Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 127

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 127

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

Yale college. After leaving school he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and when the war opened, he warmly esponsed the Southern cause, and helped to organize a company in Wash- ington county, of which he was made second lieutenant. On reaching Bowling Green his company was organized into an artillery company, but he retained his position as second lieutenant, and was taken a prisoner at the fall of Fort Donelson, and was taken to Johnson's island where he was kept in captivity for about six months, after which he was taken to Vicks- burg and exchanged. He immediately rejoined his command, and at the battle of Chickamauga was promoted to first lieutenant. So many of the members of his company were killed that the handfull that remained were consolidated with Cobb's battery, and Mr. Spencer was assigned to conscript duty, and was sent to Louisiana, which ended his fighting. He sur- rendered at Jackson, Miss., at the close of the war and returned home to resume his farming operations, soon after which, in 1866, he was married to Miss Carrie T. Hogg, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of Dr. Thomas H. and Rose (Russell) Hogg, the former from Tennessee and the latter a native of Mississippi. To Mr. and Mrs. Spencer five children have been born: Rose R., who died at the age of fourteen years; Carrie M., Samuel M., Jr., Thomas H. and Mary G., all of whom are at home. Mr. Spencer is the owner of forty-six hundred acres of land, of which twenty-six hundred acres are under cultivation, about one- half of which he has himself opened, and on which he has expended a large amount of money in improvements. He is a citizen of whom Washington county may well feel proud for he has done a great deal to improve this section of the country, and on his own land laid out the little village of Glen Allan and induced the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railroad company to build to the place. They afterward extended the line from Hampton to Rolling Fork and withdrew the passenger train from running to Glen Allan, for which reason the village has not continued to build up. The place is situated on the shore of Lake Washing- ton and is one of the most attractive sites in the state. Mr. Spencer is a zealous member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder, is especially interested in the moral train- ing of the young, and is endeavoring to rear his children to honorable manhood and womanhood. He has served in the capacity of magistrate, has been a member of the board of supervisors, and in 1884-5 was a member of the state legislature from this county, filling these positions with ability, although he had not sought them. He has a beantiful home in Glenn Allan, fronting Lake Washington. It sets well back from the street and is sur- rounded by a beautiful lawn thickly dotted with handsome shade trees.

William H. Spencer. Among the many enterprises which have made Jefferson county, Miss., noted for its commercial enterprise, may be mentioned the mercantile establishment belonging to Mr. Spencer, of which he has been the proprietor since about 1878. It is complete in its appointments, and by excellent business ability and foresight he has built up one of the largest and most prosperous trades in the county. He first saw the light of day in Charlotte county, Va., in the month of October, 1843; J. B. Spencer, his father, being a native of the same state and county, where he was married to Sarah Lyle, of Prince Edward county, daughter of Rev. Matthew Lyle, a well-known and eloquent minister of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Spencer was a farmer in his native county throughout life, was a man of progressive and enterprising views, and took an active part in religions matters, being an elder in the Presbyterian church. He died in the fall of 1876, his wife having passed from life when their son, William H., was a child. The boyhood days of the latter were spent in his native county, where he received a thorough practical education, but in 1861 the clash of arms caused him to cast aside all personal considerations, and with the enthusiasm of youth he enlisted in the Confederate service in the fall of that year, being

