George Sprecher
George Sprecher, a clerk in the freight department of the Chicago & Northwestern depot at Denison, is one of the well-to-do and enterprising young residents of the city.
His birth occurred in Denison, Iowa, on the 31st of August, 1877, his parents being Cyrus and Belle (Deffenbaugh) Sprecher, the former a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Strawsburg, that state. Cyrus Sprecher was a merchant in Chambersburg at the time the rebels burnt the town. He came to Denison, Iowa, in 1872 in order to settle the estate of his brother Samuel, who was killed in a railroad accident. In 1874 he took up his permanent abode here, erected a brick store and subsequently engaged in business as a commission merchant, dealing in live stock, coal, etc. He gave his political allegiance to the republican party, served as township trustee for eighteen or twenty years and was also a member of the city council. Both he and his wife were Lutherans in religious faith but attended the Presbyterian church here.
Mr. Sprecher was called to his final rest on the 27th of March, 1906, when seventy-four years of age. The period of his residence in Denison covered more than three decades and in his passing the community lost one of its most substantial and respected citizens. His widow, who still survives him, has a host of warm friends here.
George Sprecher, an only child, was reared in Denison and supplemented his preliminary education, obtained in the public schools, by a course of study in the University of Iowa. After putting aside his text-books he was employed by the telephone company for a year and then acted as assistant postmaster for a period of eleven years. Since January, 1910, he has acted as a freight clerk for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company at Denison, being a most valuable and trusted employe.
On the 15th of June, 1902, Mr. Sprecher was united in marriage to Miss Grace Baer, who was born at Point of Rocks, Maryland, her parents being Lewis M. and Laura (Fulton) Baer, likewise natives of that state. They took up their abode among the early settlers of Denison, Iowa, and Lewis M. Baer served as night watchman of the town for more than twenty years. He passed away here in the spring of 1910 but is still survived by his widow. Their children were two in number: William and Grace Mary.
In politics Mr. Sprecher is a republican, while in religious faith he is a Presbyterian. His wife is a member of the Methodist church. In Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, belonging to Sylvan Lodge, No. 507, A. F. & A. M.; Ark Chapter, No. 89, R. A. M., of Dunlap; Harlan Commandery, No. 90, K. T.; Za-ga-zig Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Des Moines Consistory, NO. 3, S. P. R. S. He is also identified with the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Denison Lodge, No. 626, of the latter fraternity. In the town of Denison, where his entire life has been spent, he is widely and favorably known.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.