HENRY SPOENTGEN

WELL KNOWN SHOE DEALER DIES
H. SPOENTGEN DIES AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS
Well-known Merchant of Manitowoc Dies at Hospital; Active Here For Many Years
Failing to rally after an operation was resorted to last Friday in a vain effort
to save his life, Henry Spoentgen, for 43 years engaged in the shoe business in
Manitowoc and one of its most widely known citizens, passed away at the Holy
Family hospital at 12:30 o’clock this noon. Death was due to infection resulting
from a ruptured appendix.
Mr. Spoentgen spent nearly all of his life-time in the city of Manitowoc and
became one of the foremost shoe dealers and custom shoe makers of the vicinity.
He came here from Golz, Germany with his parents in 1861 and, with the exception
of eight years spent at his trade in Milwaukee shoe manufacturing establishments,
made his home in this city.
Learned Trade As Boy
Born in Golz, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Spoentgen, Sr., Henry Spoentgen was
three years of age when he came to Manitowoc. He attended the schools until he
was 12 years of age and on September 22, 1870, he started as an apprentice in a
shoe shop here. For about 10 years he was a journeyman in Manitowoc and in 1880
went to Milwaukee to continue his trade in the larger shoe manufacturing companies
there.
Returning to Manitowoc in 1888, he purchased the store of his former employer, P.M.
Peters, who operated the store across from the building owned and occupied by Mr.
Spoentgen at the time of his death. He purchased the site of the present store in
the late 90’s and built additions to it in 1910 to make it one of the biggest
business blocks on that street.
Married in 1894
Mr. Spoentgen was married to Lydia Gaterman of Manitowoc Rapids on January 1, 1894
and she with two children, Reuben H of this city and Mrs. Lyman Riley, Winneconne;
two brothers, John and Ernst, this city; five sisters, Mrs. Catherine Damez of Los
Angeles, California, Mrs. Henry Hess of Boone, Colorado, Miss Minnie Spoentgen and
Mrs. M.C. Hess, Manitowoc and Mr. A. G. Meyer, St. Paul, and three grandchildren
survive him.
Popular Citizen
During the years Mr. Spoentgen was in business he became one of the best known
residents of the community. Always interested in governmental affairs, he never
sought public office although his guidance and counsel was sought by many. He was
active in the affairs of the Reformed church at Ninth and Hancock streets and was
a trustee for many years.
Fraternally, Mr. Spoentgen was a member of the Masons, the Elks, the Modern Woodmen
and was a life-member of the Freier Saengerbund.
The body of Mr. Spoentgen was removed from the hospital to the Pfeffer funeral home
where it will remain until taken to the home at 917 Jay street on Monday morning.
Funeral services will be held from the First Reformed church at Ninth and Hancock
streets at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon with the Rev. O. A. Menke officiating. Burial
will take place at Evergreen cemetery under the rites of the Masonic order.
Manitowoc Herald News, December 11, 1931 P. 1
*******
[bur. 12-14-1931/cause: hypostatic pneumonia gangrenous appendix and
gangrenous gall bladder]
*******
A news article about his daughter:
CHILD FALLS 20 FEET
3 Year Old Daughter of Henry Spoentgen is Injured
Falling from the porch of the home which is the flat above the Spoentgen store
on Washington Street, the 3 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Spoentgen
had a miraculous escape from death and was seriously injured Monday. The child
fell a distance of 20 feet or more, alighting on the cement walk and that death
did not result is a marvel. The little one suffered a fracture of the arm, had
three teeth knocked out and was severely bruised. The accident happened when
the child wandered out on the porch to play and in the few seconds that the
little girl evaded the mother's notice, the fall resulted.
Manitowoc Daily Herald, Sat., June 15, 1908