Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

SPAAR,
EDWARD W.

p. 1363

Surnames: SPAAR, WINGERT, COVELY, GROW, SPARR, SHULER, ACKERMAN,
GRIFFITH, DEYSHER, FISTER, WALLER, BAUER, FREY

Edward W. Spaar, a farmer in the eastern end of Washington
township, has passed all his life in that section of Berks county,
having been born near his present home, Sept. 30, 1841.

Peter Spaar, his father, was born May 10, 1798,
in Switzerland. He had three brothers and two sisters, and one of
his brothers, Frederick, was a priest in Switzerland, the Spaars
being devout Catholics. Peter Spaar came to America before his
marriage, when a young man, to avoid military service, and settled
in the eastern end of Washington township, Berks Co., Pa., where he
spent the remainder of his life, dying in that township July 19,
1872, aged seventy-four years, two months, nine days. He was
engaged in farming, owning a tract of forty acres, on which there
were three houses. He was a member of the Catholic Church at Bally,
where he is buried. Peter Spaar married Elizabeth Wingert, daughter
of John and Phoebe (Covely) Wingert, of Washington township, born
March 10, 1808, died Oct. 7, 1880, aged seventy-two years, six
months, twenty-seven days. Their married life covered a period of
thirty-eight years. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Spaar, one dying unnamed. The others were as follows: John is a
resident of Barnesville, Schuylkill Co., Pa.; Lucy Ann, twin if
John, died young; Horatio died unmarried; Henry lived at Pittstown,
Pa.; Edward W. is mentioned farther on; Mary, twin of Edward,
married Augustus Grow; Phoebe died unmarried; Augustus, deceased,
lived in Montgomery county, Pa.; Aaron is a resident of Shamokin,
Pa.; Peter lives in Allentown. Of this family, Henry and Aaron
spell the name Sparr; the original name, however, is Spaar.

Edward W. Spaar received his education in the
schools of the home neighborhood, attending the public school the
first day the system was inaugurated in his district; it was held
on the second floor of an old mill building, where John Shuler now
lives. He was reared on the farm, and still continues to follow
farming, owning thirty-five acres of good land, on which are a
stone house and a good barn. By thrift and industry he makes a good
living from this place. For some years Mr. Spaar worked at the
cigar-maker’s trade. He has served three years as constable of his
township, having been elected on the Democratic ticket.

Mr. Spaar married in 1863 Mary Ackerman, born
Nov. 9, 1843, daughter of Stephen and Fietta (Griffith) Ackerman,
of Washington township, and fourteen children have been born to
them: Frank, who is deceased; Edwin, of Bally; David, who lives in
Allentown; Jonathan, of Allentown; Elmer, of Allentown; Anthony, of
Allentown; Tevillia, wife of E. Deysher; Joanna, wife of William
Fister; Jane, wife of Earnt Waller; Amanda, wife of Frank Bauer;
Estella, unmarried; Saphora, unmarried; Lydia, wife of Laurence
Frey; and George, deceased. The family belong to the Catholic
church of the Most Blessed Sacrament, at Bally, Berks county.

SPAAR,
WILLIAM J.

p. 1598

Surnames: SPAAR, DEYSHER, WISSER, GEIGER. SMECK

William J. Spaar, of Reading, Pa., was born Jan 26, 1871, at
Hillegas, Montgomery County, Pa., son of Augustus and Matilda
(Deysher) Spaar.

Augustus Spaar; who died Dec. 24, 1905, at the
age of fifty-nine, is buried at Bally, Pa. He was a saddler by
trade, a business which he carried on practically all of his life,
also conducting a general store in connection therewith. He and his
wife, who still survives him and makes her home in Montgomery
county, had eight children, six of whom are still living: William,
Henry, Charles, Augustus, Matilda and Katie. The family is
connected with the Catholic Church.

