Spring, Charles A. 1800-1892

SPRING, NEWTON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/13/2007 at 21:09:21

LeMars Globe-Post
January 19, 1892

DIED.

SPRING:---On Sunday morning, Jan. 17, 1892, Charles A. Spring.

The following sketch of Father Spring's life we take from a funeral sermon
delivered at the Presbyterian church Monday afternoon by Rev. D. W. Fahs
from the following text: "I would not live always." Job 5:16

Charles A. Spring was born in Newburyport, Mass., July 25, 1800, and was
therefore at the time of his death 91 years, 5 months and 22 days old. He
entered mercantile life in Boston and later engaged successfully in business
in New York City. In 1823 he was married to Miss Doratha B. Newton of South
Boswick, Me.

In 1837 he removed to Rock Island, Ill., and in 1851 to Chicago, lying to
rest there his beloved wife in November of the same year. Their union was
blessed with three sons and three daughters. The oldest and youngest have
been called home-the rest are all here today to lay away the mortal remains
of him who was spared to them for so many years.

While in Chicago he engaged in the boot and shoe business for six years
under the firm name of C.A. Spring & Sons. Later he removed to Hyde Park
and from thence in 1858 to Manteno, Ill. He came to LeMars in 1877 where he
has resided ever since.

He descended directly from the Puritan stock of New England, the people who
have done so much intellectually, religiously and politically for America.
He was the son of the distinguished Rev. Dr. Samuel Spring of Newburyport,
Mass., who eminent services both in church and state are well known, and a
brother of the no less distinguished Dr. Gardner Spring of New York. But
what is better, he was the son of devoted Christian parents who most
carefully and lovingly taught their children to honor God and walk in his
testimony, and though for forty years of his life their progress and
instructions seemed unavailing, at last through God's grace and faithfulness
they availed for him. He sought Christ and found Him and united with the
Presbyterian church of Rock Island. From that time on he seemed impelled by
love to "redeem the time" devoting all his energies of body and mind to
Christian work. He labored for years most efficiently in the employ of the
American Sunday School Union, also in the employ of the American Tract
Society, building school houses as places of worship in different needy
localities.

In successive changes he was instrumental in the building of six different
churches, this one being the last. I need not tell any of you how much we
owe to him for the erection of this comfortable house of worship, of which
he has been senior elder since its organization, and how his heart was
wrapped up in the accomplishment of this his last service for the people and
church of his choice. His name will be held in grateful memory here as long
as these walls shall stand. Perhaps the most far reaching and greatest work
of his life was in connection with the founding and initial endowment of
what is now known as the McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago, of which
he was for many years a director and its early and very successful financial
agent. He secured from Mr. McCormick, a life long friend, an endowment of
$100,000, without which it never could have commenced its career in that
great city. With the colleague, Rev. Mr. Ferris, other large contributions
were received and the extensive and very valuable real estate property,
which independent of buildings upon it, now constitutes the main portion of
the princely endowment of that prosperous seminary. In the part that he
bore in establishing this school of the Prophets, he being dead, shall yet
keep on speaking through the lips of the scores and hundreds of young men
who shall go out over this country and in foreign lands to preach Jesus.

As a man, he was endowed with rare natural ability. In his prime he was an
easy, persuasive and fluent speaker. On more than one occasion his voice
was heard on the floor of the general assembly of our church, in one
instance successfully launching one of the greatest missionary movements in
our denomination. He believed from his heart that men ought to give for the
extension of Christ's kingdom as they were prospered, and he was eminently
successful in persuading many to think as himself. He believed money was
made to give to do good and he practiced what he preached. He never did
things by halves. What he undertook he undertook with all his might,
throwing his whole ardent nature into it, and thus succeeding.

As a friend and neighbor, I need hardly speak, you all know him so well.
One of the most winning ways about him was his love for little children and
naturally they loved him. The children's society of this church in grateful
remembrance brought these flowers and placed them in loving remembrance upon
his casket. His last one, like his life, was full of peace. Almost his last
intelligent words to his daughter, Mrs. Mudge, were: "Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art
with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

The funeral took place from the Presbyterian church yesterday and a large
number followed the remains to their last resting place in the city
cemetery.
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Alton Democrat
January 23, 1892

LE MARS NEWS.
Died: at the residence of B. Mudge Sunday, at 12:15 a.m. C. A. Spring, aged
92 years. The funeral took place from the Presbyterian church Monday
afternoon, Rev. D. W. Fahs officiating.
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Death Record Plymouth County, Iowa, Courthouse
Book #1
Name: Spring, Chas. A.
Male
White
Widower
Date of birth: Born Massachusetts
Nativity: American
Res IA 16 years
Date of death: 17 Jan 1892 LeMars, IA
Age at death: 91 yrs, 6 mos
Buried: 18 Jan 1892 LeMars, IA
Courthouse Record: Page 82
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NOTES added August 2014:
Charles Spring farmed in Manteno, IL after leaving Chicago. He was a leader in our Presbyterian Church, convincing Cyrus McCormick to fund $800 of the $1800 expenses to build a new church in Manteno in 1859-60. ~David Conrad, Choir Director