Spangler
This family line is old and can trace its origins back to Georg Spengler, the Cupbearer to the Bishop of Wurtzberg. He died (of the plague) in 1190 during the Third Crusades and is buried in Antioch, Turkey. (Coat of Arms)Hans Michael
Spangler Hans and Elizabeth emigrated to the U.S. at
the Port of Philadelphia on the ship Samuel which sailed from
Rotterdam. With their two oldest children, they settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Here, their other eight children were born and raised. Hans died in Lancaster County and is buried at Tulpehoken Cemetery, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. John Peter
Spangler Peter S.
Spangler Peter farmed in Centre County, Pennsylvania, from at least 1820 to 1850. He died 18 May 1867 and, along with Hanna, is buried at the Tusseyville Cemetery, Centre County, Pennsylvania. John George
Spangler John died on 1 November 1875 and is buried in the Plainfield Cemetery, Joilet, Will County, Illinois. George Spangler George continued to farm his land until his death on 13 February 1897. He and Catharine are buried in the Lockport Cemetery, Will County, Illinois. Allen Albert
Spangler When Allen Albert Spangler and his cousin,
Milo Esterly, were about 20 they went to look for gold in the Black Hills of
North Dakota. When they were almost there, they were turned back by the US
Calvary. No reason was given as to why they were turned back. On 29 November 1870 in Plainville, Adams
County, Illinois, he married Frances Sophia Hahn. Their first two children were
born in Lockport, Will County, Illinois, while the remaining nine were born
near Cambridge, Clay County, Texas. Between 1872 and 1875, Allen and Frances
left Illinois and moved to Clay County, Texas. According to the Texas General Land Office
Land Grant, Allen obtained a patent for 160 acres on 30 July 1886. The next year, he
obtained another 320 acres in two other patents. So, in 1887, Allen had at least 480
acres in Clay county. During his life, Allen taught school and at one time even ran a
general store. After his move to Texas and his acquisition of a nice parcel of land, Allen decided
he would go into the cattle business. In the early 1890's, the family home caught fire and
was completely destroyed. Undaunted, Allen built a very large home that had the first
indoor bathroom in Clay County. Allen was doing well in his business so decided that his son,
George Esterly Spangler, and he should take a horse-drawn buggy ride to the Chicago World's
Fair of 1893.
In 1899, Allen shot and killed a woman in
Clay County. His trial made big headlines in Henrietta, Wichita Falls and
even as far away as Fort Worth and Dallas. Although he readily admitted that he
shot her, Allen always contended that it was self-defense and that the gun belonged
to her. He felt threatened and, when she brandished her pistol, told the jury that
he struggled with her to prevent her from shooting him. Nevertheless, he was convicted of murder in the
second degree and sentenced to 50 years in the penitentiary. But the
conviction was sent back on appeal
in January 1900. In order to fully appreciate why the case was sent back
to the lower court, examination of the 'Bill of
Exceptions' is beneficial. Although it is only a portion of the entire
trial, these elements were enough for the higher court to determine that the
original court erred. This information directly relates to the January 1900
appeal. On return to the lower court, A. A.
Spangler was convicted yet again of second degree murder and this time was
sentenced to 15 years in the penitentiary. However, once again, the
conviction was sent back on appeal
in October 1900. After the second conviction was turned back, the Clay
County prosecutor decided to drop the case. Rumor says that the prosecutor
promised to drop
the case if he were to get re-elected! My cousin, Betty, from Odessa, Texas, once
wrote a legal assistant and got a modern
view on the appeals. After his troubles, Allen did not return to
the farming business since most of the family lands were sold to provide his
defense. He was left with only 113 acres and the house. He spent the
remaining years of his life selling hardware in Henrietta and, by all
accounts, was a well-respected individual in the community. According to a contempory (Myrtle Moody),
Allen was a very kind person and he donated the land on which the Cambridge
school was built. He was very fond of children and would hold as many on his
lap at one time as he could. Betty also provided me with the LAST
WILL AND TESTAMENT of Allen A. and Francis Spangler. And lastly, here are the obituraries for Allen and Frances. Allen died on 22 April 1918 due to an infection from having his foot amputated and is buried in Cambridge Cemetery, Clay County, Texas. Charles Allen
Spangler Charlie died of high blood pressure in Wichita Falls, Texas, on 26 August 1930 and is buried with Matilda in the Hope Cemetery, Henrietta, Texas. Here are the obituraries for Charles and Matilda. Ellen Elizabeth
Spangler |