William J. Spaar received his education in the
schools of Montgomery county, and worked on a farm until sixteen
years of age, when he entered a general store as clerk, a position
which he continued to fill for about six years. He then went to
Philadelphia in a like capacity, but after six years came to
Reading, where he clerked in stores for several years. In 1905 he
became connected with Deysher & Company, grocers, with whom he
remained for one year, when the firm of Spaar Brothers — William
J. and Henry Spaar –was established. This business being converted
in September, 1906, into a branch distributing point for the Penn
Produce Company, which does a wholesale business, he remained with
it for two years. Since the summer of 1909 he has been connected
with S. S. Wisser, merchant at West Reading. Mr. Spaar has been
successful as a salesman, and is favorably known to the business
men of Reading. He is a member of the Grand Fraternity and the
American Casualty Company, and in political matters is a Democrat.

On April 22, 1897, Mr. Spaar was united in
marriage with Miss Leah Geiger, daughter of Amos and Lillie (Smeck)
Geiger, and to them there have been born four children: Walter,
Lillian, Raymond and Harold. Mr. Spaar is a member of St. Joseph’s
Catholic Church, while Mrs. Spaar is a Protestant.

SPANG,
FREDERICK

p. 1585

Surnames: SPANG

Frederick Spang, an artist of great talent, a cultured gentleman at
Reading from 1870 to 1891, was a lineal descendant of Frederick
Spang-a prominent iron master of Berks county. Mr. Spang was born
Jan. 31, 1834, in Oley township, and was educated at Norristown, to
which place his parents had removed when he was but a boy. While
prosecuting his studies in painting at Philadelphia he enlisted in
Company C, of the 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and served a
term of three years. Upon his discharge he resumed his art studies
in Philadelphia and afterward spent several years on California. In
1870, he located in Reading, Pa., where he continued his art work
in a successful manner until his decease, Nov. 21, 1891. He painted
many portraits and landscape views of great merit and his pictures
of still life displayed talent of superior order

SPANG, JACOB
K.

p. 1371

Surnames: SPANG, KLINE, KAUFFMAN, BRENEISER, RICK

Jacob K. Spang, a prominent retired citizen of Reading, was born in
Oley township, Berks county, son of Jacob S. and Deborah (Kline)
Spang, and a grandson of Frederick Spang, an important figure of
the time of the iron boom in the early part of the eighteenth
century.

Jacob S. Spang early in life took up the
pursuits of his fathers, and for many years was engaged in the iron
business. He also owned and operated much farming property
throughout Berks county, and at one time, conducted a mercantile
establishment at Spangsville, a settlement named in his honor. He
died in 1862 aged sixty-four years. His wife lived to the advanced
age of eighty-one years, dying in the faith of the Lutheran church,
to which her husband had also belonged. He was a Whig, and at the
time of the formation of the Republican party joined its ranks.

Jacob K. Spang received a common school
education, and while still in his ‘teens worked in his father’s
store and around the furnaces. In 1865 he went to Dauphin county
and engaged in the manufacture of iron, later removing to Hamburg,
Pa., in the same line of business, and after three years in the
latter place came to Reading, becoming associated with Bushong
& Co., being one of the promoters of the Keystone Furnaces,
holding the responsible position of superintendent for fifteen
years. He then left the firm and purchased the Maiden-creek furnace
property, which he personally conducted for a number of years,
after which, in 1894 he discontinued the manufacture of iron and
lived retired for a few years. Mr. Spang still owns this property,
a very valuable one, and has also several fine farming properties,
which he rents. Mr. Spang has been a very active business man, and
has done much to further the business and manufacturing interests
of this section.

Mr. Spang was married in 1861 to Sarah Kauffman,
daughter of Samuel Kauffman, one of the early iron manufacturers of
this section. Four children have blessed this union: Fanny m.
Charles Breneiser, a tobacco manufacturer; Mary; Samuel m. Miss
Ella Rick, and is connected with the Colonial Trust Co.; and Alice,
at home. Politically Mr. Spang is a Republican.

SPANG,
ROBERT W.

p 734

Surnames: SPANG, YOUNG, VAN HORN, HOLTMAN, HENDEL, FILBERT

Robert W. Spang, a veteran of the Civil war, who was one of the
first to respond to his country’s call in 1861, is a native of
Reading, born Sept. 15, 1845, son of Daniel and Mary (Young) Spang.

