The year 1927 would be a sad year for Amarilla because she lost several of her 1/2 siblings and a nephew. Daniel Goss Spracklin passed in August 1927 and Virda Huston Spracklin passed in November 1927.
On the 8th of August, 1927 Harry Spracklin, a nephew of Amarilla’s, died after being sick three weeks. He left a widow and seven children behind.
Spracklin
Harry LeRoy Spracklin, 51, passed away at his home, 731 1/2 West Second street, at 5:30 a.m. today following an illness of three weeks duration. The deceased was born January 4, 1876, at Sigourney, Iowa. He moved to Davenport with his parents when a small boy and has since resided here. Mr. Spracklin was a Spanish-American war veteran, and served in Cuba. He is survived by his wife, Frieda Spracklin; three sons, Le Roy, George and Harold, four daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Sievert, Bertha, Florence and Alice, all of Davenport; two sisters and five brothers. The body was taken to the Stapleton Funeral Parlors, from where services will be held Wednesday morning at 8:15 o’clock, with services at 3:30 at St. Anthony’s church. Interment will be made in Fairmont cemetery.
It is not clear if Amarilla kept track of her older full brother Henry’s family. Henry had died in 1893 from a tragic accident? I have featured Henry Spracklin’s story on this blog. You can find him at the top of this blog on the PAGE devoted to his father Daniel D. Spracklin’s life. There you will find a listing of the posts published about Henry and his life.
Harry Leroy Spracklin was Henry and Elizabeth’s oldest child. He was born 1 June, 1876 in Sigourney, Keokuk, Iowa. Harry is buried in the Fairmount Cemetery in Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa. The grave is unmarked just like his father’s.
Newspaper: The Davenport Democrat and Leader
Date: August 24, 1927
Page 17
Headline: The Spracklin Funeral
Article Excerpt:
The funeral of Harry LeRoy Spracklin was held this morning at 8:15 o’clock from the Stapleton funeral parlors with services at 8:30 at St. Anthony’s church. The Rev. J.J. Hopkins celebrated requiem high mass, pronounced the burial absolution, preached the sermon, and conducted the committal services at the grave in Fairmount cemetery.
The casket bearers were H. Sterling. W.A. Dohoney, H. Relider, Albert Steinecke, D. Pars, and D. Sievert.
We go back in time and take a look at the life of Harry L. Spracklin:
After the death of his father Henry in 1893, we find that Harry was living with his mother Elizabeth in Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa. He continued to reside in Davenport till about 1897 per city directories of the time.
Spracklin, Elisabeth, age 41, Widow, Born in Pennsylvania, Keep House, Catholic
— Harry, age 17, Single, born in Scott Co., Cigar Maker, Catholic
–Maggie, age 16, Single, born in Scott Co., Catholic
–Flora, age 12, Single, born in Scott Co., Catholic
–Bessie, age 8, Single, born in Scott Co., Catholic
–Elmer, age 6, Single, born in Scott Co., Catholic
–Raymond, age 4, born in Scott Co., Catholic
–Elroy, age 2, born in Scott Co., Catholic
Source: Elisabeth Spracklin Family, 1895 Iowa State Census, Davenport Twp., Scott Co., Iowa, Microfilm #99, 4th Ward in Davenport, Line 23, Dwelling 6, House 6, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, IA.
Taking a look at the above information. Several of the children are not listed: Edward Oliver Spracklin born 1877, John Daniel Spracklin born 1884, Wilbur Spracklin born 1885. Sophia died young. This makes eleven children for Henry and Elizabeth Spracklin.
In 1900 Harry appears in the U.S. Army Register of Enlistments 1798 to 1914. He was no. 171 and he enlisted in Cuba.
Harry L. Spracklin, Enlisted 28 Matanzas Cuba, Lt/Bt, period 8 years, born Sigourney, Iowa, 26, eyes brown, hair, a, color, complexion fair, height 5 ft. 6 inch. 2 Cavalry, [H] 2 G 8 Cav, Date of discharge, 10.9,99, Discharged Feb 13, 08 at Fort Myer, VA, End of Ser, Cook, Good, [Ret etc.] page 62.
The 1900 Military and Naval Population Census has Harry in Cuba at the Hamilton Barricks, Company F, Regiment [Sand], Cavalry, Sht #3, enumerated 6 June, 1900, [Ina S, Winna 18th & Sq. etc. Company F, Regiment [Sand], Cavalry, Sht #3.
