Henry T. Spier was born in Germany, August 2, 1857, the son of William and Caroline (Dehne) Spier. William Spier was born in Germany, January 6, 1821, and died there in 1890. He was a farmer by occupation and saw military service. His wife, Caroline, was born on March 26, 1832, and died on March 26, 1912, at just eighty years of age. They were the parents of the following children: Caroline, who was the wife of William Wopking; Henry, who is the subject of this sketch; Minnie, who was the wife of Carl Engerking; Christina, wife of William Clapper, and William, all of whom still live in Germany, with the exception of the subject of this sketch.

Henry T. Spier spent his childhood and youth on the old home place of his father and there he received his early education. After finishing school he learned the trade of carpenter. When he was twenty-five years of age he came to America and landed in New York on October 11, 1882. He went immediately to Indianapolis, where for two years he followed the carpenter's trade. It was during his second year here, on April 20, 1884, that he was married to Mary Ann Waltke, who was born in Sugar Creek township on the old Waltke homestead on July 13, 1858. She was the daughter of William and Rickie (Kruse) Waltke, both early pioneers and both natives of Germany. They were the parents of the following children: Caroline, Sophia and Christina, who were twins, and Mary Ann, who was the wife of the subject of this sketch. After his marriage, Henry T. Spier came to the old Waltke homestead and the same year his wife's father died and a part of the old home place was given to his wife and the remainder of the place was bought by Henry T. Spier from the other heirs. In addition to the forty acres of the old home place be bought thirty acres of Benjamin McNamee and this gave him seventy acres in all. Since taking possession of this place Mr. Spier has remodeled his house, which has given him a very comfortable seven-room residence.

He has likewise enlarged, completed and improved his barn and has built a splendid corn-crib and granary and a modern shed and tool-house combined. He has, also, made other improvements in keeping with the surroundings. His wife died on January 2, 1912. She was a member of the German Lutheran church. They were the parents of the following children: Carrie, the wife of Charlie Kottlowski and the mother of two children, Gertrude and Walter; Emma, William, Elizabeth, Louis and Charles, the latter five are all at home.

Henry T. Spier is a member and trustee of the German Lutheran church, is a Democrat in politics and one of the substantial citizens of Hancock county.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 1015-1016.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 25, 2001.

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