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The Spooners of Loganville The correspondence between

Loganville, WI and Brookfield, NY During the 1850s & 1860s

The Spooners of Loganville

The source of the Spooner letters and many of the photos in this publication are taken from the book, “The Eternal Hills”, by Donna Spooner Tanney, 1973. Permission to use these letters was given by her to Bill Schuette and David Burmester for use in their 1980 “Loganville, Our Heritage” book. Donna Tanney passed away in 2015 at the age of 91.

An early Sauk County log cabin, similar to those that existed when the Spooners lived in Loganville.

The Spooners of Loganville Wisconsin was a growing frontier in the 1850s and recent settlers wrote glowing letters back to relatives in the East, urging them to make the trek West. One family that made the journey, was Joshua and Hannah Spooner and their sons, Leonard, William, Albert and Beaman. They came from New York State and settled first in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and later in Loganville, Wisconsin. Another son, Henry and his wife Frances, remained behind in New York, but later were convinced to join their family in Loganville. By a fortunate stroke of luck, the correspondence between the members of this frontier family has been preserved and passed down through the generations and it gives great insight into how the early settlers lived and prospered in the New Land.

Leonard Spooner wrote to his brother Hank in New York in the autumn of 1855 from Dodgeville, Wisconsin:

There was also a note from Leonard's cousin, Amos Brown, written in pencil on the same sheet of paper:

to do your best, for you have everything to buy, and things are high. Now is your time to come, while you are young, and settle here, and some day perhaps you may be rich, for all the folks are getting rich around here and they come with nothing. I can't bare to have you stay there and spend your days, Hannah Spooner and only make a living and not hardly that, when I know you could do so well here, and you won't find a healthier place in the world than it is here."

Come before it be everlastingly too late. Bill, me and Put are going to see if we can find a place as soon as harvest is over to set up a shop for manufacturing Saks Wagons. Your business is first rate out here. Come and you will know all. I have seen that young chap that used to come down to spark sis from Waterville. That is all, so goodbye. Amos."

The following spring Joshua and Hannah Spooner and their family moved to near the village of Loganville in Westfield in Sauk County, Wisconsin. On May 11, 1856, Leonard sent another letter to brother Hank in Brookfield, Clarksville Post office, New York State.

There still being room left on the paper, Hannah, their mother, finished the letter with the following:

"Dear Brother,

Dear Brother:

I think if you only knew how nice our sixty acres of grain looked and all of these nice plums and huckleberries and a great many more things, you would pack up your harness shop and come out here in less than a week. At first, I thought of writing to have you send Dr. Baily out here, but the second time athinking I concluded that it would be a very foolish plan unless he learned how to doctor horses and cows for there is no kind of human beings out this way that knows who sickness is. This from Leonard Spooner.

Our folks have bought them an acre of land in Loganville. They are going to commence to build them a house in about two weeks. They will build it large enough so that you can live in it till you can build you a house. There is two wagon shops going up, the owners are building them now, and all it lacks of making a city is a harness shop. (Brother Hank was a harness maker). Bill has got his old engine going. He expects to do good business but whether he does

"I must write you a few lines about the West. I want you should come out here to live with us. I am sure you and Frances would like it better than where you now live. If you was only out here you won't think how fast folks make money. You would not have to work half the time to get a living here. You may work all the time there and not but just live. I know all about that place, and you will have hard work to live, 3

remains to be seen. They are going to have a gristmill here this summer anyway, and a woolen factory if they get around to it. One of the wagon shops is going to make carriages and buggies. You can get a first rate job if you will come out. I think the best thing you can do is to sell your shop if you can. You can make money as fast again out here as you can there, so march right along, we are ready for you, so goodbye, old Hank. Give my love to everyone that lives in York State. Le Spooner."

move to Loganville as witnessed by the next letter from Hannah to her children in New York: December l4, 1856

"Dear Children, I received your letter, and was glad to hear from you and that you was well, and had sold your shop, and was coming West. We should be very glad to have you out here. I think you can get a living here if you can anywhere. It is a first rate farming country and you will find plenty of land. We have got one-hundred and twenty acres, and if you will help pay for it, you can have a share of it, and there is plenty of other land around here. I think you can do first rate making harnesses. There is a number of folks that want some nice ones made, and horses are pretty here now.

Brother Albert completed the letter: "There is the greatest number of immigrants coming into this Western country that ever was known any year before, and I hope that you will be amongst the crowd. Come, come, before it be everlastingly too late. Remember the day is coming when if a man has not got a well filled purse he may as well be in the Eastern country as out here. It beats all how things are coming up around about this place. They are looking as well as could be expected for the rain. But never mind the rain, it rains in other places too.

