William Spangler
M, #10080, d. between February 1782 and July 1782
| Charts | Pedigree - father Charles Harold Bassett |
| Reference | 4G Grf |
| Story* | From The Star, Jeffersonville, Indiana, Tuesday, December 19, 1903 PREFERRED POVERTY AND EXILE WITH THE WOMAN HE LOVED RATHER THAN RICHES STORY TOLD BY DESCENDANT NOTED GATHERING OF THE SPANGLER FAMILY TO OBSERVE THE ANNIVERSARY Away back in the dim days of long ago somewhere between the years 1700 and 1782, a young man in Wurttemberg, Germany, named Wm. Spangler or Spengler, of high birth loved a maiden devoid of blue blood and golden guineas. So earnest was his love that when his father told him he should give up the damsel or be disinherited he promptly wedded her and set sail for America where rich and poor, high and low, are in equal standing [*note1].The happy couple found a resting place in Virginia. This was before Revolutionary days, for we find them coming to Kentucky and settling on Goose Creek in the year 1782, when young David, their only son, was nine years old. Kentucky at that time was a part of Virginia, as attested by the old deed to the Kentucky estate. This was ten years before Kentucky became a separate Territory, and the deed was signed by Benjamin Harrison, Esq., governor of the commonwealth of Virginia and "grandfather of his grandson". The children of this worthy couple were one son David and four daughters, whose names came down to us as Kathy Peckinpaugh, Polly Noon, Betsy Condit and Peggy Crum. Wm. Spangler died early and his widow afterward married a Tory named Abbott. They subsequently moved to a farm near Bethlehem, Ind., and were the parents of five sons, of whom we have lost all trace. David never affiliated with his Tory stepfather. At the age of twenty-one he had a most notable adventure, having been captured by the Indians on Christmas Eve, remaining with them till June, when he made his escape and walked home to Kentucky. David, being the only son, inherited the entire estate of his father according to the law of that day, his mother receiving a stated proportion of the products during her life. She made a visit to this farm, riding horseback from Bethlehem when past 80 years old, to receive her yearly stipend, about the year 1843. David and Maggie Koons, being children of ten and twelve, walked over before breakfast to see their great-grand-mother. David. having received the estate, tried to do the fair thing by his sisters, acting the part of father to them until marriage and then setting up the husbands in farming. In 1802 one thousand acres of the Kentucky estate were exchanged for a similar tract in Clark County, Indiana. comprising the farms now owned by P. H. Bottorff, Sam'l Lentz., S. P. Lewman, Mrs. Sallie Koons, Mr., Isaac Koons, Sam'l Crum, the Ross place and the Spangler farm, which last is the original old homestead. The farm of P. H. Bottorff was sold to John Grissamore for a wagon and four horses. The farm of 100 acres now owned by Sam'l Crum was sold to David's brother-in-law, Mathias Crum, for $100, which was the price of one year's work in getting out the logs for his (Spangler's) house. The house in which David and his wife, Elizabeth, with their three small children, William, Simon and Polly, ate their first meal on Christmas, 1803, just 100 years ago Friday. This house was two and & half stories, of hewed ash and walnut logs forty feet long and weather-boarded. It contained one immense room and two smaller bed-rooms on the first floor, two large rooms on second door, the kitchen being also of hewed log and separated from the main house by a floored and covered passage. The window and door facings were finished in heavy walnut moldings, a deep chair-board of solid cherry finished the walls. The mantle-tree was solid cherry, six feet high, and profusely ornamented in honey-comb work. Elizabeth Derische, who became the wife of David, was also his first cousin. She had one sister, Esther Postlethwaite, and three half-sisters, Polly Carr, Nancy Carr and Sarah Bowman. No brothers. After David and Elizabeth moved into their new house, "The babies kept coming and coming So cunning and fat and small, Until of brothers and sisters There were just ten in all." William and Simon and Polly, Alfred, Elizabeth, Lucinda and Ann, Lewis and Sarah and James. Jas. was born in 1822, and being the youngest, it fell to his lot to look after his widowed mother, his father having died at the age of 49, before James was 2 years old; and his brother having heard the westward Ho! William, Simon, Alfred and Lewis all went to Illinois to make their fortune. The sisters however, all married and settled on the