SPANG, Peter

Notes:

Columbian Register -- March 7, 1868
The following sales of Real Estate have been made by the Messrs. J.F. & L.F. Comstock, viz: -- The house and lot owned by Peter Spang, No 106 Orchard street, to James Rawson, for $1630; ...

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Peter (Pierre) came to the great California gold rush around the horn by way of merchant ship. Harriet followed him 2 years later by the Isthmus of Panama with two small children. She contracted Panama fever and was shipwrecked. She cooked and washed clothes for miners while Peter mined. They returned to Connecticut after 8 yrs, richer and wiser.

They came to Johnson Co, Wyoming in 1882 where he engaged in farming and raising stock with considerable success. The citizens of this community held Mr. Spang in the highest esteem, although he was outspoken in his principles of "Free Thought" and The "Truth Seekers". Buffalo, Wyo
Thomas Miller
May 1, 1896
The Bulletin
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Land Grant issued May 19, 1892 - Johnson County, Wyoming. (1section-SW/ township-47-N Range-82-W Fraction?-No Meridian-6th PM)
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/Detail.asp?Accession=WYWYAA+013298&Index=2&QryID=42402.44&DetailTab=1
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OBITUARY

Peter Spang died at Buffalo, Wyoming, on Thursday, April 30 at the advanced age of seventy. He was a good citizen, a staunch Freethinker, and an honest man. His was the first funeral in the history of our town at which the sweet sad memory of custom was set aside for the beautiful funeral service of the Freethought ritual. The funeral took place May 1, and the service was conducted by Mr. E.D. Metcalf, one of our most conscientious business men and a warm personal friend of the deceased, who shared in his views. Friends of the departed who had never been in sympathy with his iconoclasm listened intently to the Free- thought service, and were surprised to find their feelings voiced in language so lofty in sentiment, that touched all hearts by its naturalness and simplicity.

Peter Spang was born at Rimeling, on the Rhine, Nov, 6 l926 --and claimed to be--a Frenchman although his birthplace now belongs to Germany. He came to the United States at an early age and was apprenticed to a pious shoemaker in a community where he suffered much on account of his religion, having been brought up a Roman Catholic. He was not well treated: by his "Unco guid" master, but was afterwards lucky in finding a home and employment with a man of no religion who did not care if his apprentice was a Catholic or a Buddhist, if he behaved himself otherwise. This man was upright in all his dealings. He was known in the community as an Infidel. Mr. Spang was so impressed with the sturdy virtue of the man of no religion that in after years when

He found himself out of sympathy with his mother church, he naturally adopted the principles of Freethought. For twenty-five years he was an aggressive Freethinker, and The Truth Seeker's weekly visit helped to brighten the last nineteen years of his life. After having lived in California and other parts of the United States, he brought his wife and family to Johnson County, Wyoming, in 1882, where he engaged in farming and stock raising with considerable success. His life had been an active one, and suddenly finding himself with nothing to do he began to worry. He feared that the accumulation of a life of toil would melt away and leave his loving wife in want. He feared that the cause of Freethought would be injured if he ever got in debt. He died hoping that no act of his life had brought discredit on the cause. He demonstrated that the horrors with which superstition has surrounded the Freethinker's deathbed have no existence in fact. I never met with a more upright and conscientious man, I never knew a more devoted husband or a move indulgent father. It pained him to be the cause of injury to a fellow being. The wife he leaves behind him was in sympathy with his views, and during his closing years, when his eyesight had begun to fail, she read to him for The Truth Seeker and his favorite books. Notwithstanding his worry, he left his wife in good circumstances, and his family of sons and daughters are all married. The citizens of this community held Mr.Spang in the highest esteem, although he was outspoken in his beliefs. There is a Western freedom of thought and action here which is bringing about an evolutionary reform, but which does not do much to develop the aggressive Freethinker. Mr. Spang almost stood alone. He lived bravely and died peacefully. Among these who knew him only the kindliest memories of his life remain.
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From the Historical Department of the Fort McKinney Chapter, DAR.

History - Mr. and Mrs. Peter Spang

Mr. Spang was born in Alsace Lorraine, France in Rheimlingen on Nov. 6, 1826 and moved with his parents to New Haven, Conn., in 1835. He there grew to manhood and was a shoemaker by trade.

