L.M. SPITLER. For more than twenty years Mr. Spitler has been closely connected with the development of Moultrie County and since 1880 he has been prominent in the business and political circles of Sullivan. He is a general merchant and dealer in staple and fancy groceries, glass and queensware, and ranks among the most enterprising business men of the village. Prior to embarking in business as a merchant he operated a farm, upon which be located in 1871. Not only has he been influential in business circles, but in all matters of public moment he is interested. He has served efficiently as City Councilman and in other ways aided in the prosperity of the place. Politically he is a stanch Republican and never fails to deposit a ballot in the interest of that party.

Mr. Spitler is descended from German forefathers. His great-grandfather crossed the broad Atlantic from Germany prior to the Revolutionary War and settled in Virginia, where he and his wife both died. Among their large family was a son named Jacob, who was reared to farming pursuits and grew to manhood in his native State. There he was married to a Virginia lady and there several children were born to them, including the father of our subject, whose given name was Henry. The latter was a youth of fourteen years when, in 1809, he accompanied his parents to Fairfield County, Ohio.

At that time Ohio was a wilderness and the Spitler family began life there as pioneers, improving the farm from the heavy timber lands and enduring all the hardships which fell to those brave men who opened a pathway for modern civilization. Jacob Spitler and his wife became prominent in the sparsely settled community and were active members of the Baptist Church. They died in Fairfield County at a good old age. After Henry Spitler had reached manhood he married Miss Mary S. Seitz, a native of Virginia and of German descent. She was only eleven years old when her parents removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, and there she grew to womanhood.

After their marriage Henry Spitler and his wife settled on a farm in Fairfield County, where they both died at the age of seventy-four years, the mother surviving the father three years. They also belonged to the Baptist Church and the father voted the Democratic ticket. Our subject, who was a twin, was one of a family of sixteen children, eight of whom are yet living, all married and with families of their own. In his native county our subject grew to a vigorous manhood, receiving an academic education at the Fairfield Union Academy and afterward following the profession of a teacher for several years. He taught one term after coming to Illinois.

Mr. Spitler owes much of the comfort with which he is surrounded to the untiring efforts of his wife, with whom he was united in marriage in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1854. She was known in maidenhood as Margaret D. Friend, and was born in Fairfield County in 1826. Her parents, Jonas and Mary A. (Daily) Friend, were natives of Maryland and were married in Pennsylvania and settled at an early day in Fairfield County, Ohio. There they improved and cultivated a farm until their death, full of years and honor. They were good religions people and consistent members of the Baptist Church. They had a family of eight children, six of whom survive, all past middle age and with families. Mrs. Spitler was carefully reared at home and is a woman whose nobility of character and kindness of heart win for her friends wherever she is known.

The otherwise happy union of our subject and his good wife has been saddened by the death of their only son, Jefferson D., who died at the age of thirty-two years. His death occurred in California, whither he had gone for his health. He left a wife, whose maiden name was M. E. Harvey, and who is now living in Sullivan, engaged in the millinery business. The surviving child, Mary J., is still under the parental roof and is an intelligent and refined young lady. Mr. and Mrs. Spitler are prominent in social circles and although not communicants of any church, are held in high esteem for their recognized worth of character.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 562/565

Transcription copyright 2003/2007, Moultrie County ILGenWeb/USGenWeb