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

first in an independent company. He was afterward transferred to the Eighteenth Vir- ginia infantry, and in time was promoted to the rank of sergeant in company K. At the evacuation of Petersburg he was wounded in the thigh by a gunshot, was taken prisoner and for several months was held in captivity, the most of which time it took him to recover from his wound. After being paroled he returned home, having been an active participant in the seven days' fight around Richmond, the battle of Gettysburg, all the principal engage- ments around Petersburg, a number of minor engagements and numerous skirmishes. The year 1867 is the date of his arrival in the state of Mississippi, his first location being in Claiborne county, where he was engaged in teaching school aud planting. After following this calling up to 1872, he moved to Jefferson county, and after being a clerk in a mercan- tile establishment here for some six years, he became a member of the firm, and three years later became the sole proprietor of the establishment. By the honest measures he has always followed, by his methodical business habits and by his industry, perseverance and desire to please, his trade is a large and lucrative one. He was appointed postmaster at Red Lick in 1876, and this position is holding at the present date. All measures of morality, education, temperance and others of like nature find in him a strong advocate; in fact he is found among the foremost in any reliable, uplifting movement. He was married in 1878 to Miss Mary F. Barker, a daughter of John W. Barker of Jefferson county, and their union has resulted in the birth of four children: Sarah M., Lillie Lyle, John Blair, and William H., Jr. Mr. Spencer is a thorough and practical business man and since 1879 has been engaged in farming in connection with his mercantile operations. By his own endeavors he has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods and is prepared to enjoy his good fortune to the utmost. He is at present a member of the Knights of Honor.

Augustus D. Spengler was born in Vicksburg, Miss., October 22, 1870, the eldest of six surviving children of S. and Elizabeth (Miller) Spengler, natives of Germany, the former of whom came to the United States in early manhood and was first engaged in the sawmilling business in California. In 1850 he came to Mississippi, locating in Vicksburg, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1889. He was a successful business man, amassing quite a fortune, and in 1885 purchased the entire estate known as the Cooper wells, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of good land. The famous wells which are on this property are noted for their medicinal qualities. An analysis of one gallon of the water, by Dr. J. Lawrence Smith, gives its gaseous contents: Oxygen, 6.5 cubic inches; nitrogen, 4.5 cubic inches; carbonic acid, 4 cubic inches; and the solid contents: sulphate of soda, 11.705 grains; sulphate of magnesia, 23.28 grains; sulphate of lime, 32.132 grains; sul- phate of potash, .608 grains; sulphate of alumina, 6.120 grains; chloride of sodium, 8.360 grains; chloride of calcium, 4.322 grains; chloride of magnesium, 3.480 grains; peroxide of iron, 3.362; chreuate of lime, .311; chreuate of silica, 1.801, the total being 105.471. Soon after making his purchase Mr. Spengler erected near the springs two elegant buildings for the accommodation of guests, and a fine building at the springs, at a cost of about $85,000. The hotel is open from May 1 to November 1, and during this time is largely pat- ronized by those who wish to leave the turmoil and heat of the city behind them for a time, as well as those who are afflicted by disease. A few yards from the hotel and approached by a good, substantial walk is the large two-story pavilion erected over the well, with a seating capacity for over one hundred persons. A full corps of attentive attendants are kept busy at all hours drawing by windlass and pumps fresh supplies of water, which is handed around to the guests. There is in connection with the well, a sulphur well, eighty-two feet deep, over which is a large bath house, which has lately been erected, fourteen by seventy-

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five feet, having cold and hot baths, The main hotel building is two hundred and twenty- five feet long, sixty feet wide, and two stories high, with large commodious double galleries on the front. The addition to the main building is one hundred and seventy-five feet long, sixty feet wide, and three stories high, with large double galleries on front and ends. The rooms are large and airy, having high ceilings, and are elegantly furnished in the latest modern style, the furniture being uniformly substantial. Every room is connected with electric call bells and ventilating blinds and patent transom lifts to insure perfect ventila- tion, and in the spacious dining rooms all the luxuries of the season are spread before the guests, especial attention being paid, by competent cooks and assistants, to the cuisine. There is a large billiard hall and ten-pin alley, with ample accommodations for all its guests, and the ladies' drawing room contains a fine grand piano, where, in the evenings, musical entertainments are given. The latest papers and periodicals are to be had at any time, the mail being delivered daily from all parts of the country. Augustus D. Spengler was reared in Vicksburg, and received a thorough business education in a private school. In 1889 he assumed complete control of the Cooper's well property, and has been its efficient manager ever since, it becoming very prosperous and largely patronized while under his care. Mr. Spengler is a fine business man and possesses social qualities of a high order, attributes which make him very popular in the business in which he is engaged. The wells were first dug about 1842, by a man who had a dream concerning their curative properties, and upon digging them found them to be just as he had dreamed. Not much was done with them, however, until they were purchased by Mr. Spengler's father, in 1885. Since then it has been quite a health resort for people of the South, and especially Mississippians. Mr. Speng- ler and his brothers and sister are interested in a large sawmill at Vicksburg. Mr. Spengler is a member of the Catholic church.

