Sporrer, Marie (Mrs. Joseph) 1854-1937

SPORRER, ANGLESBERG

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

Sporrer, Marie 1854-1937 Mrs. Joseph, buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA (WPA Index)

1885 census of Warren, Jackson Co. IA Joseph Sporrer 27 Mary 27, Joseph 6, Thersia 4, John 2, and Theodore 0. 1905 census Mary Sporer born abt 1855 Germany age 50 Widowed lived in Alton Sioux County. Mary, Joseph E., Tracy, John, Theodore, Frank, William, Anna.

Research note: Joseph Sporrer born about 1856 Guttenberg Clayton IA died abt 1889 Sioux Sounty IA Wife Mary Anglesberg 1856-1937, children – Joseph 1879, Tracy 1880, John 1882, Theodore 1884, Frank 1885, Anna 1888 and William 1890.

Hawarden Independent of Nov 11, 1937
Death Follows Long Illness
Mrs. Mary Sporrer died Monday at home of son here.
Was 81 years old and lived in this city over 20 years – survived by seven Children

Mrs. Mary Sporrer, a resident of this city for 23 years, passed away at the home of her son W. W. Sporrer, about 7 o’clock Monday morning. Mrs. Sporrer suffered a stroke last February and since then had failed steadily but she was bed fast but two weeks preceding her death during which time she grew weaker steadily until death claimed her.

Funeral services were held at St. Mary’s church at 9:30 Wednesday morning, solemn requiem high mass being read by Rev. Fr. J. M. Neppel assist by Rev. Fr. Roder of Remsen and Rev. Fr. Ernst of Akron. Buried was made in the Catholic cemetery in this city.

Mary Angelsberg was born at Luben, Luxemburg, Germany June 8, 1850 and passed away Nov 8, 1937, having attained the advanced age of 81 years and 5 months. She was the last member of her family. She came to America with her parents when five years of age locating neat Madison WI where she resided until a young woman when the family came west to Iowa, locating at Dubuque, Later the family moved to St. Charles, IA where in 1878 at the age of 22 years she was untied in marriage with Joseph Sporrer.

After her marriage she came to Sioux county, locating on a farm two miles from Granville. Here the family prospered and while she and her husband were looking forward to the completion of a new home on their farm a great tragedy befell her when her husband was accidentally killed on Oct 7, 1891 (it was 1888). While he was getting a load of sand the pit caved in, burying him and his life was snuffed out in a few moments. She was then left with the great responsibility of raising a family, which at the time of his death consisted of six small children, and a daughter was born shortly after her husband’s death. However, she possessed a real pioneer spirit and face her problems bravely.

She disposed of her farm and with her children went to Alton where for a time she operated a rooming house and later she operated the Maplewood and Floyd hotels at Alton. She came to Hawarden in 1911 and for a brief period operated a café in the building where the Handy café is now located. After giving up the café in the building where the Handy Café is now located.

After giving up the café business she again conducted a rooming house but 23 years ago when her son, William W. Sporrer, married, she retired and her son and his wife made their home with her.

She then moved to Sioux city with her son and his wife there she lived for a brief period and then for three years she lived at Huron SD. She returned to Hawarden 19 years ago and with the son and his family moved into the residence on 9th street which during the past intervening years las been her home. During these years she made frequent visits with her children but Hawarden was home to her.

She is survived by seven children:
Joe E. Sporrer and Mrs. John Reese of Huron, SD; Ted C. of Centrailia, WA; Frank E. of Houston, TX; John f. of Breckenridge MN; Mrs. Harley Gibson of WA, DC and William W. Sporrer of Hawarden. She leaves 11 Grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mrs. Sporrer was a woman of true Christian spirit and next to her family came her church where she was a faithful worker as long as her strength permitted. She took great pride in her grandchildren and the family of her son, with whom she made her home, seemed almost her own as she shared this responsibilities with the parents in rearing them.

In her declining years she was rewarded for her efforts as the entire family considered her comforts and welfare before their own. She traveled quite extensively in her later years and made sic trips to Washington DC, where she saw four president inaugurated and these were sone of the high spots during her visits to the nation’s capital. The presidents who she witnessed being sworn into office were William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. While in Washington she became a member of the Commissarist of the Holy Land, an organization connected with the Catholic church.

Out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were Ted Sporrer of Centralia WA; John Sporrer of Breckenridge MN; Joe Sporrer, Mr. and Mrs . T Reese and daughter Margaret and Mrs. George Royer and son of Huron SD; Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Gardner of Beresford, and Mr. and Mrs. Andy Noethe and son Louis and daughter, Mrs. Chas. Streusert of Sutherland.

(See the obit of her husband Joseph Sporrer died 1888 for more information regarding his life and death. )