Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Spangler, Henry 1834 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 9, 2007, 12:08 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

HENRY SPANGLER is the fortunate owner of a good farm, pleasantly located one 
mile from the village of Plainfield, that is supplied with substantial 
buildings, good machinery, is under excellent cultivation, and is otherwise 
well improved. Our subject is a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in Potter 
Township, Centre County, January 25, 1834. His father, John Spangler, was a 
native of the same State, born, it is thought, in Lancaster County, and his 
father, Peter Spangler, is supposed to have been a native of the same county, 
born of German parentage. He removed to Centre County in an early day of its 
settlement and became a pioneer of Potter Township, where he bought and 
improved a tract of land, and was engaged in farming thereon the remainder of 
his life. The father of our subject was a boy when his parents removed to that 
place, and there he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for a 
time and then turned his attention to the calling to which he had been reared, 
and farmed in Centre County until 1848. In that year he came to Illinois, 
making the journey by teams, and crossing but one railroad on the way, which 
was a primitive affair, having wooden rails and an iron strap on the top of 
them. He cast in his lot with the pioneers of Plainfield who had preceded him 
to this pleasant place. He bought three hundred and sixty acres of partly 
improved land and was engaged in agricultural pursuits some years until his 
retirement from active life to Joliet, where the rest of his days were passed. 
The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Stem, and she was a native of Centre 
County, Pa., her father, Adam Stem, having been a farmer in that part of 
Pennsylvania. She died on the home farm in Plainfield Township. He of whom we 
write was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his parents to their new 
home in the Prairie State, and he well remembers incidents of the journey and 
of the pioneer life that they led there. He assisted his father on the farm, 
gaining a good practical knowledge of the calling that he was to adopt for his 
life-work. He was engaged with his father until he was twenty-one, and he then 
rented the farm from him and carried it on successfully, continuing to rent 
land until 1873. He had accumulated considerable money and invested it in his 
present homestead, which comprises one hundred and seventeen acres of as 
fertile land as is to be found in this exceptionally fine farming region. He 
has erected suitable buildings, has all needful appliances for carrying on 
agriculture to a good advantage, and has his land under admirable tillage. Mr. 
Spangler was married, in 1857, to Miss Mary Heinselman, a native of 
Pennsylvania and a daughter George Heinselman; she was a prudent, thrifty 
woman and an excellent housewife, and has contributed her share in the 
upbuilding of their home. Five children have been born to them, four of whom 
are living—Kate, Frank, Clinton and Melvin. Mr. Spangler is industrious, 
shrewd, and methodical, and always has his affairs in a good condition. He 
stands well in this community in the varied relations of husband, father, 
neighbor and citizen, and is esteemed for his good qualities of head and 
heart. He and his family are members in good standing of the German 
Evangelical Church. Mr. Spangler is independent in politics, voting for the 
man rather than for party.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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