BIO: John SPANGLER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  JOHN SPANGLER. The lives of honored ancestry and of Revolutionary 
heroes furnished many valuable lessons both of encouragement and 
inspiration; but one need not look to the past, for ofttimes in the 
lives of those around us is shown what can be accomplished by 
diligence, perseverance and putting to practical use the opportunities 
which come to all. Mr. Spangler is one in whose career may be traced 
these qualities, and who, as a result, occupies a place among the 
leading and substantial citizens of Centre county.
  Our subject was born in what was then Union, but is now Snyder, 
county, Penn., March 18, 1828, and is a representative of one of the 
old families of Lebanon county, Penn., where his grandfather, Christian 
Spangler, was born and reared. He had a family of four sons - John; 
Christian, who enlisted for service in the war of 1812, and died at 
Sunbury, Penn., while en route to the field of battle; Daniel and 
Jonathan. The sons all reached adult age and had families, as did 
several daughters, two of whom went to Ohio in an early day.
  Jacob Spangler, father of our subject, was the second child of the 
family, and was born about 1783, in Union county, two miles below 
Centreville. He learned the weaver's trade, and in what is now Snyder 
county wedded Miss Mary Schroyer. From the home farm he obtained a 
horse, and began the operation of a hill farm near New Berlin. 
Subsequently he purchased the homestead property of his father-in-law, 
and there his wife died at the age of forty years, and he at the age of 
sixty-seven years. He made farming his life work, and became the 
possessor of a valuable property and considerable money, which would 
have amounted to a much larger sum had he not lost considerable through 
going security for others. In politics he was a Democrat. He held 
several offices in the Lutheran Church, to which he belonged, and was a 
man whose well-directed business efforts brought him success, while his 
honorable life won his high regard.
  The children of Jacob and Mary Spangler were nine in number, namely: 
Catharine, who married John Kessler, and died in New Berlin, Penn.; 
Elizabeth, who wedded John Seebold, and died near New Berlin; Nancy, 
who became the wife of Joseph Seebold, and died near New Berlin; 
Susanna, who married Michael Miller and died near New Berlin; Elias, 
who resides near that town; Jacob, who died near the same town in the 
spring of 1896; John; William, of Millerstown, Penn.; George, who is 
living near New Berlin; Samuel, of Milroy, Penn.; and Lewis, who died 
in New Berlin in 1895.
  John Spangler could attend school but irregularly during his boyhood, 
for his services were required on the home farm until eighteen years of 
age. He then began learning the blacksmith's trade under the direction 
of John Kessler, who owned a smithy three miles below Middleburg, in 
Snyder county. His apprenticeship covered three years, and during the 
first two years he received no wages, but was allowed four weeks during 
harvest time when he might earn money in the fields. During the third 
year he was given $10 per month in the summer and $11 in the winter. He 
saved almost every cent of his earnings, and thus on the expiration of 
a year was enabled to engage in business on his own account in 
Adamsburg, Snyder county, where for fourteen years he followed his 
trade. On April 1, 1862, he came to Centre Hill, where he rented a 
blacksmith shop and also kept a tavern.
  After two years he came to Centre Hall, where from 1864 until 1867 he 
had charge of a hotel. He then purchased a hotel property for $7,000, 
and a month later sold it for $8,100. In the spring of 1867 he removed 
to Millheim, and purchased the "Kreamer Hotel," but after one summer he 
sold and removed to Bellefonte, where he leased the "Garman Hotel" and 
purchased the furniture; but possession was not given and in 
consequence he never conducted business there. From the spring of 1868 
until 1878 he carried on the "Centre Hall Hotel," and was then elected 
sheriff of the county, entering upon the discharge of his duties on the 
first Monday in January, 1879. After an incumbency of three years he 
returned to Centre Hall, where for several years he engaged in stock 
dealing, buying cattle in the West and selling in Centre county. Later 
he purchased a butcher shop, which, in connection with his son Reuben, 
he operated for four years. His next investment made him the owner of 
ninety-six acres of land in The Loop, and he has since been interested 
in agricultural pursuits.
  On April 25, 1848, in Snyder county, Mr. Spangler was married to Miss 
Susanna (Barger) who was born August 2, 1828, in Snyder county, a 
daughter of Abraham (a shoemaker) and Catharine (Boyer) Barger, who 
were the parents of four children: Simon, now of Kansas; Levi, who died 
in Mifflin county, Penn.; Barbara, who became the wife of Henry 
Mitchell, and died in Snyder county; and Susanna (Mrs. Spangler). Our 
subject and his wife have four children; Hon. J. L., a man of 
prominence; Howard J., editor of the Parsons Constitution, of Parsons, 
W. Va.; Annie, widow of H. D. Van Pelt, of Centre Hall; and Reuben B., 
manager for a coal company in Cambria county, Pennsylvania.
  In his political adherency, Mr. Spangler is a stalwart Democrat, and 
does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of 
his party. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church, in which he 
has served as trustee and deacon, and he formerly held membership in 
the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities. He has a pleasant home, and 
has reared a family of which he has just reason to be proud. Realizing 
the disadvantages caused by limited school privileges he has given his 
children excellent educational opportunities, and the family ranks high 
in the community. Mr. Spangler's acquaintance is extensive, and his 
friends accord him the esteem which is ever given to true worth.