There is a house between here and the village that we think you can hire or buy, and some land with it. You had better get you some leather and harness trimings and fetch them with you. They will be cheaper there than they are here. Fetch Now to business. we me some dried want you to come out apples, if you here, if you please. please. We have Mr. Gibson has built The log cabin on the left may be similar to the houses going up in moved into our Loganville when the Spooner family arrived there in the 1850s. a large house by the land and built lot we bought for you, us a log cabin and you can come in with us till you and it makes a great difference. Mr. Pollock has built get a house. We have had a letter from Albert. He is him a house further up towards the bluft. There is well and is to work a mite from Warren. He was drivhouses going up in all parts of this town as fast as ing team when he wrote. I have written to him to they can get lumber from the mill. There is a large come home and work in the blacksmith shop in the frame wagon shop agoing now, it will be in operation village here, I expect him or a letter this week. the first of July. Well, I guess I had better not fool my Frances can do first rate at her trade here, and I time away with this thing any longer, because if you guess she won't get homesick. You will come to Milcome out you will see them and if you don't come, you waukee and then to Madison, and from there to Lone don't care anything about them, so goodbye. Albert.” Rock on the cars (railroad), and that is this side of the The tempting letters must have been too much to re- Wisconsin River. You will have to come twenty miles sist, because Hank and Francie decided to make the when you leave the cars, and there will be a stage by 4

the time you come that will take you to Loganville. It has got to be quite a place. There has been seventeen more framed buildings since last year. There is three stores, one tavern, and two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, and William's shop. They are agoing to build a gristmill next spring. I think you could get a lot in the village pretty cheap, if you would set up a shop there. William is building him a new house in the village, and has got him a good yoke of oxen, and is going to drawing furniture to sell.

"We arrived here on schedule with no mishaps. It was a wonderful trip on the rails, despite the smoke and soot fer Over l000 miles. We passed much great farm country, though I don't know as I should care to live there. It is most all level, and without the hills it just isn't as pretty as back East. But as we got farther up into Wisconsin, the land grew progressively rolling. Of course the last twenty miles was on board stage, which proved to be a good uphill climb for the horses. I remarked to Mother Spooner that I bet they felt at home amongst the hills here, but Father Spooner said pshaw, these were nothing but mole hills, compared to Vermont's Green Mountains, where they hailed from.

Don't fetch a great many things with you, it won't pay. You better fetch some butter with you, for there ain't much here, and it is two shillings a pound. Flour is cheaper and other things that you will want. We have got plenty of snow here. I want you to write and let us know when you are coming, so we may be ready for you. I will bid you goodbye, till I see you. From your Mother, Hannah Spooner."

The village of Loganville is set into a hillside, and a fairly steep one. Their church stands halfway up the hill, where it overlooks the village like a shepherd, keeping watch over its flock. Narrows Creek lies at the foot of the hill; and the slender valley it creates contains excellent farm land. Along the creek are located the gristmill, sawmill, and other industries; while just over the hills on either side are great sprawling valleys, similar to the Unadilla.

This village is nowhere near as big as Clarksville, but it is growing by leaps and bounds. Many of the settlers live in log cabins, tiny things chinked up with mortar; some built of hand-hewn logs. Those buildings made of sawed lumber are mostly unpainted, for the folks are just too busy to tend to such things for a while. We four let the cabin that Mother Spooner wrote to us about, just a step from the village. It is a oneroom affair; kitchen on one end, bedrooms on the other. Our bedrooms are divided by a curtain; and we don't have much for furniture! So you tell Grandma that we are getting ‘broke in to frontier life after all!

Frances “Francie” Spooner Hank and Frances decided to move in the spring of l857 because they were afraid that the snow, mentioned in Hannah's letter, might be too much of an obstacle to overcome during the winter months. On April 28, 1857, Francie penned the following letter to her folks back in New York after a safe arrival in Loganville:

We have a big garden plot all ploughed and fitted, and have already put in our potatoes and peas. Mother Spooner has two hens setting, and when the chicks hatch, she is planning to share them with us.

"Dear Mama , I'm writing this to you alone, since we'd like you and Papa to be the first to know. You are going to be grandparents! Hank is proud as a peacock, hoping for a boy, of course. But Mama, I'm scared. There's no doctor around here for miles, only a midwife. And I've heard so many tales! If only we could come back home, so I could be near you, and Dr. Baily! All these women out here are so brave, that I'm afraid to tell anyone, even Hank, how scared I really am. I pretend I'm brave, too, but when Hank's gone, and I'm alone, I get to thinking about what could happen, when the baby comes. Hank is doing right well on the farm. Our grain and garden look first rate. His harness business is doing great, and I dassn't say anything to upset him. He is so good to me. I'm getting quite a stock of baby things sewed up, and some knitted sweaters and booties, too. It's a January baby, so he'll need them. Say hello to all the girls and tell them they're going to be aunts! I miss you all. Love from Francie." Narrows Creek in the valley just below the village of Loganville

Her mother attempted to reassure Francie in her reply the next day:

Hank has gone into the wagon shop for the time being, making harnesses. The proprietor offered to let him use a corner of it, until he can get his own shop built. He figures on raising it before fall, if we can get the lumber. George is helping him; so we are pretty well set.