parental estate, afterward selling and moving elsewhere, but never out of the county. Elizabeth married David Epler, only lived a few years and left one son, David, who went to California in his early manhood, and was henceforth lost to all his relatives.Elizabeth's remains lie beside her parents in the little cemetery on the old Spangler farm. Of the ten children only Polly left descendants, but her step-daughters, Lydia and Susan, have taken their places in our hearts as true cousins, Mrs. Susan Croaker representing this branch of the family on this occasion. Ten times the eternal gates have swung open to take in the sons and daughter of David and Elizabeth--eight times to let pass the sons and daughters-in-law. Today there remains among us but two of all that twenty. Clarissa Spangler, aged 87. wife of James, and Fielding Coombs, the husband of Sarah Spangler, aged 84. Their heads are blossoming white but with firm health and sunny hearts we may hope to have their company yet many happy days. Of the grand-children, thirty are still living. Twenty two have joined the ranks of those beyond. There are several children of the fifth generation. Descendants of this family reside in many states of the Union; beginning in Indiana they have branched out to Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and Kansas. In the year 1861 James built a substantial brick dwelling on the hill just north of the old home of his father, where he and all his children had been born. Here he lived until December 20, 1882, whence he passed with a radiant hope to his mansion in heaven. Here still resides his widow and three daughters, Harriet E., Eliza K., and Bertrude A. Spangler, and his son, David. The eldest son, Dr. C. L. Spangler, is a practicing physician in Louisville, Ky. Here was celebrated the centennial anniversary, the beginning of the family history in Indiana. A feast commemorate with the generous hearts of the house of Spangler was spread in two rooms of this house and all the substantial and dainty viands that could be accumulated were served. The last course, consisting of Turkish cream, was sent by L. C. Spangler, of Seattle, Washington, a descendant who could not be present. The house decorations and the favors were of holly from Seattle, Washington, and mistletoe gathered on the old homestead. The second and third generations were seated at one table, the fourth and fifth at the other. They lingered long over the bountiful spread, finishing with tea and coffee made on the same old crane upon which the Christmas dinner was cooked a hundred years before. After dinner the company assembled in the parlor, where interesting stories of different members of the family were told. A short history of the Spangler family was written and read by Miss Berttude A. Spangler, of Utica, Indiana. Mrs. Susan, Crooker, of Jeffersonville, Indians, then read the poem, "Fifty Years Ago". The interesting story of David Spangler’s captivity with the Indians was told by his grandson and successor, David Spangler, of Utica, Indiana. Guests present at the Spangler anniversary: Mrs. Susan Rutledge Crooker, Jeffersonville, Ind; Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Koons, Utica, Ind; Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Long and son, Charlestown, Ind; Mrs. Sarah Koons, Miss Eva Koons, Mr. Middleton Koons, Utica, Ind; Mrs. Ora Nicholson Merrill, Louisville, Ky; Misses Nettie, Mayme and Pearl Nicholson, Messrs. Madison and Larkin Nicholson, Louisville, Ky; Mrs. Chas R. Luster, West Plains, Mo; Mr. L· Augustus Spangler, Geo. L. Spangler, and Miss Kathryn E. Spangler, of Clinton, Mo; Mr. and Mrs. C. Columbus Coombs and daughter, Miss Emma, and son, Fielding, Utica, Ind; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Raab, Howard Park, Ind; Mr. Norval Naylor, Danville, Ill; Dr. C. L. Spangler, Louisville, Ky; Rev. W. B. Grimes, Utica, Ind. *note 1 [don't know where "note 1 is, nor do I remember where I got this]. | |
| Birth* | William Spangler was born Daughter Margaret 'of KY & previously NC' a/c pg 667 of Bairds. This clue of North Carolina should be considered when looking for his residence prior to KY.1 | |
| Marriage* | He married Margaret (__________). | |
| Note* | Note(s): Possible other sons Charles pg 38 Clark-IN 1820 (16-25), and John pg 179 Franklin-IN 1820 (45+). Catherine, Elizabeth, amd Mary are possible children, but Catherine's parents may be George & Mary C. a/c Evd 1193 pg 323. | |
