BIO: LEMUEL R. SPONG, 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 473-474
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    LEMUEL R. SPONG, one of the prominent citizens of East Pennsboro township,
  Cumberland county, was born May 21, 1855, in that township, a son of Joseph
  and Caroline (Marsh) Spong.
    
    John Leonard Spong, the grandfather, was a native of Germany, and the
  grandmother, whose maiden name was De Werter, was a native of Dauphin county.
  Joseph Spong was born Feb. 2, 1823, and grew up a farmer boy, with few
  educational opportunities. He continued to farm until 1861, when he moved to
  West Fairview, and was employed in the nail mill until the works closed. In
  politics he was a Democrat. In religious connection he was a Lutheran, and he
  was a man universally respected. He married Caroline Marsh, who was born in
  York county, from ancestry of the British Isles, and who still survives at
  the age of seventy-seven years. Lemuel R. is the only surviving child, two
  others dying in infancy, and Noah dying in 1882, aged twenty-five years. Mrs.
  Spong is noted for her kind and gentle disposition and is beloved by all who
  knew her. She is a devout member of the Lutheran Church.
    
    Lemuel R. Spong was reared to manhood in his native place and at Fairview,
  whither his father removed when he was six years of age. He attended the
  Fairview schools until he was twelve years old, when he entered the nail
  works at a wage of fifty cents a day, and continued to work there, through
  all the departments, being promoted from the position of office boy to that
  of overseer of the shipping department. In addition to acting as foreman of
  this important department he served as agent for the Adams Express Co. and
  the Northern Central Railroad at Fairview. In 1884 he was elected register of
  wills for Cumberland county, entering upon his duties in January, 1885, and
  served his full term, removing his family at that time to Carlisle. In
  August, 1888, he became manager for the McCormick estate quarry interests,
  and served as such until July, 1900, since which time he has been operating
  the Walton quarry of the estate, at Lemoyne, for himself, and is also
  interested in other quarries. Mr. Spong is also interested in the manufacture
  of a patent fertilizer lime and is erecting an ex-
    
    474  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  tensive plant for the same. This plant is situated at Bonny Brook, below
  Carlisle, on the Gettysburg & Harrisburg railroad. Mr. Spong is also the
  owner of large farming properties and other real estate in Cumberland county,
  and is one of its most substantial men. He is president of the Mechanicsburg
  Gas & Water Company.
    
    On Oct. 24, 1875, in West Fairview, Mr. Spong married Miss Rosie Mann,
  daughter of George and Mary Ann (Eslinger) Mann. She passed away April 12,
  1904, a member of the Lutheran Church, which Mr. Spong also attends and to
  which he is a liberal contributor. Politically, he is a Democrat and has been
  active in the party since early manhood. Fraternally, he belongs to the Royal
  Arcanum, Modern Woodmen and Heptasophs.