Spanton, John

SPANTON, SIMPKINS, BECKNER, MENTZER

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Date: 2/25/2011 at 09:36:44

Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa. Published in Chicago, W.S. Dunbar, 1889

JOHN SPANTON, of Cedar Township, is one of the pioneer settlers of the State of Iowa, and has been identified with the interests of Cherokee County since 1872. He was born in Yorkshire, England, June 11, 1832, and is a son of John and Anna (Simpkins) Spanton, natives of Yorkshire. John, Jr., was the youngest of seven children, and was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the common schools. His parents died in Yorkshire. At the age of nineteen years he determined to see for himself all the wonders of the New World, and to find the fortune it might hold for him. Accordingly he bade adieu to his native land, and sailed for America. He located near Racine, Wisconsin, and engaged in farm work. Later he went to La Porte County, Indiana, and in 1856 he came to Iowa, settling in Linn County, near Marion, where he lived until the breaking out of the great Rebellion. He enlisted in August, 1861, in Company K, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. and served three years and nine months. He participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, the expedition up the Yazoo River, Jackson, Mississippi, the siege of Vicksburg until the surrender; he then returned to Jackson, Mississippi, and was in the battles at Chattanooga, Big Shanty, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and was with General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea; he marched through the Carolinas, and attended the grand review at Washington, District of Columbia. He has lost the sight of one eye from disease contracted while in the service. Mr. Spanton was married in Linn County, Iowa, December 20, 1868, to Miss Nancy Ann Beckner, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mentzer) Beckner. She was born in Holmes County, Ohio, and at five years of age was brought to the Territory of Iowa, where her parents were early settlers. John and Elizabeth Beckner were natives ofthe State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Spanton’s farm in Cedar Township consists of 120 acres which is well improved; he has a substantial dwelling, a good barn, and has twelve acres of fine grove. His family consists of three children: Frank, born June 5, 1871; Harry, born March 24, 1874; and Belle, born October 6, 1876. Mr. Spanton affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of the General Custer Post, No. 25, G. A. R. Frank and cordial in his disposition, he has gained a host of friends in the county.