as well. The last
days of his life were clouded by great suffering. For
several weeks he was in an almost
constant pain, yet he was patient and cheerful and often talked of the
health
and prosperity he had enjoyed through his long life.
So after four-score and six years the life of
this good man has passed away. Life’s
labor all finished, he has gone to his reward, and we who have known an
d loved
him so long, will remember him for his many noble activities, worthy of
our
imitation.
Funeral
services
were held at the late home Thursday afternoon, conducted by the pastor,
Rev.
Stangle. Interment in Jackson Prairie
cemetery.