Clarksville, N.Y. August 25, 1858 "Dear Francie, Rec'd your welcome letter yesterday. Papa could hardly wait to get to the fork shop this morning and tell the boys. The girls are all excited, and of course I'm pleased. I'm only sorry that you don't take more after Grandma, and a little less after me. Papa and I agree that if you can get acquainted with the midwife, (even tell her of your fears, you are not the first mother-to-be to be afraid, you know) you will probably rest much easier. It's natural to want to come home, but if you can manage to adjust to your surroundings until after the baby comes, we're sure you can be more than happy right out there. A child will be your crowning joy, Francie, and upon the birth, you, yourself, will cease to be a child. A whole new generation will have been born with you and Hank at the head. Look at it as a glorious beginning, and the fear will cease with the joy of anticipation.

The climate here is much like home, maybe a mite warmer. Mother Spooner set out daffodil bulbs last year; they are in bloom now; and I don't think they are that early back home. I hope this letter finds you all well. Give my love to Grandma, Grandpa and all my friends. Lute, George and Hank all send their love. Write soon. Francie." As the summer passed, Francis got along well, but when the August of 1857 arrived, she longed more and more for her family back in New York. The rainy, dreary days of late summer hung heavy around her. She wrote the next letter to her mother that August with an air of joy and apprehension: 6

Try to think of Hannah as if she were your own mother; confide in her. She must have known many such trials. You are a fortunate girl, Lute's heart aches for a baby; though no doubt it's best they don't have one. They are staying with old George now, and George helps out in the mill, when he's a mind to. Lute keeps busy with her millinery and sewing. So count your blessings. The rest of us are well. Give my regards to Hank and all the Spooners. With Love, from your Mother."

of her own. Doc advised us to return East, at least until after the baby’s born. Otherwise, he says, neither one may make it.

I calculate to let out my ox-yoke until spring; and in case I don't make it back then, Johnson will lease my farm. We have our harvest all in, so as soon as we can pack, we'll be heading East. If you know of any places for hire back there, I would be obliged if you would make arrangements about one of them for us. This from Hank."

Francie attempted to take her mother's advice, but as another month passed away, she became more depressed than ever. Hank noticed the change too and all attempts to cheer her up met with small success. Finally, and reluctantly, he wrote the following letter to Francie's folks

So, they returned to New York where Francie mended both physically and mentally. A baby boy was born that winter and they named him Frank. Hannah continued to write to them from Loganville and in January of 1860 she penned: Dear Children, I wish you a Happy New Year, and the baby, too. We are well as common. It is awful out today. We have got some snow and our folks are splitting and drawing rails. Albert and William was here to Christmas. Well, we have seen Johnson about your land, and he says he will give up the two fortys and will break the ten acres or pay the hundred dollars. He thinks he can break part of it in the spring, and all of it, if he can, and he will pay the interest, but he thinks you did not mean to have him pay interest, only from the time you made the last bargain. You won't get it very soon, I guess. He has let out his house and land for two years to Bliven's brother. Johnson is agoing to move on his circuit when Bliven comes and it ain't likely he will ever come back here to live again. One of your steers you let out to Colvin got sick and lame and want good for nothing. It was the Johnny Smith one. He has bought a good one to mate the other, and now they are pretty good yoke of oxen. Colvin says you may have them for what he owes you. Tell Allen Green I think he would find him some land out here that would suit him fine, unless you have told him such a shocking story about the West that he don't durst to come. Rock. Albert and William stayed there all night when they came up here last week and they was going to stay there when they went back. They have been there three years. Goodbye from your Mother, Hannah Spooner."

Henry “Hank” Spooner Loganville, Wis. October 17, l858 "Dear Folks, I hope this letter will not get you all upset, but Francie has not been well. Last week I decided to take her to Lone Rock for a visit to the Dr. He calls it nostalgia, fancy word for homesick, and says it's complicated by her condition. My folks, the boys, Nett, and everyone have tried to jolly her up, but she's in a world 7

Hank and Francie wrote back to Loganville and during the latter part of February that same year (1860), Hannah answered:

and eggs, and custard pie, and a good cup of tea with sugar and cream in it, so come right along, for it is all ready waiting for you. I can tell you what I think will be best for you to do. You know I am a pretty good farmer. I think you had better take your land back and go to work on it. You can make a pretty good farm of it, and you want a home, and there is no way that a man can live as independent as on a farm, and you can clear off a few acres every year, and then you can live just as you please. If you stay there and drill away and make out to get a livin, and by and by your constitution will be broke down, and your health gone, and then you won't have no home. There is no work so healthy as farming. The little boy can help some, you know. We have sent the mortgage to Baraboo to have it recorded. I won't write no more. So goodbye. Johnson is agoing to move next week. This from your Mother, Hannah Spooner."

