SPONG, Lemuel R.

Notes:

LEMUEL R. SPONG, one of the prominent citizens of East Pennsboro township,
Cumberland county, was born May 21, 1855, in that township, a son of Joseph
and Caroline (Marsh) Spong.

John Leonard Spong, the grandfather, was a native of Germany, and the
grandmother, whose maiden name was De Werter, was a native of Dauphin county.
Joseph Spong was born Feb. 2, 1823, and grew up a farmer boy, with few
educational opportunities. He continued to farm until 1861, when he moved to
West Fairview, and was employed in the nail mill until the works closed. In
politics he was a Democrat. In religious connection he was a Lutheran, and he
was a man universally respected. He married Caroline Marsh, who was born in
York county, from ancestry of the British Isles, and who still survives at
the age of seventy-seven years. Lemuel R. is the only surviving child, two
others dying in infancy, and Noah dying in 1882, aged twenty-five years. Mrs.
Spong is noted for her kind and gentle disposition and is beloved by all who
knew her. She is a devout member of the Lutheran Church.

Lemuel R. Spong was reared to manhood in his native place and at Fairview,
whither his father removed when he was six years of age. He attended the
Fairview schools until he was twelve years old, when he entered the nail
works at a wage of fifty cents a day, and continued to work there, through
all the departments, being promoted from the position of office boy to that
of overseer of the shipping department. In addition to acting as foreman of
this important department he served as agent for the Adams Express Co. and
the Northern Central Railroad at Fairview. In 1884 he was elected register of
wills for Cumberland county, entering upon his duties in January, 1885, and
served his full term, removing his family at that time to Carlisle. In
August, 1888, he became manager for the McCormick estate quarry interests,
and served as such until July, 1900, since which time he has been operating
the Walton quarry of the estate, at Lemoyne, for himself, and is also
interested in other quarries. Mr. Spong is also interested in the manufacture
of a patent fertilizer lime and is erecting an ex tensive plant for the same.
This plant is situated at Bonny Brook, below Carlisle, on the Gettysburg &
Harrisburg railroad. Mr. Spong is also the owner of large farming properties
and other real estate in Cumberland county, and is one of its most substantial
men. He is president of the Mechanicsburg Gas & Water Company.

On Oct. 24, 1875, in West Fairview, Mr. Spong married Miss Rosie Mann,
daughter of George and Mary Ann (Eslinger) Mann. She passed away April 12,
1904, a member of the Lutheran Church, which Mr. Spong also attends and to
which he is a liberal contributor. Politically, he is a Democrat and has been
active in the party since early manhood. Fraternally, he belongs to the Royal
Arcanum, Modern Woodmen and Heptasophs.

Lemuel married MANN, Rosie 24 Oct 1875, West Fairview, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Rosie (daughter of MANN, George and ESLINGER, Mary Ann) was born Mar 1856; died 12 Apr 1904, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Joseph — MARSH, Caroline. Caroline was born Abt 1828, York County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

John married DE WAATER, Barbara 26 Apr 1808, Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Barbara was born Abt 1790, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]