Daniel Spang was a son of George, who resided in
Amity township, Berks county. There were five children, George,
William, John, Daniel and Catherine. Daniel in his earlier years
was a manufacturer of mill stones in Reading, later ran a chair
factory, and finally engaged in the china and toy business, being
located at No.627 Penn street. He was very successful financially,
and was a prominent man in Reading. He married Mary, daughter of
Isaac and Elizabeth Young. Her father was a pioneer of Reading, and
was well known there, a cabinet maker by trade. His father bought
property at No.627-629 Penn street, where most of the family
reside, from the Penns, and the old house is one of the landmarks
of the city. Daniel Spang died when only forty-eight years of age,
but his wife lived to be seventy-eight. Their children were as
follows: Elizabeth, widow of H. D. Van Horn, a wholesale shoe
dealer in Philadelphia, who now makes her home in the old family
place on Penn street; Mary, deceased; H. W., engaged in the
electrical business in New York City; Robert W.; Emma, Mrs.
Holtman; Daniel, Jr., who died March 18, 1907; Sallie, also at the
old home; and Isaac, formerly cashier of the Reading National Bank,
who married Miss Emma Hendel. Daniel Spang was a member of Trinity
Lutheran Church, a Republican in politics, and a man highly
esteemed by all who knew him.

Robert W. Spang was sent to the public schools,
but he was of an active, adventurous temperament, and when only
fourteen years of age ran away from home and enlisted in Company B,
93d Pa. V. I., being mustered in at Camp Coleman, Lebanon county.
When the war broke out in 1861, he was one of the first to enlist,
and saw much active service as a private in the Army of the
Potomac, participating in the battles of Yorktown, the Wilderness,
Antietam and Spottsylvania. In time he was given a furlough and
returned to his home once more. His mother refused to let him
rejoin the army, as he was still so young, and he never received a
formal discharge until during Grover Cleveland’s administration.

On settling down again in Reading Mr. Spang went
into the Philadelphia and Reading shops, and learned the trade of a
machinist, remaining in the employ of that road for eighteen years.
The next eighteen were spent in the electrical business, in company
with his brother, and during seven of those years he was in New
York City. The last seven years he has been employed by the
Carpenter Steel Company, at Reading.

Mr. Spang married Miss Cordelia Filbert, whose
great-uncle was the first mayor of Reading. They have one son,
Charles R., a plumber by occupation. Mr. Spang is a Lutheran in his
religious faith, but his wife and son are of the Reformed faith. He
is a man well known in Reading and has many friends. One of his
greatest pleasures is to recall from his present pleasant vantage
ground, stories of the many hardships which he endured in the days
of the war.

SPANG,
SAMUEL K.

p. 519

Surnames: SPANG, KAUFFMAN, RICK

Samuel K. Spang, son of Jacob K. and Sarah (Kauffman) Spang, was
born at Hamburg, Pa., Jan. 14, 1868. He was educated in the schools
of Reading, including a business course in the Interstate
Commercial College, and upon finishing his preparation, assisted
his father for six years as clerk, etc., in the business of
manufacturing charcoal iron at Lenhartsville, Berks county, where
his father conducted an old-established iron works. In November,
1891, he became a clerk in the office of the Reading Trust Company,
and after filling this position very satisfactorily until December,
1903, the directors selected him as treasurer of the company, which
responsible position he has held since.

Mr. Spang was married in 1900, to Ella Rick,
daughter of Cyrus Rick, who was for many years cashier of the
Farmers’ National Bank of Reading. They have three children: Emily
R., Mary R, and Charles R. Mr. Spang is a member of the Trinity
Lutheran Church, Reading. He has officiated as secretary of the
congregation for four years.

His great-grandfather, Frederick Spang, was a
prominent iron manufacturer in Oley township before 1800, having
then become the owner of the Oley Forge along Manatawny Creek, and
operated it very successfully until his death. He was succeeded by
his son, Jacob K. Spang. For many years the plant was known as the
“Spang Forge,” and the settlement came to be called Spangville.