“Dear Children: We received your letter and was glad to hear from you once more. We are well and hope you are the same. Our folks have worked pretty hard this winter. They have got about a thousand rails and have got enough logs for two thousand pickets. We are agoing to have picket fence on the road before the house and around the garden. I expect you won't hardly know the place when you come out here, it will look so nice. I wish you was out here, fixing up your place. Johnson was in here the other day, pleased enough he had found out how he could get out of debt, or thought he had. He said he would let you have the forty back that joins us, and he would take the south forty, and let you have the ten acres next to Barkers; and have you throw in that hundred dollars and the Bliven forty and all the interest; and then he would be out of debt to you. That was smart, wasn't it. That would be giving him a hundred dollars right out, for any fool would rather have the south forty than that ten acres. I told him you wouldn't do no such thing, for you can get that hundred dollars anyhow, but the interest I don't expect you will ever get. We have got the place, and that is all we can get, for he hain't got nothing nor never will have. He had to turn out his wife to pay the taxes. He didn't mean to pay them, but they drove him right up and made out to get it. He owes everybody and hasn't got nothing. He, like a fool, swapt his old mare that was agoing to have a colt for an old white horse and a saddle and now he is going out. He looks like one of the futes. He says he has got forty converts and twenty-five dollars for his winter's work. If his converts are as good as his word, they are some of 'emm, don't you think so? He said he would break up that ten acres in the spring, but he will never do it, and I hope he won’t, for he wouldn't half do it, if he pretended to.

Hank answered his mother's letter: Clarkville, N. Y. February 26, 1860 "Dear Ma, Pa and Leonard, Thought I'd better answer your letter, so you'd know what to do. We are fine. Frank is growing good, but it will be some time before he will be much help on a farm, and Francie isn't really strong enough to do much heavy work. She is doing well with the boarders, though, and seems happy. My business here is improving daily, though of course it was a little slack through the winter. I have grown more attached to this town than I ever thought possible, and have made many new friends here.

You had best let out my land for another year, if you can. Maybe when Frank is a bit older we shall be able to come out and farm it for ourselves again. Give my love to Albert, William and Beaman. Tell Antionette not to kill herself running that school! That supper you offered us sounds pretty good, lucky I just ate, or I'd probably be on my way out after it! Francie sends her love. Love from Hank."

You said you should like to stop in and get something good to eat. I should like to have you come to supper. I will get you some good Indian bread and some ham

The Civil War broke out and after long deliberation, Hank decided to enlist in the August of 1862. He became seriously ill, but by the autumn of that year, had recovered sufficiently to return home for a two weeks leave. He returned to his company in December and was discharged in April of 1863, due to his continuing slow recovery. See page 24 for more information on his service record, and his and Frances’ lives in New York.

down here last week to sell the wheat, but we told him he had promised it to you. I don't know if he will sell it, if he does we shant take the oxen. I don't care if he does or not, for Mr. Medd was here last week, and he said you should have your pay, every cent of it, for the land is in his hands, and his word is as good as money, so you are safe enough. About the money of Colvins, I think you had better wait till next month, then all the banks that are good will remain good, and we shall have to pay the taxes, and send you the rest. That will be the safest way. Bill Stewart wants you to come and make harnesses with him this winter. Give my love to Francie and Frankie. Tell him Grandma wants to see him and see if he is as pretty as his little cousin Etta. Write soon. Hannah Spooner.

Hannah continued her correspondence with Hank and Francie: Loganville, Wis. "Dear Children: Nov. 6, 1863 It being election day and I am alone, I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that we are well. William and Nett have gone at last. They have been here since last May and had the little girl with them. She is as pretty a child as ever I see but Nett will spoil her, I expect. William is selling seeding machines. He has sold his house and shop at Loganville and is agoing to take his pay in machines. He has bought the right to three counties. He asks ninety dollars apiece for them. We are building a barn. We raised it yesterday. I don't know when we shall get it done. We have got done husking and plowed some, we have raised about nine hundred bushels of corn, and about ninety of wheat, and fifty of potatoes, and we are fatting two large hogs and got three pigs to keep over.

In January of l864, Joshua and Hannah Spooner received word from the Government that their next to youngest son, Beaman, had died of apoplexy (a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke). See page 49 for his service record. On March 9th, 1865, Hannah penned this letter: "Young folks at home, I thought I would write a few lines to let you know how we are getting along. We are well and hope this will find you the same. We got a letter from you the other day, and was glad to hear from you. It had been so long since you wrote I thought you had forgotten your old Father and Mother, but we have not forgotten you. We think of you often and want to see you and your family very much. I should be glad to have you come out here and live, but I suppose you can do better where you are. We are very lonesome living here alone. Albert is to the village, to be sure, but then we have to live alone, back here. It is hard for us, to get along, and we don't know as we can let our farm this year or not. We did let it to Charley Floothfield, but he has gone to the war, and now we don't know what we will do.