Harriet Hubbard was born on Feb. 12, 1824 in what was then called South Farmes, now called Middletown, Conn. She lived there until the age of 15 and then moved to New Haven, Conn.

They both attended the public schools of the different vicinities. They were married on Jan. 9, 1847 and made a home in New Haven. Mr. Spang worked at his trade.

One of Mrs. Spang?s brothers went to California in 1849, returning in 1852 and had such wonderful stories to tell that Mr. Spang decided to leave his family and return to California with him to see the wonderful "golden west." Mr. Spang was so infatuated with it that he sent for his family to come. They went by ship to Aspinwall, the railroad being built only part way across the Isthmus of Panama. From the terminus of the railroad they had to be transported on the back of a burro the rest of the way to the City of Panama. Having two children, she had to carry her baby in her lap. There a ship was waiting to take them to San Francisco. From there they went 150 miles east to the gold fields, going as far as Stockton by train and then on horseback. Again she had to carry her baby in her lap. At times the roads were so steep she was afraid to stay on the horse and would get off and carry the baby in her arms. Therefore, it was a very hard, strenuous trip for Mrs. Spang.

Mr. Spang operated a little store and used gold dust for money. Mrs. Spang used gold dust for money also. She baked bread and washed for the miners and received gold dust as pay.

At that time there were no orchards or vineyards in the country, -- not even any kind of wild fruit or berries. A neighbor sent east and had apple seeds and peach pits sent to him which he planted and in that way started the first fruit orchard she knew anything about. The peaches came into bearing in the second year from planting. Others followed their example and soon had fruit orchards, the land there being very fertile.

They both sluiced and panned for gold at different times. Once after Mr. Spang had worked all day at the mines, Mrs. Spang went out to where he was working in the late afternoon and picked up a nugget that was worth $40.00. That was her best find. They acquired some land and set out an orchard, planted a garden and flowers. Mrs. Spang was a great flower lover all her life.

Mrs. Spang fell heir to some money in the East, but could not collect if from where she was, so had to give her husband power of attorney to get it, and he returned to Connecticut, procured the money and returned to California. But before he returned, he wrote his wife to sell out and come back to Connecticut. She wrote back, "No." If he wanted her to come back there, he would have to come and get her. So they remained in California for 11 years, their family having increased to 6 children. Mr. Spang felt that the children could have so many more advantages in the east that they returned to New Haven.

They had lived in the west too long and could not be satisfied in an eastern city, so they remained there only 3 years and came west, this time to Iowa. (1) The older children being grown, two of them remained in New Haven. It was so cold and bleak that Mrs. Spang did not like Iowa but stayed there 11 years. She then prevailed on her husband to go to Florida.(2) They went and stayed one winter and were thoroughly disgusted with this country and returned by boat to New Haven. He visited his children and other relatives and sent for his wife and two children to come. So Mrs. Spang and two children went, leaving three grown children in Iowa.

They stayed in New Haven for 5 years. One son, Bernadine Spang (3), had gone from Iowa to Wyoming, so Mr. Spang and another son left New Haven (This son must have been Alban. SSB .) and came to join their son who was living at Buffalo, Wyoming in 1882 and had established a restaurant in the building next to that occupied by Ed Chappell. In the spring of 1883. he and his wife and daughter, Mrs. Mary Mead, who was then 17 years old, came to Buffalo. They came to Custer Station, that being the nearest railroad, 250 miles distant, where Mr. Spang and son (Alban) met them with wagon and teams. They were two weeks on the road down to Buffalo, camping out at night with muddy roads and cold weather. They arrived in Buffalo on May 10, 1883. They lived in Buffalo three years, then moved to Beaver Creek, 30 miles south, and lived there between 10 and 11 years, then sold the ranch and again moved to Buffalo where Mr. Spang died in 1896. Mrs. Spang remained a resident of Buffalo until her death on July 31, 1913.

Mr. and Mrs. Spang were the, parents of eight children, the eldest, Nicholas, dying in infancy. The remainder living to manhood and womanhood.

Grandma Spang was truly a beautiful character, a good neighbor, and friend and loving mother. One of whom her children could rise up and call blessed.

