George Spurrell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1167-1168 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	GEORGE SPURRELL, one of the representative farmers and stockmen of 
Bon Homme county, is a native of the Hawkeye state, having been born in 
the city of Sabula, Jackson county, Iowa, on the 3d of January, 1855, 
and being a son of James and Eliza (Ward) Spurrell, both of whom were 
born and reared in England, where they were married and where four of 
their children were born. In 1854 they emigrated thence to the United 
States and located in Jackson county, Iowa, thence in 1855 removed to 
Clinton county, Iowa, where Mr. Spurrell became a prominent and 
successful farmer, being one of the honored pioneers of that section and 
one who wielded no little influence in the community. He continued to 
reside on the old homestead until he was summoned from the scene of 
life's endeavors, his death occurring on the 15th of May, 1900, at which 
time he was seventy-seven years of age. He was a Republican in his 
political proclivities, and was a consistent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, as is also his widow, who still resides on the old 
home farm. Of their six children we enter the following brief record: 
Anna died in childhood, before the removal of the family to America; 
Walter, who was a soldier in the Second Iowa Cavalry Regiment during the 
war of the Rebellion, died in 1901; John is a resident of Wall Lake, Sac 
county, Iowa; Arthur has the management of the old homestead farm in 
Iowa, and also owns six hundred and forty acres in South Dakota; George 
is the immediate subject of this sketch; and Ellen is married to Seth L. 
Collins, of Goose Lake, Iowa. 

	George Spurrell was reared to manhood on the home farm and secured 
his educational discipline in the excellent schools of Iowa. At the age 
of twenty-one years he initiated his independent career, becoming at 
that time dependent upon his own resources, and he has worked his way to 
success through the medium of energy, industry, integrity of purpose and 
good management. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in 
Sac county, Towa, and was there engaged in farming for three years, 
after which he was engaged in the same line of enterprise in Plymouth 
county, that state, until 1891, when he sold his farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres and removed to Rock county, Minnesota, where he purchased 
land and also engaged in the real-estate business, retaining his 
residence there about eighteen months. He then, in August, 1893, came to 
South Dakota and purchased a ranch of two hundred and forty acres in 
Springfield township, Bon Homme county, where he has since remained. He 
has made many improvements on the place, including the remodeling of the 
house, and the ranch is one of the most attractive and valuable 
properties in this section, being devoted to diversified agriculture and 
to the raising of excellent grades of live stock, including shorthorn 
cattle, sheep, swine and horses. Mr. Spurrell is also the owner of two 
hundred and forty acres of land in Wilson county, Kansas, the same being 
located in the oil district, and this property he rents. He has owned 
property in several other states, and has traveled somewhat extensively, 
having visited various sections of the Rocky mountains and owning 
interests in the gold fields of Colorado. In politics Mr. Spurrell is a 
staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party. While a 
resident of Iowa he served as justice of the peace, but he has never 
been ambitious for official preferment. 

	On the 8th of April, 1882, Mr. Spurrell was united in marriage to 
Miss Christine Kruser, of Wall Lake, Iowa. She was born and reared in 
Denmark, being a daughter of Maren and Peter P. Kruser, who emigrated to 
the United States in 1881, and who are now dead. Of the five children of 
Mr. and Mrs. Spurrell we enter the following brief data: Melvin J. died 
at the age of sixteen months; Marvin is at the parental home; Cora and 
Ida are attending the Springfield State Normal School, and Elmer J. is 
the youngest member of the family, being nine years of age at the time 
of this writing, and is also attending the Normal School. Mrs. Spurrell 
and Cora are members of the Congregational church.