There is not much news. Old Dan Newell is dead and Elezer Newell's wife is dead. The folks are well around here generally, what are left. There has gone from Sauk County six-hundred to the war. It don't seem as though there was many left. There was over one-hundred went through Loganville last week and they got up a splendid dinner for them. There has a great many gone from here. I had a letter from Albert (see page 40 for his war record) a week ago, but I don't know he is alive now or not. They have had another battle since that. He is in a pretty dangerous place. I expect he will get killed, and I don't know but they all will, and the North get whipped. We have not got the wheat from Johnson and I don't know whether we shall or not. He sent his brother

Albert will stay in the village if the mill stays, and if it goes away he will go with it. We talk some of buying a house in the village, and if the mill stays I think we shall buy it, and move down there, and let our farm out, if we can. William will go away from here, soon, I think. He will make his home at Mr. Yorks for 9

his little girl, Ettie, has been there since Nett has gone, and he wants to be near her, and if Albert should go away, we should be left alone. We can't stay alone much longer for Pa can't do much. He has a good many sick spells and he is so lame he can't hardly get around. He makes out to do the chores, and cut the wood, and that is all he is able to do.

two good cows. We have made twenty dollars worth of butter this winter. We have got the best hog there is in town, so we shant starve. It is as cold as Greenland but not much snow. The folks are all well around here, what there is left. They have most all gone to the war. You may tell that man that bought your place that we received the money, and will send it to him, and if not, we will keep it safe.

We shant try to live alone here another winter. If Albert stays and we move to the village we shall be alright. We have got enough of everything we want to live on, and money enough to use. We have got wheat enough to last till next winter and three acres of winter wheat on the ground and corn and oats. We have sold fifty bushels of oats at fifty cents a bushel and have got enough to sow, and corn all we want and

I will close for it is about time to get dinner, and I wish you and Francie and Frankie was here to eat with us. I hope you will come sometime. Give my love to all my friends, Goodbye, from your Mother, Hannah Spooner.”

Hank, Francie and Frankie never did return to Wisconsin. As for Joshua and Hannah Spooner, we know very little else about their lives in Loganville. The above letter was the last of the correspondence between the families that has been found. Additional checks through the 1870 census failed to locate either of the Spooner names in Sauk County. Hannah died in 1885 at the age of 70 years. She had moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota and was buried there. A check with the Minnesota Historical Society failed to turn up an obituary in any of the newspapers published at the time of her death. A copy of Hannah Spooner's will, however, was located at the Sauk County Courthouse. An estate of $300 was left to three sons, William L., Albert and Henry L. Spooner. The penmanship on the probate document is not very clear and the status of her husband, Joshua, could not be determined. He would have been 92 if he was still alive when she died. Donna Spooner Tanney, 1973. *

Update 2024 According to Geneanet genealogical records, Joshua Spooner died April 20, 1875, at the age of 80, in Loganville, Wisconsin. A search of area cemetery records and Find A Grave, has not turned up any location for his grave. Two of Joshua’s sons are buried in the Westfield Cemetery: Beaman, who died in 1864, and William, unknown death date. It is possible that Joshua is also buried in that same cemetery. However, there is no record to indicate that fact. The 1870 census record for Westfield Township, Sauk County Wisconsin, does indeed, list Joshua and Hannah Spooner as living in the township. He was 78 and she was 60. They were listed as farmers. See 1870 census on page 16. Bill Schuette, 2024.

Frank Murray Spooner—the son of Henry and Frances Spooner—and his wife, Luetta Huntington in 1893.

Frank Murray Spooner 11

Frank M. Spooner, son of Henry L. and Frances M. Hills Spooner, was born at Brookfield, N. Y., January 6, 1859, and died at his home in Brookfield, October 31, 1933.

He was a lover of nature, music and art. Scenes about Brookfield had a particular charm for him. He played in the band at one time, and painting had a special lure for him. Many pictures remain to show his interest in that art, as well as friendships among others of like inclinations. He was quiet and unassuming, with friends wherever he was known, a good man who will be greatly missed in his home and out. “A counselor--- a good man and just.” His loved ones have the deepest sympathy of the community.

As a lad he gave his heart to Christ and joined the local Seventh Day Baptist Church in which he held his membership through all the years. On November 12, 1879, he married Dennie M. Brown and to them was born a daughter, Frances M., now Mrs. Clarence Collins of Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Spooner died about four years after their marriage and Mr. Spooner married Luetta Huntington, October 28, 1886. Four children were born to them, Lawrence, Malcolm, Jean, and Margaret. He is survived by his daughter, Frances, his stepmother, Mrs. Sarah Spooner, his companion and their four children, fifteen grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.

"The Sabbath Recorder", Dec. 25, 1933. “Brookfield Courier”, November 8, 1933.

On May 1, 1875, at the age of 16, he edited and printed The Young America. At the end of a year this was merged into the Brookfield Courier, with Frank Munger as partner. After a short time, Mr. Spooner worked on the Winfield Star, and his home was again in Brookfield at the time of his first wife’s death. Then for about two years he worked on the Canastota paper, after which he spent some time on the Morrisville paper. He then moved back to Brookfield, for about 10 years working on the Brookfield Courier during this time. Five years were spent in Afton, when he came back again to the Brookfield Courier, in partnership with Barton Stillman. He continued an interest in the paper until it was purchased by the present editor, Mr. Worden. Thus, most of his life has been spent in Brookfield and his interests have ever been here. He served as supervisor in the town nine years and had been secretary of the Madison County Fair almost continuously for about 20 years. He was on the school board a number of years and at the time of his death he was a nominee for assessor, which position he had filled for some time.