Hubert Spengler is the senior partner of the firm of Spengler & Sons, Jackson, Miss., and owners and proprietors of the Spengler house. His sons, A. H., F. C. and L. Spengler, manage the grocery business, and H. Spengler, Jr., is in charge of the hotel. Its history embraces many interesting periods and incidents and its registers bear the names of many noted people, who have found a pleasant home beneath its hospitable roof. Mr. Spengler was born in Alsace, France, in 1820, being. the third son born to Joseph and Francisco (Sherno) Spengler, who came to America at an early day; the father was the owner of two large sawmills, run by water power, that did a large business, and also a lumberyard and woodyard. Hubert Spengler was the eleventh of his parents' twelve children, he and his sister, who now resides in Vicksburg, being the only ones of the family that are now living. Of this family four sons and three daughters came to America and settled at Vicksburg and Jackson. Hubert Spengler left home at the age of sixteen years to seek his fortune in the new world, and in 1836 landed at- New Orleans, after an ocean trip on a sailing vessel of sixty-five days. In 1852, with his wife and two sons, he took a trip to Europe, and made the run from New York to Liverpool in ten days, and back from Havre to New York in twelve days. He at once went to Vicksburg, Miss., where his elder brother Joseph was located as a builder, for whom he at once went to work. After remaining with him abont two years in Vicksburg and two years in Jackson, he, some two years later, opened a billiard hall and saloon. Some time later he added a stock of groceries to his establishment, and has since continued that business. During the Civil war he served in the Confederate States militia for a short time. In 1848 he purchased a lot at the corner of State and Capi- tol streets, of Jackson, on which he erected buildings covering nearly one-half square, but these were all burned by the Federal soldiers during the turbulent times of the war, the

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

entire stock in these stores being also destroyed. Afterward he set energetically to work to rebuild his fortunes and resumed the grocery business, at which he has been remarkably successful. In 1884 he and his eldest sons became half owners with his brother, S. Speng- ler, of Vicksburg, in the Cooper's well property, the firm name being S. and H. Spengler, a full description of which noted summer resort is given in the sketch of S. Spengler. Mr. Spengler owns a considerable amount of valuable city property, about twelve acres in all, on which are erected some excellent buildings. He has taken an active interest in the city's welfare; in 1859 was a member of the board of aldermen; in 1870-1 he was a member of the board of supervisors, and in 1876 was again elected alderman, in which capacity he served with great credit to himself and the satisfaction of all concerned, for nine years. In 1845 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Nahrgang, a native of Hesse, Germany, only four years old when brought by her mother to America. To her union with Mr. Spengler ten children were born, seven of whom are living: A. H., who is in the grocery business, is married and has a family; F. C. is also in a lucrative business, is married and has five children; Catharine, the widow of George Muh, has six children: Hubert, Jr., who assists his father in the management of the Spengler House, in Jackson, is married and has five children; Louis and Jennie are single, and Emma is the wife of Peter Miazza, pro- prietor of a hotel at Greenville, and is the mother of one child. George died at the age of eleven years, and Elizabeth and Charles died in infancy. Mr. Spengler is the oldest mem- ber of the Catholic church in Jackson, and the only one of the old members now living. He remained in that city during the terrible yellow-fever epidemic in 1878, during which time he was au active worker, was fearless in regard to his own danger, and rendered valuable aid in nursing the sick and burying the dead. He and his eldest son kept the only store open during the epidemic where the sick could find something to eat. Joseph Spengler, a brother of Hubert Spengler, came to America in 1831, and after a short residence in New Orleans he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in carpentering, but was unfortunately burned out, after which he located in Vicksburg, Miss., as a builder.