(Author's Note: Mr. Peter Spang seemed to be blessed with a true pioneer spirit and a wanderlust to go with it. He was also blessed with an understanding wife.)

Peter married HUBBARD, Harriet Marie 09 Jan 1847, Christs Church, New Haven, Conneticut. Harriet (daughter of HUBBARD, Abijah and BROWN, Hannah) was born 12 Feb 1824, Middletown, Conneticut; died 30 Jul 1913, Buffalo, WY; was buried Willow Grove Cemetary, Buffalo, wy. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

January 20, 1847 - The Constitution

MARRIAGES
In New Haven on the 9th inst. Mr. Peter Spang to Miss Harriet Hubbard.

1. SPANG, Nicholas Winslow was born 16 Oct 1847, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died 27 Aug 1848, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
2. SPANG, Wilfred Frances was born 20 Jan 1849, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died 19 Nov 1930, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; was buried St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, Connecticut..
3. SPANG, Regina Susanna was born 08 Jan 1851, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died Dec 1942, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; was buried Milford, Connecticut (Cemetery 1, pg 100).
4. SPANG, Alban Dumont was born 29 May 1855, San Francisco, CA; died 07 Jan 1937, Lame Deer, Rosebud County, Montana; was buried Lame Deer Cemetery, Lame Deer, Rosebud County, Montana.
5. SPANG, Harriet Rosetta was born 03 Feb 1857, Colusa, California; died 31 Jan 1949.
6. SPANG, Maria Imogene was born 28 Feb 1858, Colusa, California; died 14 Oct 1937, Milford, UT; was buried Milford, Beaver County, Utah.
7. SPANG, Bernadine Delmonica was born 15 Feb 1861, Colusa, California; died 28 Mar 1913.
8. SPANG, Mary Jane was born 04 Nov 1865, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died 08 Sep 1949, Duarte, California.

Notes:

District of New Haven, ss Probate Court, April 25th, 1867
Estate of NICHOLAS SPANG, late of New Haven in said district deceased.
The Court of Probate for the District of New Haven hath limited and allowed six months from the date hereof, for the Creditors of said Estate to exhibit their claims for settlement. Those who neglected to submit their claims, properly attested, within said time, will be debarred a recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment to
ANTHONY V. SPANG, Administrator.

Nicholas married DENIS, Suzanne Marie 13 Jan 1821, Reimlingen, Moselle, Lorraine, France. Suzanne (daughter of DENIS, Michel and STEFFEN, Catherine) was born 05 Apr 1799, Reimling, France; died 24 Aug 1868, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Columbian Register, August 29, 1868, page 3, Obituaries
SPANG - in this city, August 24th, Susan Spang, widow of Nicholas Spang, aged 60 years.

Cristophe married TRITZ, Marie 30 Dec 1798, Launstroff, Moselle, Lorraine, France. Marie was born Abt 1774; died 10 Dec 1827, Flatten, Moselle, Lorraine, France. [Group Sheet]

Michel married STEFFEN, Catherine 19 Dec 1797, Budingen, Merzig, LK Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany. Catherine (daughter of STEFFEN, Georges and JUNGFLEISCH, Elisabeth) was born 06 Nov 1769, Remeling, Moselle, Lorraine, France; died 09 Nov 1800, Remeling, Moselle, Lorraine, France. [Group Sheet]

Johannes married CHRIST, Margarethe 1774, Mandern, Moselle, Lorraine, France. Margarethe (daughter of CHRIST, Peter and LEUCK, Katharina) was born 17 May 1747, Hellendorf, Perl, LK Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany; died 10 Jan 1795, Flatten, Moselle, Lorraine, France. [Group Sheet]

Nikolaus married BECKER, Susanne 16 Jan 1758, Budingen, Merzig, LK Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany. Susanne (daughter of BECKER, Mathias and GRATZ, Maria) was born Jul 1717, Bietzen, Merzig, LK Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany; died 25 Nov 1786, Orscholz-Steinbach, Mettlach, LK Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Georges married JUNGFLEISCH, Elisabeth 10 Jan 1769, Kuntzig, Moselle, Lorraine, France. Elisabeth (daughter of JUNGFLEISCH, Jean and LAMPERT, Marguerite) was born Abt 1725; died 19 Mar 1797, Remeling, Moselle, Lorraine, France. [Group Sheet]