Brookfield Rural Cemetery

Brookfield, Madison County, New York 13

Painting by Frank Murray Spooner 1910 “He was a lover of nature, music and art. Scenes about Brookfield had a particular charm for him. He played in the band at one time, and painting had a special lure for him. Many pictures remain to show his interest in that art, as well as friendships among others of like inclinations.” From his obituary

Joshua Spooner 1793—1875

Marriage Record 1829 15

1860 Census—Loganville, Wisconsin

1870 Census—Loganville, Wisconsin

It is unclear exactly where Joshua Spooner is buried. According to the document on the previous page, he is buried in Loganville. However a search on Find A Grave has not turned up his burial location. He is not buried in any of the Loganville area cemeteries, according to existing records. His sons, Beaman and William are buried in the Westfield Cemetery near Loganville, and it is possible that Joshua is buried there too. Those cemetery records are incomplete, and no stone has been found there.

Hannah Scofield Spooner 1810—1885

Marriage Record 1829 19

A tombstone photo is not available.

The likely reason that Hannah Spooner is buried in North Star Cemetery in Minnesota, is that her son, William, is also buried in that cemetery. She may have been living near his family after her husband, Joshua died in 1875, who is buried in the Loganville, WI, area.

Henry “Hank” Luther Spooner 1835—1909

Henry Spooner Enlists in the Union Army As indicated in the Spooner Letters, “When the Civil War broke out, after a long deliberation, Hank decided to enlist in the summer of 1862.” His enlistment date was 1 August 1862, under the command of Thomas H. Bates and took place at Brookfield, N.Y. His unit was Battery A, Light Artillery. However, shortly after his enlistment, he became seriously ill. But by the autumn of that year, he had become well enough to return home for two weeks leave. In December, 1862 Hank was able to return to his company.

By 6 April 1863, due to his previous illness, he was not able to fulfill his duties as a soldier, and he was discharged from the army at Albany, N.Y. and returned home. He then engaged in the recruiting of several companies which went out from Brookfield, N.Y. It is not likely that he ever saw combat, as he was stationed in the New York area during his enlistment.

The Obituary of Henry Luther Spooner In Brookfield, N. Y., January 4, 1909, of heart-disease, Henry L. Spooner, in his 74th year. He was a son of Joshua and Hannah Spooner and was born in Cedarville, Herkimer Co., N. Y., August 12, 1835. In boyhood he came to Brookfield and except for a few years in the West [in Loganville, WI] and one year in Canastota he has been a lifelong resident and respected citizen of this village. On March 10, 1855, he was married to Frances M. Hills and to them was born one son, Frank M. Spooner of this place. On February 18, 1896, he was married to Mrs. Sarah E. Fitch, who with the son Frank survives him. In 1862 he enlisted in Bates Battery and remained with it until it was disbanded. He was baptized and joined the Second Brookfield Seventh-day Baptist Church of which he was a member and its efficient treasurer at the time of his death. Henry L. Spooner was one of five sons of Joshua and Hannah Spooner and was born in Cedarville, Herkimer County, Aug. 12, 1835, and of these brothers he was the last to go. During his boyhood the family came into this town to reside and with the exception of a few years in the west and one year in Canastota Brookfield had been his home. On March 10, 1855, he was married to Frances Marion Hills and to them was born one son, Frank M. Spooner. After a happy companionship of many years the wife passed away July 24, 1895. On February, 18, 1896, he was married to Mrs. Sarah E. Fitch, who with the son survive. Henry L. Spooner, whose critical illness was noted in the last issue of the Courier, passed peacefully away at his home in this village Monday, Jan. 4, at 5:30 p. m. It was a little more than a year ago that his first illness came upon him, resulting from and affection of the heart. Although recovering to a considerable degree from this attack his former strength did not return and his activity was much curtailed. For several weeks past the decline had been marked, and for two weeks or more it had been rapid. Having always been blessed with health and strength he fought bravely until the last to keep up the show of bodily vigor, and even after his strength was nearly spent his exuberance of spirit and cheerful acceptance, even under severe suffering, of the inevitable was like rays of sunshine piercing the deep gloom of anxiety felt by his family and those engaged in his care. For about half a century, he has been closely and prominently identified with the social and business interests of the town and village. Every enterprise, public, social, fraternal and religious, has felt the influence of his energetic and enthusiastic personality. For many years he has been the president of the Madison County Agricultural Society. He was a man of genial presence, marked executive ability and of keen and sound judgment. To know him was to count him as a friend. He will be greatly missed in the church and community where he has been so long a resident. Funeral services were conducted, January 7, 1909, at his late home in the presence of a large company of friends and neighbors. Words of appreciation were spoken by Thomas Craine, a comrade in the G. A. R. Post and a business associate, followed by a short address and words of comfort by his pastor from I Thess. iv, 13. Interment in Brookfield Rural Cemetery. W. L. G. To speak of his life as business man and citizen, and what his life has meant to our village and community perhaps should be written by other pen, but the assurances of esteem and expressions of appreciation for his devoted and unselfish work tending to the well being of this community which he so dearly loved, seems to justify the sentiment and the details, which can be crowded into a limited space. The work which brought him first and most largely into acquaintance with the people of this and surrounding towns was that of harness manufacturer, in which he was engaged for many years, the business assuming proportions 26

