SPANG, Robert William

Male 1845 - 1910  (64 years)


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  • Name SPANG, Robert William 
    Born 13 Sep 1845  Reading, Berks Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 1910  Reading, Berks Co. PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Buried Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Berks Co. PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I95  Hans Georg Spang
    Last Modified 2 Aug 2015 

    Father SPANG, Daniel,   b. 28 Nov 1808, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Sep 1857, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother YOUNG, Anna Maria,   b. 02 Apr 1812, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Oct 1889  (Age 77 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Family ID F62  Group Sheet

    Family 1 FILBERT, Cordelia,   b. Jul 1870,   d. 25 Sep 1885  (Age ~ 15 years) 
    Last Modified 2 Aug 2015 
    Family ID F67  Group Sheet

    Family 2 ???, Adelia 
    Married 1886 
    Children 
     1. SPANG, Charles Robert,   b. 02 Dec 1886, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 2 Aug 2015 
    Family ID F68  Group Sheet

  • Notes 

    • SPANG, ROBERT W., p 734
      Surnames: SPANG, YOUNG, VAN HORN, HOLTMAN, HENDEL, FILBERT

      Robert W. Spang, a veteran of the Civil war, who was one of the first to respond to his country's call in 1861, is a native of Reading, born Sept. 15, 1845, son of Daniel and Mary (Young) Spang.
      Daniel Spang was a son of George, who resided in Amity township, Berks county. There were five children, George, William, John, Daniel and Catherine. Daniel in his earlier years was a manufacturer of mill stones in Reading, later ran a chair factory, and finally engaged in the china and toy business, being located at No.627 Penn street. He was very successful financially, and was a prominent man in Reading. He married Mary, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Young. Her father was a pioneer of Reading, and was well known there, a cabinet maker by trade. His father bought property at No.627-629 Penn street, where most of the family reside, from the Penns, and the old house is one of the landmarks of the city. Daniel Spang died when only forty-eight years of age, but his wife lived to be seventy-eight. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth, widow of H. D. Van Horn, a wholesale shoe dealer in Philadelphia, who now makes her home in the old family place on Penn street; Mary, deceased; H. W., engaged in the electrical business in New York City; Robert W.; Emma, Mrs. Holtman; Daniel, Jr., who died March 18, 1907; Sallie, also at the old home; and Isaac, formerly cashier of the Reading National Bank, who married Miss Emma Hendel. Daniel Spang was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a Republican in politics, and a man highly esteemed by all who knew him.
      Robert W. Spang was sent to the public schools, but he was of an active, adventurous temperament, and when only fourteen years of age ran away from home and enlisted in Company B, 93d Pa. V. I., being mustered in at Camp Coleman, Lebanon county. When the war broke out in 1861, he was one of the first to enlist, and saw much active service as a private in the Army of the Potomac, participating in the battles of Yorktown, the Wilderness, Antietam and Spottsylvania. In time he was given a furlough and returned to his home once more. His mother refused to let him rejoin the army, as he was still so young, and he never received a formal discharge until during Grover Cleveland's administration.
      On settling down again in Reading Mr. Spang went into the Philadelphia and Reading shops, and learned the trade of a machinist, remaining in the employ of that road for eighteen years. The next eighteen were spent in the electrical business, in company with his brother, and during seven of those years he was in New York City. The last seven years he has been employed by the Carpenter Steel Company, at Reading.
      Mr. Spang married Miss Cordelia Filbert, whose great-uncle was the first mayor of Reading. They have one son, Charles R., a plumber by occupation. Mr. Spang is a Lutheran in his religious faith, but his wife and son are of the Reformed faith. He is a man well known in Reading and has many friends. One of his greatest pleasures is to recall from his present pleasant vantage ground, stories of the many hardships which he endured in the days of the war.

      (Source - Montgomery, Morton "Historical and Biographical History of Berks County", 1909. as taken from the Berks County Web-Gen Project)

      According to the military records posted on Berks County WebGen pages, Robert W. Spang enlisted November 9, 1861; and deserted November 21, 1863.

      ****
      In Relief of Robert W. Spang - US Senate - Feb 8, 1887
      Mr. Cameron, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following:
      REPORT
      The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 9446) for the relief of Robert W. Spang, having had the same under consideration, beg leave to submit the following report:
      Robert W. Spang, when just turned fifteen years of age, enlisted in Company B, Ninety-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, September, 1861, as a private, contrary to the wishes of his widowed mother. He was with the Army of the Potomac at the battle of Williamsburg, Va., Fair Oaks, Va., in the seven days' retreat, and Malvern Hill. Returning to Washington, met his regiment and went to South Mountain, Maryland, participating in Couch's long march, reaching Antietam two days after the fight. Was then sent to Fredericksburg, on the Rappahannock, and was in Burnside's retreat, and went into camp, Falmouth, Va. He there received a furlough dated April 20, 1863, for good record, for ten days, expiring May 8, 1863. He overstaid his time, and upon being arrested for desertion, upon Habeas Corpus, at the suggestion of his mother, heard before Hon. Warren J. Woodward, president judge of court of common pleas of Berks County, Pennsylvania, was on June 8, 1863, discharged according to law from the military service of the United States. His military record and character are good. He was a mere boy when he enter the service against the will of his parent, and under the circumstances we report the bill, with the recommendation that it do pass.

  • Sources 
    1. [S547] Estate Records (Berks Co.) 1752-1914, Date entered based on middle initial in Estate Recs..

    2. [S558] Find A Grave.
      SERVED WITH CO B 93RD PA INFANTRY REGIMENT DURING THE CIVIL WAR. LISTED AS A DESERTER NOVEMBER 1863.