Harry married Frieda H. Ackerman on 28 March, 1907 in Davenport.
Groom: Harry L. Spracklin
Residence: Davenport, IA
Occupation: Cigar marker
Age at next birthday: 30, Color: White, Race: Cauc
No. of Groom’s marriage: First
Place of birth: Sigourney, Iowa
Father’s Name: Henry Spracklin
Mother’s Maiden Name: Elisabeth [nee] Downey
Full name of the Bride: Frieda H. Ackermann
Place of Residence: Davenport, Iowa
Age at next Birthday: 20, Color: White, Race: Cauc.
No. of Bride’s first marriage: First
Place of Birth: Davenport, Iowa
Father’s name: Hercuam Jacob Ackermann
Mother’s Maiden Name: Anna [nee] Waller
Married at Davenport in the County of Scott, State of Iowa
March 28, 1907
Witnesses were [ ] Sophy Mec and Wm. Ackermann
Source: Spracklin & Ackermann Marriage, March 28, 1907 Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa, Iowa, Clerk of the District Court, Iowa State Board of Health, State Historical Society, Iowa City, IA.
We find Harry and Frieda living in Davenport, Iowa in the 1910 census:
Line 89, 607, 124, 188, Spracklin, Harry, Head, M, W, 33, M1, 3, born Iowa, father born England, Mother born PA, English, Cigar Maker, Shop, W, No, 0, yes, yes, R, H
Spracklin, Freda, wife, F, W, 22, M1, 3, 1 child alive, one living, born Iowa, father parents born Germany, English, none.
Spracklin, Dorothy, born Iowa, parents born Iowa.
Huppendorf, Fritz, Lodger, born Germany, parents born Germany, 1870, NA, English, Mason, House.
Rear March, Joe, Lodger, born Germany, parents born Germany, 1885, NA, English, Laborer, odd jobs.
Source: Harry Spracklin Family, Davenport, Iowa, SD#2, ED#134, Sht#7B, Ward part of 3, enumerated 19 April 1910, Henry Huss.
In the Iowa State Census for 1915 they are still in Davenport, Iowa
B866 – Harry Spracklin – Sex Male, Color White, Married, can read and write, age 38, P.O. 920 Vine, Ward 3 of Davenport, Cigar Maker, earnings $720, 8th grade, birth Iowa, Military Spanish, church Catholic, father born Iowa, mother Penn., 38 years in US, signed by Hy Huse
B868 Dorothy Spracklin age 6, Scott Co., 920 Vine – all the children at this address see below. Lutheran, parents born in Iowa, female, white, can’t read and write, years in US 6.
B867, Frieda Spracklin, age 27, 9th grade, born Iowa, church Lutheran, father and mother born in Germany, Female, White, can read and write, years in US 27.
B871, White, single, 5 years in US and Iowa, George Spracklin, age 5m, born Iowa, father and mother born Iowa, Male, White, Single, 5 mos in US.
B890 white, single, 2 years in US and Iowa, Herbert Spracklin, age 2, born in Iowa, Lutheran, father and mother born in Iowa, white, single, male, years in US 2.
B869 Leroy Spracklin, age 3, born in Iowa, Lutheran, father and mother born in Iowa, male, white, single, in us 2 years.
Source: Harry Spracklin, 1915 Iowa State Census, Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa, Cards #B866, B868, B867, B871, B890 and B869.
On August 21, 1919 Harry L. Spracklin was issued a land Patent #039057 in Miles City, Montana: North half of Section eleven in Township eighteen north of Range thirty-vie east of the Montana Meridian, Montana, containing three hundred twenty acres. In Testimony Woodrow Wilson, Authority May 20, 1862 Homestead Entry, in Garfield Co., MT. What happened to this land I do not know and would probably have to consult the courthouse in Miles City or the Scott County Registrar of Deeds to see what turns up.
Harry and Frieda Spracklin’s family is growing as shown in the 1920 census:
Line 36, 1509, Dwelling 33, House 36 – lines 30 to 43, Spracklin, Harry, Head 42 yrs. married, read and write, born in Iowa, parents born in Iowa. Occupation: cigarmaker.
Frieda, wife, 22 yrs., married, read and write. Born in Iowa, parents born in Germany.
Dorothy, daughter, 10 yrs. old, school, read and write, born in Iowa.