that made it at one time an important industry for the village. Later he became associated with his son, who had already begun the publication of the Courier, and has ever since, with the exception of one year when residing in Canastota, held an interest in the business. In 1862 he enlisted in Bates’ Battery and when that organization disbanded and he received his discharge he engaged in the recruiting of several companies which went out from this section. He has been connected with almost every enterprise, public, social and fraternal, which has marked the life of our village and town for nearly a half century. He held membership in Western Star Lodge, F. & A M., was a member of Searle Post from the time of its organization, had been active in the affairs of the Brookfield Madison County Agricultural society and had been its president for a number of years, taking a strong personal interest in its welfare. He had been a member of the school board and trustee and president of our village for several terms. He was a lifelong Republican and held a number of official positions at the hands of his fellow townsmen, namely, town clerk, justice of the peace for several terms, and highway commissioner, doing in the latter capacity some efficient work at that time when the improved system of working the highways came into vogue. He also held the position of postmaster for two terms. All enterprises calculated to upbuild and improve our town not only received his support but his leadership, and at such times his enthusiasm was communicated to others for the success of the object desired. Had fate been kind to our little town pocketed among picturesque but alas almost inaccessible hills, he would have seen more of his fond dreams realized and more of success would have attended his earnest efforts. He was a member and attendant of the Seventh-day Baptist church of this village. His helpful influence manifested in the imparting of a casual act of kindness, in the hearty greeting, in the word of encouragement, in the painstaking cordiality to those in a position to most appreciate recognition, was widely radiated and the results, if in no other way, can be measured by the genuine regard in which he was held by all. To us, always a companion as well as parent, as well as to the companion of his home the loss is keenly felt. The Grand Army boys whose ranks are so rapidly thinning feel that they have lost a dear comrade and the community at large deplore the taking away of a good citizen and neighbor.

The previous article is a combination of those from the newspapers below. Wednesday January 6, 1909 The Brookfield Courier Feb. 8, 1909, The Sabbath Recorder

The reunion of the Brookfield, NY First Artillery Light, Battery A. The date is unknown. The original battery was recruited in Utica in 1861 and went to the scene of action. At the battle of Fair Oaks it was broken up and the remnant returned in 1862 to Utica. The battery bearing the same name, and whose reunion was held yesterday, was then recruited and went to Albany under the command of Thomas H. Bates. At that time, it numbered 156 men and carried twelve brass pieces. When it reached Washington, it was assigned the arduous duty of enforcing the draft in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. It had a number of skirmishes, but was only in two real battles, Antietam and Gettysburg. It returned to Utica in 1865.

The committee in charge of the reunion consisted of H.L. Spooner and N.A. Crandall

Francis “Francie” M. Hills Spooner 1838—1895

Brookfield Rural Cemetery, Brookfield, Madison County, New York

The final resting place of Francis Spooner 28

This article may be read on the previous two pages.

Brookfield Rural Cemetery

Brookfield, Madison County New York

The Obituary of Francis M. Spooner In Brookfield, N. Y., July 24, 1895, Frances M. wife of H. L. Spooner, aged 57 years. Perhaps no woman of the community could have been taken whose loss would be felt more than that of this one. At the age of thirteen she was baptized by Eld. Eli S. Bailey and united with the Second Brookfield Church of which she has since been a faithful member. A faithful teacher in the Sabbath-school, a zealous worker in the church, a refining factor in society, she will be greatly regretted. Her death was like her life, peaceful and composed, and her mind was very clear to the last. The beautiful floral tributes and the undisguised grief of kin and acquaintances showed the love in which she was held. Husband and son mourn her. It is with profound sorrow that the COURIER announces the death of Frances M., wife of H. L. Spooner, and mother of Frank M. Spooner, of this paper, which occurred on Wednesday evening last. The illness which terminated fatally came upon her about seven weeks ago and after a fortnight or more of very severe sickness she began to gain in strength and improved to that extent that gave encouragement for her recovery. But this favorable condition did not last long and unmistakable signs of a disease impossible to combat began to be manifest. The symptoms grew more and more unfavorable and about a week before her death it was too apparent that she had but a short time to remain with us. Though she suffered little pain she realized the seriousness of her case and that the separation from her family and friends must soon come. When her physician, upon being asked, confirmed her suspicions she expressed no regrets other than that she had not done more good in the world. Therefore, for several days she lay consciously but fearlessly nearing the end, speaking to those about her in a loving, helpful way such words as one would speak who was about to go upon a long journey. Her mind was clear to the last, but the end came peacefully and apparently without suffering. It was a comfort to her in her last moments that her family and sisters, with the exception of Mrs. Beebe who was unable to make the journey here, were gathered at her bedside. The deceased was born in this village in 1838 and was the second daughter of James and Chloe M. Hills. With the exception of two years spent in the west, [in Loganville, Wisconsin] the first part of her married life, and one year in Canastota, this county, she has passed her entire life here. Her education was acquired at the Brookfield Academy and in early life her religious instincts found expression in her union with the Seventh-day Baptist church of this village, to the forms and spirit of which she ever remained loyal, taking even greater interest in the cause it represented as the years advanced. She had taken part with the many others in the recent revival meetings and on the night before the pleasant Sabbath morning when so many of her friends and her little grand-daughter went down into the water in baptism her sickness came upon her. The text chosen by her pastor on the funeral occasion seemed applicable to her life, “She hath done what she could.” While she deplored, as is quite natural, that she had not been of more use in the world, still those best acquainted realize that the influence of her whole life tended to the elevation of those about her, that her example was ever worthy and that in a quiet and unostentatious way she “did what she could.” She was an active worker in those organizations of a semi-religious or charitable character and seemed to be mindful of such duties as tend to the uplifting of the depressed and the alleviating of suffering. In reform movements and temperance work she was active and outspoken, being strong in her conviction of right. In the home she was devoted to those near to her and those who mourn will now treasure her helpful words and more strongly realize that influence for good now that silence reigns in the place of her loving presence.

