John Spoor

John A. Spoor, one of the earliest settlers on Indian Creek in Washington township, (if not the earliest) located where he now lives, in the year 1854. Mr. Spoor is a native of Massachusetts, and was born in 1835. He has a cottonwood tree growing near his new and commodious farm house, which he planted in 1858, and which now measures eight feet eight inches in circumference six feet from the ground, and six inches from the ground it measures nine feet in circumference.

From "History of Cass County, Iowa Together With Brief Mention of Old Settlers," by Lafe Young, Atlantic, Iowa, Telegraph Steam Printing House, 1877, pg. 12.