BIO: WILLIAM SPAHR, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 179-181
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/


    WILLIAM SPAHR has been a well-known citizen of Carlisle all his life, and he
  has been prominently identified with the social and church life of the
  community as well as its business interests.
  
    John Spahr, grandfather of William, was born March 17, 1782, and died in
  Carlisle Nov. 19, 1844. He was a hatter by trale. He married Elizabeth
  Wickart, who was born Oct. 12, 1783, and died Jan. 19, 1858. Their children
  were as follows: John, the father of William; William, a brickmaker, who died
  in Carlisle; Peter, who was engaged in brickmaking in Carlisle all his life,
  and died there; and Eliza, who married James Liggett and was the grandmother
  of Clarence Liggett, of Carlisle.
  
    John Spahr, father of William; was born Nov. 3, 1807, in Carlisle. He learned
  the hatter's trade under his father, but did not follow it long, in early
  manhood commencing to work at filing under John Proctor, who was a well-known
  figure in the industrial world of Carlisle in the early days; he made bits
  when they were made and filed and plated by hand, silver money being melted
  to get material for the plating. Mr. Spahr remained with Mr. Proctor for a
  number of years, and was ever noted for his industry and thrift. For many
  years he was high constable in Carlisle, and he was active in church work as
  a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he served as deacon. He was sexton
  for many years. After erecting the family home on North East street, in
  Carlisle, he took up gardening, which he followed for the remainder of his
  days, dying Dec. 11, 1876. On April 3, 1828, Mr. Spahr married Elizabeth
  Stum, who was born March 3, 1811, and died April 8, 1875. Her parents came to
  this country from Germany and died in Carlisle. To Mr. and Mrs. Spahr were
  born children as follows: (1) Lizzie, born Oct. 8, 1829, married John Egolf
  in 1850, and died in Carlisle.. (2) John, born April 15, 1832, married Mary
  Black, April 13, 1856, and died in Carlisle, July 30, 1900. (3) William is
  mentioned
  
  180	CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
  
  below. (4) Catherine, born March 17, 1835, died in 1836. (5) Mary H. born May
  29, 1837, married Cyrus D. Arnold, Oct. 10, 1858, and is now a widow, living
  in Philadelphia. (6) Peter F., born May 5, 1839, was twice married, first on
  March 4, 1862, to Annie Ward, and on Dec. 19, 1872, to Emma Swigert, who
  survives him. (7) Sarah, born Dec. 21, 1840, married Samuel Minnich, and died
  in June, 1903, in Carlisle. (8) Barbara E., born March 17, 1843, died March
  16, 1845. (9) Margaret J., born Dec. 21, 1844, died May 17, 1853. (10) George
  R., born Oct. 1, 1846, died May 10, 1853. (1 1) Julia Ann died in infancy.
  William Spahr was born June 24, 1834, in Carlisle, in a house which stood on
  the lot next to what afterward became the family homestead, in North East
  street. His first literary instruction was received in the school at the
  corner of Bedford and Louther streets, under Mary Richter, and he was
  subsequently a pupil of Miss String, Mr. Gould, Gilbert Searight, Mr. Tripner
  and Dr. Neidig, under whom he closed his school life. As his help was needed
  at home he attended only during the winter after he was old enough to he of
  practical use. During the summer season he was employed in the brickyard,
  beginning that work at the age of fourteen, at $4 per month and board. His
  first work was what was called "off bearing," that is, taking away, and in
  time he acquired a thorough knowledge of all the details of the business,
  working for many years for his uncle Peter. In those days the work was all
  done by hand. Finally our subject, with his brothers John and Peter, formed
  the firm of Spahr Bros., brick manufacturers, and after the death of Peter,
  in 1891, the other two brothers continued the business until 1897, when the
  firm went out of business. Peter Spahr was a member of the boroughcouncil of
  Carlisle for twelve years. William Spahr was engaged in the actual work of
  brickmaking from his fourteenth year until 1891, with the exception of an
  interval of three years during which he was in the confectionery business
  with John H. Rheem; he was a molder from his twenty-first year. Since the
  plant was closed down Mr. Spahr has practically lived retired, though for the
  past year and a half he has run a tea wagon. During his active business life
  he enjoyed high standing among his associates and enjoyed a wide acquaintance
  among business men in and around Carlisle.
  
    All the Spahr family are musically inclined and gifted, and William Spahr and
  all his brothers and sisters are singers, well known in that connection
  throughout this section. As was common during those days, he had no money of
  his own until after he attained his majority, his father settling his wages
  up to the close of his twenty-first year. After that he immediately commenced
  to save, and before long had enough to buy a small melodeon from Samuel Gould,
  which had been the property of the old-time music teacher, Mr. Skiles. Mr.
  Spahr paid $27 for this instrument, and afterward sold it to be used as the
  old "barracks" singing class for $50. From early manhood he sang in the choir
  of the Lutheran Church, until John Rheem, the leader, went west, after which
  Mr. Spahr took charge of the choir for sixteen years, also leading the
  singing in the Sunday-school. For many years he gave his services now and
  then to the Mission Church. He remained with the Lutheran choir until
  seventeen years ago. For many years Mr. Spahr was the leader of the old
  original Carlisle Band, in which he played first E flat cornet. After its
  reorganization it was led by Louis C. Faber. When he left that band he became
  cornetist in Widner's Orchestra,

  CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 181
    
  with which he played for some years. His interest in musical matters has
  never waned, and although he is not now as active in musical circles as he
  used to be he still has the same love for such things. As may be inferred
  from the above, Mr. Spahr's religious connection is with the Lutheran Church.
  In politics he has been a lifelong Democrat.
  
    On Dec. 23, 1860, Mr. Spahr was married, by Rev. J. Fry, of the Lutheran
  Church to Miss Annie C. Ritter, who was born in Carlisle, daughter of Henry
  S. and Mary (Wunderlich) Ritter. Her father, who died in 1888 in Carlisle,
  was a well-known merchant tailor of the town. The young couple commenced
  married life in a small house on North East street, where they lived only a
  short time, however, after which they moved to the present residence, which
  Mr. Spahr rented for fifteen years from John Underwood, who was teller at the
  Carlisle Bank for many years. Mr. Spahr eventually bought the place from Mr.
  Underwood. Here Mrs. Spahr passed away Nov. 15, 1878, in her forty-first
  year. She had graduated from the Carlisle high school in the class of 1856,
  being under the tuition there of Mrs. Annie Underwood, and was well known in
  Carlisle for her many endearing and ennobling traits of character. Her kind
  heart and devotion to her family and friends made her beloved by all who knew
  her, and she was sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends and
  acquaintances. She was a working member of the Lutheran Church, sang in the
  choir from girlhood until her death, and for many years taught in the
  Sunday-school. She and her husband became acquainted as members of the same
  church choir. Mr. and Mrs. Spahr became the parents of four children: Bella
  Arnold married A. R. Read, of Falling Springs, Perry county, and they have
  had two children, Anna Elizabeth and Harriet Spahr. Harry Ritter, who resides in 
  Carlisle, married Harriet Leffler. Charles William, of Carlisle, has been a clerk in
  the Bixler hardware store for twenty-two years; he married Belle Harris, and
  they have one child, Charles William, Jr. Jennie M. is deceased. Mr. Spahr is
  a Democrat in political belief and has served six years on the borough council.