In 1855 she became the wife of Henry L. Spooner and for forty years the happy home life-now interruptedhad been going on. One son was born to them, F. M. Spooner, and also included in the family was the granddaughter, Fannie M. Spooner, who by force of circumstances became and has continued almost in the relation of daughter. Mrs. Spooner was the first of the family of five sisters to depart this life, those surviving being Mrs. L. M. White, of Cazenovia, Mrs. S. A. Woodworth, of Utica, Mrs. George K. Knapp, of Syracuse, and Mrs. H. J. Beebe, of Earlville. We cannot close this brief review of the life now gone without a reference to her valued services upon this paper, especially in its early career. Since the introduction of the printing press into this community by her son, then a mere boy, she has been nearly all of the time identified with its interests. His work was her work, and her help and sympathy did much to make the business then started in so small a way grow in importance and become the stable business concern and factor in the growth and enterprise of the village that it is to-day. In the hours of trial, she upheld and encouraged us. She was ever seeking how the paper might be a means of good, and if the COURIER is held in high estimation to-day, no small part of the credit of the same belongs to her for her counsel, her watchfulness and her work in its behalf. Her good judgment was often drawn upon and in matters that required careful scrutiny her decision was ever valuable. Proof reading has been her principal work in connection with the paper, but its interests have always engaged her and her suggestions and help in various ways have always been gratefully accepted. She will be greatly missed in this office as she will be in the home and, we are assured, in the community at large. The funeral was held from her late residence Friday afternoon, the attendance being large. Her pastor, Rev. C. A. Burdick, spoke fittingly and sympathizingly upon the occasion, referring among other things to the help she had been to him in his work. The selected quartette sang finely and the profusion and arrangement of beautiful flowers helped to temper in their way the hour of mourning. Her Sabbath-school class and the Woman’s Relief Corps, of which she was a member, took part in the services. A teacher of her girlhood days and a life-long friend of the deceased contributes the following kindly words: Sadly, tenderly and yet gratefully we mention in these columns our dear departed friend, Mrs. Frances M. Spooner, whose earthly career now terminated was so intimately connected with the well-being of this locality, which was not only her childhood home but also the home of the choice as a matron of maturer years. Connected by birth with two of Brookfield’s representative families she early and without seeming effort became by her pleasing ways and unaffected manners a favorite of a large circle of admiring friends. This distinction widened and deepened; her years of unceasing devotion to the good of her family, the church of her choice in all its varied interests, and the community at large bring home to all a feeling sense of the magnitude of the loss, and a united sympathy goes out to the grief-stricken husband and only son and all who are providentially made their care. The previous article is a combination of those from the newspapers below. The Sabbath Recorder, Aug. 8, 1895 The Brookfield Courier, July 31, 1895

William L. Spooner 1831—1892

An article in the Baraboo Republic in 1867, noted that, “A steam sawmill, now owned by the Fonda Brothers, was built by William Spooner in 1861, and has been in successful operation ever since, doing an excellent business.” The sawmill was apparently built a year after he got out of the Union Army.

William L. Spooner also has a tombstone in Westfield Cemetery, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Since his obituary indicates that he is buried here in North Star Cemetery, the Westfield Cemetery tombstone is a memorial marker.

William L. Spooner is also listed as being buried in North Star Cemetery, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Since his obituary indicates that he is buried in the North Star Cemetery, the Westfield Cemetery tombstone is a memorial marker.

Albert Tyler Spooner 1833 –1901

National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers

Leonard Spooner Ca. 1834

The last we hear of Leonard is a May 11, 1866 letter that he wrote to his brother, Albert, in New York. (See page 3) His brother Henry’s 1909 obituary indicates that he, Henry, was the last of the five brothers to die. Therefore, Leonard died between 1866 and 1909. No additional information has been located on Leonard. 2024

Beaman Benjamin Spooner 1838– 1864

According to the death record, above, for Beaman Spooner, he died of apoplexy at the regiment hospital in Texas. Apoplexy is an incapacity due to a stroke.

For additional information about the Spooner Family, this book is the source of much the material in this publication.