SPROLE, Myrtle (1869-1956)

SPROLE, BROCKWAY, HOOVER, WARBURTON

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 1/28/2024 at 13:49:51

Services held Mrs. Sprole, 86

Funeral services for Mrs. J. N. (Myrtle Brockway) Sprole, age 86, were held Friday afternoon, Jan. 27, at two-thirty o'clock from the United Presbyterian church, Garner, with the Rev. D. Barry Lash officiating.

Mrs. Sprole died at the Care-Others Home in Garner last Wednesday morning, Jan. 25, about 8:40 o'clock, following a period of being bedfast for almost five years. At the time of her death, she had reached the attained age of 86 years, four months, and 15 days.

The Rev. Lash used as words of comfort, the text from I Peter 1;3,4. Comfort in music was supplied by a quartet composed of Mrs. Richard Farquhar, Mrs. Willard Romp, Clarke Pollock and Orville Johnston, who sang, "23rd Psalm". And, Clarke Pollock sang a solo, entitled, "The Lord's Prayer". The accompanist for the songs was Mrs. Vernon Moss, organist.

The ushers were; Roy Quintus and Halbert Pollock. Honorary pallbearers were; Warren Quintus, Gregg Arnold, Clark Clement, John Schroeder, Earnest Haes, Alvin Schroeder, and Paul G. Shurts. The pallbearers were; Roland Clement, L. R. Maley, Richard Farquhar, Edward Brozik, Vernon Moss, and N. E. Brear. Burial took place at Concord Cemetery.

Myrtle Brockway, daughter of Judge and Mrs. H. N. Brockway, was born in Hancock county. She came from one of Hancock county's pioneer families. Her father, Judge H. N. Brockway was elected the first circuit judge for this circuit and served from Jan. 1, 1869, to Jan 1, 1873. He was admitted to the practice of law by Judge John Porter of the 11th Judicial District at court held in Upper Grove in Hancock county on May 24th, 1860. Brockway was a captain in the Civil War, serving with Company B of the 32nd infantry.

She was married to John Nelson Sprole on September 10, 1892. They observed their golden wedding anniversary in 1942. She is survived by her husband; her daughter, Faith Miriam Hoover, Durham, N. C., and her son, Mitchell Wat Sprole, Mason City, and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Sprole was an active member of the United Presbyterian church and she and her family were identified with much of the early progress of Hancock county and the town of Garner.

Mrs. Sprole was born at Goodell, a daughter of a pioneer parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Nelson Brockway, and they lived at Concord until the family moved to Garner about 1890. Mrs. Brockway, her mother, was a charter member of the United Presbyterian church of Garner. Mrs. Sprole was educated in the Garner schools and attended Coe college for three years (1855-1858), and was graduated from the North Iowa Academy of Garner in 1890. About 1892, the Brockway family moved into the house now occupied by E. F. Wetterling family.

After her marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Sprole resided at Concord or Garner all the time, except for the first two years of married life they lived at Goldfield. Mrs. Sprole was active in the Missionary Society and the Junior Society of the church for many years. She was also active in the local chapter of the D.A.R., the Progressive club, and was a member of the Garner Woman's club.

She is also survived by one sister, Iris (Mrs. Stanton Warburton) of Tacoma, Wash., and preceding her in death was one daughter who died in infancy; and two brothers, Mitchell, who died in infancy, and Earl, who resided at Tacoma Wash., lost his life in an under ice rescue attempt at a winter Boy Scout camp.

Out-of-town relatives and friends attending the services were Mrs. Mary B. Sprole of Cedar Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Sprole of Dike, Mrs. Fred Meier and Mrs. Gus Meier of Swaledale; and Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Ditsworth of Clear Lake. (J. N. Sprole was unable to attend the services, because an illness had him confined to bed in a Mason City hospital.)

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 1 Feb 1956, page 1, column 3