IAPALOAL-L Archives

From: Kathleen Frailey Puls <>
Subject: [IAPALOAL] Obit of Jacob A. Spies - 1938
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 00:41:04 -0800

Posted on: PaloAlto County Obituaries
Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/PaloAltoObits/653

Surname: Spies, Jackman, Hossack, Reeves, Boles, Sherman
-------------------------

Emmetsburg Democrat, Friday, November 25, 1938

Jake A. Spies of Graettinger Died Suddenly

Widely Known Northwest Iowa Banker and Land Owner. Was 79 Years of Age.
Buried In Illinois.

J. A. Spies, 79, a resident of Graettinger since 1884 and prominent northwest
Iowa banker and land owner, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home
at Graettinger, shortly after the supper hour Saturday. Mr. Spies had just
completed his usual light evening meal and had seated himself in a rocking
chair in the room. He was enjoying a short visit with his son-in-law and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Hossack, and was also petting his favorite dog.
Within a minute or two it was noticed that Mr. Spies had thrown his head
back and appeared to be enjoying a joke. His daughter detected a strange
look on his countenance. Becoming alarmed she came close to him and discovered
that he appeared to be lifeless. Summoning a local physician immediately
it was found that Mr. Spies was dead. His sons Adloph of Graettinger and
Charles of Emmetsburg were also immediately summoned to the home but they
arrived after his death.

Mr. Spies became ill while on a vacation trip to Florida during April of
last year. He returned to his home in Graettinger in a serious condition.
He later visited Rochester, Minn., St. Louis, Mo. and Excelsior Springs,
Mo., for the benefit of his health and had been greatly benefited. During
the past several weeks he had been feeling as robust as usual. He was making
it a practice of taking sufficient exercise daily. He and Mrs. Spies had
planned to send the present winter months in California.

At ten o'clock Monday morning short funeral services were held at the Spies
home in Graettinger. Rev. J. J. Kelly, pastor of the Catholic church in
Graettinger, following the Rosary, talked briefly about its origin. He
also paid a high tribute to the Spies family record for Christian living
and American citizenship. Following Father Kelly's remarks, Rev. Wm. G.
Bohi, Methodist pastor, conducted the funeral service. The remains were
then brought by car to Mr. Spies' old home at Marine, Ill., where at 3:00
o'clock Tuesday afternoon they were interred in the Spies family lot in
the Marine cemetery. Local pall bearers were Carl Spies, Jr., Fred Spies,
Att'y Carl Spies Jr., Otto Spies, Kurt Spies, Richard Spies, Kenneth Reeves
and Sam Boles. There were large numbers of old friends and neighbors who
called at the home Sunday and Monday before the remains of Mr. Spies were
taken to Illinois.

Jacob A. Spies, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Spies, was born at Marine,
Illinois, on March 14, 1859. He spent his youth in that locality and graduated
from the Marine public schools. He later attended McKendree College at
Lebanon, Ill., from which institution he graduated. Mr. Spies enrolled
in the College of Law and was finally admitted to the state bar. His roomate
through law school was the late Senator L. V. Sherman who later became
such a brilliant figure in Illinois political circles. Messrs. Spies and
Sherman had intended to engage as partners in the practice of law in Kansas,
but Mr. Spies later contracted a severe case of malaria. He decided to
visit Germany where he took mud bath treatments for the benefit of his
health. It was during his stay in Germany that he met Miss Anna Spies,
who was later to become his wife.

Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Spies spent a short time in his
home town of Marine. About that time his father purchased a number of quarter-sections
upon which the towns of Mallard and Graettinger now stand. Mr. Spies, Jr.
came out to Palo Alto county from Illinois in 1884 to look after his father's
land interests. He remained here for two years. He returned to Marine in
1886 where in June 17 of that year he was united in marriage to Miss Anna
Spies of Germany who had come over from her native land for a visit with
her American relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Spies, immediately following their
marriage, came to Graettinger where they have since made their home.

Four sons and daughters were born to Mr.and Mrs. Spies. A daughter Agnes
(Mrs. John Jackman) died in 1925. One daughter, Mrs. Wm. Hossack of Graettinger,
survives, as do two sons - Adolph Spies of Graettinger, and Carl Spies
of Emmetsburg. Mrs. Spies is also left to mourn the death of her husband.
One sister, Mrs.Bertha Kolb, of Marine, Ill., remains of a large famiy
of brothers and sisters.

Mr. Spies built the first home in Graettinger. He and his family lived
in it for five years. They later built a splendid home on the section of
land adjoining Graettinger. This has been the homestead for many years.
Mr. Spies organized the first grain elevators and lumber yards in Graettinger,
Wallingford and Osgood. He later disposed of these interests. In 1904 Mr.
Spies established the German-American Bank in Graettinger. He conducted
this institution for twelve years, selling it to the First National Bank
in 1916. In 1918, Mr. Spies and his family moved to St. Louis, Mo., where
for a year Mr. Spies handled the affairs of a large dairy company. They
returned to Palo Alto county shortly after the death of Mr. Spies' brother
Louis Spies, in St. Louis. In June 1929, Mr. Spies organized the Iowa Trust
& Savings Bank in Emmetsburg. He was president of the institution until
his death.

At one time Mr. Spies was director of the Globe National Fire Insurance
Company. Mr. Spies was an extensive Iowa land owner. It is reported that
he owned over forty choice Iowa quarter-sections of land. He also had lumber
interests in the south and in the west.

In addition to Mr. Spies' reputation as one of the most careful, shrewd
and successful business men in Iowa, the Spies home at Graettinger was
widely known for its genuine spirit of good fellowship and hospitality.
Friends were always welcome in the Spies home. Mr. Spies was a gentleman
of excellent character. He loved his home and he took a sincere, fatherly
interest in his sons and daughters. He provided every opportunity for them
to secure for themselves the best of educational preparation and following
their entry into the serious business of life, he afforded each of them
splendid business opportunities. Mr. Spies was a man who also respected
his fellows for their true worth. Privately he often performed charitable
acts about which the general public knew little. While Mr. Spies was not
affiliated with any particular religious denomination he proved himself
generous and substantial in his support of them. Mr. Spies' moral character
was of the highest calibre. His influence for good was wide.

Palo Alto county will long remember J. A. Spies as one of its leading citizens
and as one who contributed much to the early and later development of this
section of Iowa. His family will always remember him as a provident and
kind father whose every interest centered in them. They have the sincere
sympathy of a large circle of friends in his death.

This thread:

• [IAPALOAL] Obit of Jacob A. Spies - 1938 by Kathleen Frailey Puls <>