Spire, William E. 1872-1959

SPIRE, HOLMES, RICE, PARRY, ALLEY, GROTH GROTE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/16/2011 at 18:07:22

The Grinnell Herald-Register; Oct. 29, 1959

WILLIAM SPIRE, 87, RETIRED FARMER DIES THURSDAY

Wlliam E. Spire, 87, Grinnell, died early Thursday morning at a local hospital after an illness of the past 10 days.

Services for Mr. Spire will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, with Dr. G.S. Bruland of the Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in Sheridan township cemetery.

Mr. Spire was the son of James and Elizabeth Holmes Spire and was born in Worcestershire, England, Oct. 23, 1872. In 1875, he came with his family to Tama county, where they lived on a farm until 1887. At that time they moved to Sheridan township in Poweshiek county.

On April 25, 1915, he was united in marriage with Clara Victoria Rice at the Methodist parsonage in Tama by Rev. Clayworth. They continued to live on the Sheridan township farm until 1956, when they sold the farm and moved to Grinnell.

Mr. Spire was the youngest of a family of five children, and was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, and one brother: Mrs. Ed (Ruth) Parry, Mrs. John (Lizzie) Alley, Mrs. John (Kate) *Groth, and Benjamin Spire.

Survivors include his widow and one adopted son, Charles, both of Grinnell.

Transcriber Note: Spelled *Grote in other family obituaries.