| Immigration* | before 1779 | William Spangler immigrated before 1779 Some say about 1782 but that is wrong as it he bought land in 1779.Possibly from Germany to KY about 1782 per Evd 1189 (various papers in vertical files at Filson Club). Quoting a 1962 letter: I have recently come upon a very arresting paragraph in "The Name and Family of Spangler" compiled by The Media Research Bureau, Washington DC, page 8: " One William Spangler is said to have come from Germany to Kentucky in the latter part of the eighteenth century, about the year 1782, and to have been the father of only one son, named David, who had ten children by his wife Elizabeth, amongh whom was a son named Lewis." end quote. Media Research Bureau wrote generic genealogies with no citations, very much like the modern day Halbert's books. So, the 1782 date is probably based on the 1782 dates of his death and probate. However, since he got the land preemption in 1779, he came earlier than that. |
| (Witness) History | 3 November 1779 | He witnessed "The first Jefferson County landowner moved to his property on Beargrass Creek. John Floyd, the man who had surveyed the area in 1774, arrived ..." "The site of their home was nearly in the center of Floyd's two thousand acre tract; the location of which has never been disputed and the remains of the stone spring house still exist. Floyd's Station, as it was called, was situated on the west side of the present Breckinridge Lane, north of the creek on a low ridge." ... "on his Beargrass tract which he called Woodville". (note: William Spangler's land joined Floyd's.) "Three of the Beargrass stations were on Floyd's property". Spring 1780 Hogland's Station, "likely that the club house of the Big Spring Country Club now occupies this exact site". "In the other direction, near where Browns Lane now crosses Beargrass Creek... third station..." "called both the Dutch and the New Holland Station". "Not far from Hoglands station, on the high land to the north where a large spring is the source of Beals Branch, the Spring Station was constructed". "located about 800 ft south of the present Lexington Road near Cannons Lane at the head of Beals Branch". "A fifth Beargrass station was on the land of Colonel William Christian. It was called A'Sturgis or Sturgus station, after its founder, Peter A'Sturgus. This settlement was location about two miles above Floyd's and a mile northeast of the New Holland Station; it was not far from the present day of Oxmoor Shopping Center. (note: William Spangler's land joined Christian's, and this station is where William was killed.) "The sixth and most eastward of the stations on the Sinking or Middle Fork of Beargrass Creek was known as Lynns or Linns. This settlement was approximately two miles east of A'Sturgus station on a tract of land owned by Henry Harrison... The spring house can still be seen a short distance west of Hursbourne Lane". on 3 November 1779 at Beargrass Stations, Jefferson Co., Kentucky.2 |
| Deed | 22 November 1779 | On 22 November 1779 at Goose Creek (1000 acres), Jefferson Co., Kentucky: certificate of preemption to 1000 acres of land on Goose Creek: Kentucky County: (remember this was Virginia at the time) We do hereby certify that William Spangler is entitled to the preemption of one thousand acres of land at the [state prices?] in the district of Kentucky on account of Improv[in]g the same & building a cabbin on the premises in the year 1776 lying on the head of the south fork of Goose creek joining the lands of Cols Christian and Capt Floyds on Beargrass on north side to extend down the Creek for a quantity to include the said Improvement. Given under our hands at the Falls of Ohio this 22d day of Nov 1779. Test John Williams (4 witness names) Images from KY land office - http://apps.sos.ky.gov/land/nonmilitary/settlements/.  |
| Occupation* | He was Blacksmith - (unknown date) "On lot No. 91, owned by James Harris, on Twelfth below Main, the gunsmith shop of Michael Humble was situated, and on No. 92, owned by Henry French, the blacksmith shop of William Spangler. Humble made and mended guns and did the finer work in metal, while Spangler turned out agricultural implements and did the coarser work." (further description of Humble's endeavors). In the shop of Spangler implements were made, horses shod, nails wrought and all kinds of tools repaired. Scarcely anything in metal was needed by the pioneers which could not be made or mended in one or the other of these shops." Memorial History of Louisville from its First Settlement to the Year 1896. Edited by J. Stoddard Johnston. Volume 1 pg 50 at Lot 92 on Twelfth below main, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky. | |
