BIO: William W. 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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157  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

  WILLIAM W. SPANGLER.  Among the progressive and enterprising farmers 
of Centre County, the record of whose lives fills an important place in 
this volume, it gives us pleasure to commemorate the name of this 
gentleman.  He was born July 20, 1835, at Eagleville, on the farm which 
is still his home, and comes of a family that has long been prominently 
identified with the business and social interests of the community. 
  Jonas Spangler, father of our subject, was born May 1, 1800 in York 
County, this State, 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  158

where his parents, who were of German birth, passed the greater part of 
their lives.  As early as 1820, however, he came to Centre County, and 
for a number of years ran a stell-bottomed boat on the Susquehanna 
River between Sunbury, Penn., and Centre County.  He built three boats 
while a resident of Liberty Township, where he also engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, and became one of the most prominent and wealthy 
citizens of the locality.  He was a faithful member of the Church of 
Christ, and a strong Democrat in politics, on which ticket he was 
elected to several township offices.
  In Centre County Jonas Spangler was married to Mary Kunes, a daughter 
of Daniel Kunes, one of the honored pioneers of the county, where he 
located during the 18th century and followed the occupation of farming.  
Five sons blessed this union: Hiram, who for four years served in the 
Union army during the Civil war, taking part in twenty-six battles, and 
died from the effects of wounds received at the battle of the 
Wilderness; William W., the subject of this sketch; Samuel, who helped 
to take Fort Fisher during the Civil war, and is now a resident of 
Eagleville; George W., who died in Philadelphia; and Jonas, who died 
from the effects of wounds received at the battle of Appomattox, after 
four years of arduous service.  The mother of these children departed 
this life in 1839, at the age of thirty-five years, and the father 
passed away May 1, 1855.
  William W. Spangler never left the parental roof, and after the death 
of his father he assumed the management of the home farm, which he has 
placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and 
substantial buildings.  Upon the place his father laid out the village 
of Eagleville in 1851, but the remainder of the farm is devoted to 
agriculture.
  In December 1860, at Lock Haven, Penn., Mr. Spangler was united in 
marriage with Miss Emily A. Seyler, who was born in Stephenson County, 
Ill., April 19, 1842, a daughter of George and Mary (Potts) Seyler, who 
were natives of Penn's Valley, Centre County, but at an early day 
migrated to Illinois, where the father engaged in tailoring and farming 
throughout the remainder of his life.  His family included seven 
children: George, a carpenter of Greenwood, Wis.; Elizabeth, wife of 
Samuel Shaffer, of Freeport, Ill.; Annie, widow of Daniel Smith, of 
Shabbona, Ill.; A. Jackson, a mechanic of Freeport; Emily A.; Alice, 
wife of a Mr. Agnew, a farmer of Bennet, Iowa; and Mrs. Ellen Moses, of 
Livermore, Iowa. 
  To Mr. and Mrs. Spangler were born five children: Tacy, wife of Ross 
Martin, a carpenter of Lock Haven, Penn.; George, a resident of Liberty 
township, Centre County; Mary, wife of Albert Kunes, who is engaged in 
farming in Eagleville; Henry, a druggist of Middleburg, Snyder Co., 
Penn.; and Millie E., at home.  The faithful wife and mother was called 
to her final rest March 12, 1873, and her death was widely and deeply 
mourned.
  In 1863 Mr. Spangler enlisted in the 149th P.V.I., known as the 
"Bucktail Regiment," and was under the command of Capt. Hancock for 
eighteen months, or until he, (the Captain) was wounded, when another 
captain was put in his place.  Our subject participated in a number of 
engagements and skirmishes, and when hostilities had ceased was 
honorably discharged May 20, 1865 after which he returned home and 
resumed agricultural pursuits.  He belongs to a prominent and well-
known family of Centre County, and is related to Col. Jack Spangler, of 
Bellefonte.  For seven years he filled the office of supervisor of his 
township, and for the long term of twenty years acceptably served as 
constable, holding the position continuously (with the exception of two 
years) from 1873 until February 1896.  Socially he holds membership in 
Blanchard Lodge No. 420, I.O.O.F., of Eagleville, and politically is 
identified with the Democratic party.  He is an earnest, conscientious 
Christian, who since 1873 has been a prominent and active member of the 
Church of Christ, and as a citizen is held in the highest respect and 
esteem.