In 1838 he came to Jackson, and here soon opened a grocery establishment, which he conducted successfully. In 1852 he built a cotton factory, but before he could equip it with machinery, he died of yellow fever in 1853. He was a progressive and enterprising man of business, and had he lived would have undoubtedly become wealthy. He was married and left a family of children. Amand Spengler, another brother of Hubert's, came to America in 1836, settled at Vicksburg, and began work in the new world as a carpenter, and made considerable money at this calling. In 1839 he returned to Europe, where he married and remained, succeeding to his father's business. Seraphin Spengler, his brother, arrived in this country in the year 1841, soon after which he engaged in the sawmill business in the vicinity of Jackson. About 1850 he was taken with a severe attack of the gold fever and started for California, and in that region remained for four years. Upon his return he resumed sawmilling in Vicksburg, and in this pursuit made a large amount of money from the start. He became one of the wealthiest men of Vicksburg, and for his many admirable traits of heart and head was highly esteemed and respected. He was alderman of the city and was the first president of the first loan association. He was a partner with his brother in Cooper's wells, in addition to which valuable property he owned other real estate of value. He was accidentally killed in Vicksburg in July, 1889, by his horse running away with him. Hubert Spengler, Jr., son of Hubert Spengler, Sr., was born in Jackson in 1855, and was educated in the college at Cape Girardeau, Mo., from which institution he graduated. After clerking for his father and brother for a few years, he became a partner

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

in the business, the firm taking the name of H. Spengler & Sons. In 1881 he was married to Miss Nannie E. Miazza, to which union five children have been born: Hubert, Thomas, Mildred, George, and Angelo. In 1884, after the completion of the new hotels at Cooper's wells, he was located at that place as manager, and did much to build up and make the place the popular resort that it now is. He has, however, been the efficient and popular manager of the Spengler honse in Jackson for some time, and the whole management, the perfect system and thorough adaptation of every detail to secure the approval of guests, indi- cate the fact that intelligent and careful direction is exercised. He has an interesting fam ily, and resides in a pleasant home near his parents. Antone H. Spengler, a son of Hubert, Sr., was born in Jackson, February 1, 1846, and received his initiatory training in the city of his birth, finishing his education in St. Mary's college, in Marion county, Kentucky. He left school on account of the opening of the war, after which he clerked at Jackson and Selma, Ala., until 1864, when he entered the Confederate army, and was with General Wirt Adams, in General Forrest's command, participating in the last battle of Jackson. After the war he clerked in his father's store, who, after he had become proficient in the business, as was his usual custom, took him in as a partner, when the firm became Spengler & Sons. He, like his brothers and father, before him, is a successful and honorahle business man, and is thouroughly posted and up with the times. He is of the stuff of which model citizens are made, and the career of the entire family, as men of business, has been one round of success.

J. C. Spight is a worthy and representative agriculturist of Tippah county, Miss., and acquired his knowledge of the calling from his father, Thomas Spight, and the knowledge thus gained has been put to a practical experience. He was born in Jones county, N. C., in 1820, in which state and county his parents were also born, the father in 1779 and the mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Mumford, in 1783. They were married in their native state in 1805, and there Mr. Spight, in addition to following the calling of a planter, was engaged in merchandising, in both of which he was quite successful. After the death of his wife in 1833 he took for his second wife Mrs. Evans, their nuptials being celebrated in Trenton, Tenn., in 1834. His last union was without issue but his first wife bore him nine children: Thomas, John, Pollie, James M., Simon R., J. C., E. R., Sallie P. B., wife of William Robertson; and Rebecca T., all of whom are deceased except Simon R., J. C. and Sallie P. B. The father of these children died in 1858, having, for many years, been a mem- ber of the Baptist church. J. C. Spight commenced to make his own way in the world in 1844, and during the years of 1853-4-5-6 he was also engaged in merchandising. By the opening of the war he had accumulated a comfortable competency, but like the majority of Southerners, lost very heavily during that time. He did not participate in the war owing to the fact that his eyes were quite weak. In 1845 he was married to Miss Nancy K. Chapman, a daughter of Turner Chapman, a prominent and successful planter of Jones county, Ga., and their union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Thomas (deceased), Tur- ner C. (deceased), Elizabeth F., wife of M. L. Clark, who has borne Mr. Spight his only two grandchildren, Jodie George, and Frank Early Clark; Sallie J., wife of F. S. McKnight, James M., J. C. and Nannie L. "Mr. Spight has resided on his present plantation sine 1845, and of the one thousand acres of which he is the owner he has one hundred and fifty acres in a good state of cultivation. He is a member of Ripley lodge, No. 47, of the A. F. & A. M., and he and his worthy wife and all his children are members of the Baptist church, to which they contribute liberally of their means. Mr. Spight's grandfather was also a native of Jones county, N. C. He died in 1815 in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