Leroy, son, 8 yrs., school, read and write, born in Iowa
Herbert, son 7 yrs, school, read and write, born in Iowa
George, son, 5 yrs. old, not in school, born in Iowa
Bertha, daughter 3 yrs. old, not in school, born in Iowa
Florence, daughter, 1 2/12, not in school, born in Montana?
Source: Harry Spracklin Family, 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa, SD#2, ED#150, Ward 2 (part of), Sht# 2A, enumerated 2 January, 1920 by James M. Cunningham.
Things started to get a little rough for Harry and Frieda in the 1920’s. There son Herbert was killed in a tragic accident.
Coroner’s Jury to Investigate Spracklin Case
A coroner’s jury will investigate the case of Herbert Spracklin, age 6, living at 1509 West Sixth street who was crushed to death under the wheels of a Vander Veer park car last Sunday at West Second street and Western avenue. The inquest will be held at 7 o’clock tonight.
Source: “Coroner’s Jury to Investigate Spracklin Case,” Davenport Democrat & Leader, Feb 12/13, 1920, State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Herbert’s death
Their daughters Bertha and Florence were involved in a rape case, where they were part of a group of kids attacked by a man. A series of articles appeared in the Davenport Democrat and Leader newspaper in 1923 about this case.
Think Many Children Fell into Snare of Man Held by Police, Date: October 21, 1923
Page 15
Attacker of Little Girls to be Tried, December 22, 1923.
Farrell Bound Over on $5,000 Bond By Wells, October 24, 1923 Man Charged with Alleged Assault on 7-Year-Old Girl Asks $2,500 Bond, Page 14.
Headline: Mother Threatens to Kill Witness if Jury Finds her Boy Guilty Date: December 16, 1923, Page 15.
Farnell Found Guilty, Faces Life Sentence Jury Convicts Man Accused of Attacking 7-Year-Old Girl. December 16, 1923.
While the little girls were struggling with the court case, their father got into trouble with drunken driving. Harry was part of: Five Drunk Drivers Arranged in Court; Three Held for Jury, July 2, 1923, page 14.
In 1925 Harry and Frieda’s family appears in the Iowa State Census which has a great deal of information contained on this census.
119-128, 324, Spracklin, Harry L., head, M, W, 48, M, R, 20, 1, 8, yes, yes, born Iowa, father Henry Spracklin, born Ohio, mother Downey, Elizabeth, born Penna, 75, Iowa, marriage Iowa, yes, Army, No, yes, yes, Catholic.
Spracklin, Frieda H., wife, F, W, 37, M, 2, 2, yes, yes, born Iowa, father Ackermann, Herman, Germany 77, Waller, Anna, Germany, 76, married Germany, Catholic.
Spracklin, Dorothy E., daughter, F, W, 16, S, grade 9, 9 mos, yes, yes, born Iowa, farther Harry L. Spracklin, born in Iowa, 48, mother Ackerman, Frieda H, born Iowa, 37, marriage Iowa, Lutheran all children.
Spracklin, LeRoy H., son, M, W, 13, S, grade 6, 9 mos, yes, yes, born Iowa, father Harry L. Spracklin, born Iowa, 48, mother Ackermann, Frieda H, born Iowa, 37, married Iowa.
Spracklin, Geo. W., son, M, W, 10, S, grade 3, 9 mos, yes, yes, born Iowa, father Harry L. Spracklin, born Iowa, 48, mother Ackermann, Frieda H, born Iowa, 37, married Iowa.
Spracklin, Bertha S., daughter, F, W, 8, S, grade 2, 9 mos, yes, yes, born Iowa, father Harry L. Spracklin, born Iowa, 48, mother Ackermann, Frieda H, born Iowa, 37, married Iowa.
Spracklin, Florence M., daughter, F, W, 6, S, infant, father Harry L. Spracklin, born Iowa, 48, mother Ackermann, Frieda H, born Iowa, 37, married Iowa.
Spracklin, Harold L., son, F, W, 2, S, infant, born Iowa, father Harry L. Spracklin, born Iowa, 48, mother Ackermann, Frieda H, born Iowa, 37, married Iowa.
Source: Harry L. Spracklin Family, 1925 Iowa State Census, Davenport Ward 3, Scott Co., Iowa, Roll IA1925_1934, Line 1.
We are missing Alice born in May of 1925. We have nine children for Harry and eleven for his parents Henry and Elizabeth.
In the next post, I will summarize Harry and Frieda’s family listing the children and what I know about them.
The Barclays of Pine River 