| Misc | 7 March 1781 | He was "This Indenture made ... between William Spangler blacksmith ... and Thomas George an infant orphan of John George deceased ..." Thomas bound himself to William as an apprentice until 8 Jul 1788. William wil clothe, feed, and shelter Thomas, and will teach him blacksmithing, and to read, write, and cypher. on 7 March 1781 at Jefferson Co., Kentucky.3 |
| Deed* | 4 February 1782 | On 4 February 1782 at Jefferson Co., Kentucky: William bought 1000 acres S Fork Goose Creek. The Jillson book refers to "book 4 pg 367, surveyed 4 Feb 1782. The original Virginia land grant (Grant G pg 270) can be found in the Library of Virginia (ajax.lva.lib.va.us) but I've saved the images. (need to write transcription here). It's difficult to read - It shows a date of 1 Nov 1782 (after his death, so must be recording date). In the Jefferson Co KY entry book record, on the same page as the 1000 acre entry, four entries later is another entry for William. He "enters 585 acres upon Treasury Warrant No. ___ the number is unreadable, as is most of the page. This grant needs to be found in VA. It's not in the grant cards on the internet. Publication1 November 1782. Virginia State Land Office. Grants A-Z, 1-124, reels 42-190; Virginia State Land Office. Grants 125- , reels 369-. Location: Jefferson County (Ky.) Description: 1000 acres on the waters of the south fork of Goose Creek adjoining Peachy and Fleming. Source: Land Office Grants G, 1782-1783, p. 270 (Reel 48). Part of the index to the recorded copies of grants issued by the Virginia Land Office. The collection is housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia. Spangler, William. grantee.4,5 |
| Death* | between February 1782 and July 1782 | He died between February 1782 and July 1782 at A'Sturgis/Sturgus station on Beargrass Creek, Jefferson Co., Kentucky, Draper Papers - Series CC, Vol 13, pg 9-18 is labeled A Woman In Cincinnati (presumably her memories). On page 16, she gives this account of William Spangler's death. She calls him David Spangler, but since David died in Indiana in 1822, she obviously made a mistake in the name. There at Sturges' Station, old David Spangler, a dutchman (sic*) went out to get up his oxen, when he was shot. They heard the gun, but couldn't get there in time. The Indians caught and tomahawked and scalped him, before any one could come. They saw the Indians running. Found him setting against the tree, not yet dead, with his hat on. (with the roots on each side.) He died that night. They saw the rising smoke of the gun that was fired, from the fort. They asked him how many Indians there were. He said he didn't know whether there were any or not. When the hat was taken off, we saw where the tomahawk had been struck twice in his head. This is all of this station. * Reminder to any reading this, that dutchman was a corruption of Duetchman, a person from Duetchland, aka Germany. That he died between Feb and Jul of 1782 is deduced because he bought land in Feb, and his probate was in July. |
| Probate* | 7 July 1782 | His estate was probated on 7 July 1782 at Jefferson Co., Kentucky; Estate appraised 7 Jul 1782. He had blacksmith tools & 30 beehives as part of his estate. Minute book 2 pg 87, 1 Jul 1788 says "On the motion of John Abbitt ... that Alexr. Breckenridge & Ben Sebastian Gent. be appointed comrs to settle the acct of the admin. of Wm. Spangler's Estate.6 |
| Note* | Note(s): Bio of Simon, David's son, William's grandson, says "His father, G. F. Spangler, was of German descent, and was a soldier in the old colonial Indian wars. He was a noted marksman and wrester, and on one occasion he was captured by the savages, but escaped after being a prisoner for six months." However, G.F. doesn't match either David or William's name. Without a more specific date of the wars, either of them could be the soldier to whom the bio refers. |
| Relationships | 4th great-grandfather of David Lee Bassett 2nd great-grandfather of Martha Belle Spangler |
Family | Margaret (__________) d. a 1838 | |
| Marriage* | He married Margaret (__________). | |
| Children |
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| Last Edited | 14 Aug 2021 |
Citations
- [S1191] Baird's History of Clark Co Indiana.
- [S1625] The Filson Club History Quarterly April 1978 (v.52 #2): Early Louisville and the Beargrass Stations, Neal O Hammon.
- [S1192] Early Kentucky Settlers - The records of Jefferson County, Kentucky, Filson Club Evd #1192, (pg 7 ) Jefferson Co KY Minute Book A pg 3-4.
- [S1186] Kentucky Land Grants - section on Virginia Land Grants, Jillson Evd #1186.
- [S1194] Jefferson Co KY Entry Book A2 page 201 (on microfiche at courhouse) Evd #1194.
- [S1192] Early Kentucky Settlers - The records of Jefferson County, Kentucky, Filson Club Evd #1192, page 56.