SPANGLER,
HARRY

p.1059

Surnames: SPANGLER, SEIDERS, TOOLE, EAGLE, SHAFFER, YOUNG, TRATE

Harry Spangler, who has been connected with the Reading Hardware
Company for a number of years, has proved his ability and worth. He
was born in Reading in 1871, son of William R. and Annie (Seiders)
Spangler, and grandson of Rueben Spangler.

Rueben Spangler was a native of Berks county,
born in Heidelberg township, and was engaged all of his life as a
farmer and veterinary surgeon, being very successful in these
lines. He died in 1900, aged eighty-four years, while his widow,
who survives him, resides in Reading. Mr. Spangler was a stanch
supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He and his
estimable wife were the parents of six children: William R.; Samuel
R.; David; Maria married William Toole; Rueben, deceased; and Sarah
married Franklin Eagle.

William R. Spangler, father of Harry, was also
born in Lower Heidelberg township, and until he came of age worked
upon a farm. Locating in Reading, he was first employed on the
Schuylkill canal as boatman, later engaging with Jacob Shaffer, an
extensive coal dealer of the city, with whom he remained several
years. At the end of this time he secured a position with the
Reading Hardware Company, as polisher, in the finishing department,
and was also employed by the Reading Stove Works as foreman, and
the Cycle Manufacturing Company. In 1905 he accepted a position
with the Berks County Trust Company, as messenger, and he has since
been filling that position in a highly creditable manner. He
married Annie Seiders, and they had two children; Harry; and John
W., cashier for the Light & Hill Insurance Company of Reading,
who married Annie Young, of Allentown, Pa., and had six
children–John, Catherine (deceased), Paul, Edwin, and two who died
in infancy. The family are members of the Reformed Church.

Harry Spangler received his education in the
schools of Reading, after leaving which he learned the trade of
polisher in the shops of the Reading Hardware Company, and here he
has been engaged ever since. He is very popular among the young
people of Reading, and is highly regarded by his employers as a
steady, faithful man. Mr. Spangler was married in 1891 to Miss
Elsie Trate, daughter of Urias Trate, and two children have been
born to them: William and Herbert. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler are
members of the Reformed Church. Fraternally a member of the I. O.
R. M. Mr. Spangler is identified politically with the Democratic
party. He is secretary and business manager of the Winona Band, at
Mohnton, Pennsylvania.

SPANGLER,
JOHN

p. 1510

Surnames: SPANGLER, ABULTZCHUSER, KELSEY, VON HAVEN

John Spangler of Reading, who died Dec. 20, 1907, at NO. 211 South
Second street, was born in Switzerland, Dec. 8, 1832, son of Ulrich
and Margureta (Abultzchuser) Spangler, who lived and died in
Switzerland. They had six children, Jacob; Ulrich; Heinrich;
Gotlieb; John and Susan. The parents were members of the Dutch
Reformed Church. In 1860 John Spangler embarked on the sailing
vessel “Frotingham,” for New York, and after a voyage of thirty-two
days, landed at Castle Garden. He had learned shoemaking in
Switzerland, and for the first six months remained in New York City
working at his trade. He then spent a year in Schenectady, N.Y.,
similarly employed, and another at Syracuse. Meantime the Rebellion
had broken out, and in 1863 Mr. Spangler enlisted in the 3d N. Y.
Light Artillery, under Captain Kelsey. He served from that time
until, the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged by
general orders. He was brave and fearless and had a most creditable
record. His health suffered ever after from the effects of his
military experience, as he not only contracted asthma but was
permanently injured by a fall from his horse, when he struck on his
neck. On returning to civilian life he settled in Geneva, N.Y.,
where he opened a shoe shop and store, and remained there until
1887. He then sold out and moved to Philadelphia, but remained
there only a short time before settling permanently in Reading,
where he continued in the shoe business as before. Mr.
Spangler was married in 1866 to Miss Anna von Haven, and they had
six children, only three of whom are living: John, Frank and
Jennie. Mr. Spangler was formerly a member of the I. O. O. F., but
of late years severed his connection with the organization. In
politics he was always a good Republican.