Capt. Thomas Spight, lawyer, Ripley, Miss., is a native Mississippian, born near Ripley, Tippah county in 1841, when the country was comparatively new. His father being a plan- ter, Captain Spight was early trained to the duties of the farm and in the meantime had the advantage of good schools. He attended college at LaGrange, Tenn., but was prevented from graduating by the breaking out of the war, at which time he hastened home to engage in the strife. He entered the Confederate army as a private and rose step by step and was commissioned captain of infantry before reaching his majority and was in the command of the remnant of his regiment at the close of the struggle. After this he followed school teach- ing for a number of years and was eminently successful as an educator. In December, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss M. Virginia Barnett whose father, A. G. Barnett, a suc- cessful merchant, was one of the pioneers of Tippah county, coming here at a time when the country was still inhabited by Indians. After his marriage the captain turned his attention to planting and from the experience gained from his early life on the farm, continued this successfully together with teaching for a number of years, but in the meantime was a diligent student and commenced the active practice of law in 1874. He served three successive terms in the Mississippi legislature, from 1874 to 1880. In March, 1879, he commenced the pub- lication of the Southern Sentinel at Ripley, in the interest of the democracy against the greenback party which was then making rapid progress in Mississippi. He dealt some telling blows against the opposition and saved the county to the democracy. In 1880 he was presidential elector on the Hancock ticket and made an active and successful canvass of his district. In the fall of 1883 he was elected district attorney of the district in which he resided and was re-elected in 1887 and this position he held, giving entire satisfaction, until the close of the year 1890. He then declined re-election, preferring to devote his time to the practice of law at home and to planting, which he still conducts with the ardor of his youth. Captain Spight's father, James M. Spight, came from North Carolina to West Tennessee, thence to Mississippi at an early day, and thus became one of the pioneers of Tippah county. He became the owner of extensive plantations well stocked with mules, etc., and also had a large slave interest prior to the war. He was a man of unblemished character and one whose sterling qualities made him respected far and wide and he instilled into his son the elements which formed the basis of his future success in life. At the close of the war Captain Spight found himself, in common with most youug men of his section, without means, his father having died on March 11, 1861, and his property which consisted mainly in negroes having been swept away as the result of the war; but with faith in himself, and by the help, coun- sel and encouragement of a noble, cultured, Christian wife who was distinguished alike for her indomnitable energy and womanly virtues, he entered the arena of life determined to succeed.

Dr. J. C. Spinks, a prominent and practicing physician of Shubuta, Clarke county, Miss., was born in Wilcox county, Ala., in 1831, on the 29th of August. His father was John Spinks, and his mother was Margaret (Kelly) Spinks. His father was born in North Carolina in 1785, and was a son of Presley Spinks. During his early life his father was a carpenter, but in his later days he devoted his energies to planting. He came to Mississippi in 1834, and located in Kemper county, and engaged in farming, thus becoming one of the pioneers of that part of the state. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They reared nine children: Mary, Peter, Presley, Jane, Margaret, Sarah, John, Raleigh, and Enoch. His father died soon after the time of the war in Kemper county, the mother having preceded him in 1853, the latter was a native of South Carolina, and was born in 1796, being a daughter of Peter Kelly. Mr. and Mrs. Spinks were married in Wilcox county, Ala.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 127

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314