Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 363
CHARLES C. SPRING, section 28, Fruitland Township, was born in 1861, in the city of Muscatine, Iowa, and is a son of William and Sarah ( Colney ) Spring, The former a native of Vermont and the latter of New Hampshire.

William Spring was a railroad contractor in the East, and had charge of the building of the railroad from Buffalo to Suspension Bridge, N. Y., known as the New York Central Railroad. In the construction of the work he had under him many convicts from the Sing Sing Penitentiary. In about 1854 he came West and settled in Muscatine, where he engaged in the grain business in company with a Mr. Blair, under the firm name of Spring & Blair. In connection with that business for some years he was engaged in steamboating, being instrumental in getting the " Wilson Ferry " from St. Louis to Muscatine. He had $1,000 invested in the enterprise, and was captain of the boat. He was also engaged in railroading for some years, and was well and favorably known in the community, being an active business man. In the latter years of his life he owned considerable land in Muscatine County. In 1876 he bought eighty acres in Muscatine and seventy-six acres in Louisa County, to which he added from time to time until he owned on the Island 480 acres, and 640 acres in Perkins County, Neb., besides two houses and lots on Sixth street in Muscatine. During the last eight or ten years of his life his time was divided between the city and the country. His death occurred in April, 1888, at the age of seventy-three years and six months. His excellent wife still survives him, and resides with a daughter in Fitchburg, Mass. In politics he was not very active, but served as Alderman in Muscatine one or two terms.

Charles C. Spring was reared in the city of Muscatine, and educated in the graded schools of that city. In March, 1882, in Louisa County, Iowa, he married Miss Jennie Connor, a native of Muscatine County, and daughter of R. B. Connor, a native of New York. Her father was a farmer, and still resides in Port Louisa Township. Her mother died when she was about thirteen years of age. After their marriage the young couple settled on the farm where they now reside, and where he is the owner of 320 acres of fine farming land. In addition to general farming Mr. Spring raises considerable stock, and in the fall of 1888 was feeding seventy-three head. In politics he is not very active, but votes with the Republican party. Mr. Spring has one sister living, Sadie, now Mrs. Fairbanks, who resides at Fitchburg, Mass., where her husband is engaged in the drug trade.

To Mr. and Mrs. Spring two children have been born--John and Sadie. The family residence is about five miles from Muscatine, and the farm on which they reside is one of the best in Fruitland Township.

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