Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 532] BLASIUS SPINHARNEY, one of the enterprising farmers of Rock Township, is an early pioneer settler of Cherokee County. He was born in Ger- many, near the River Rhine, February 3, 1821, and is the son of PETER and MONICA (CLARR) SPINHARNEY. When he was eight years of age his parents emigrated to America, and located in Columbiana County, Ohio. There he passed his youth, and at the age of eighteen years he left his father's farm and started out in life, seeking the fortune in store for him. He worked on the canal one year, and then went to Steubenville, Ohio, and entered the employ of EDWIN M. STANTON, Esq., with whom he remained six years. He fought in the Mexican war, enlisting in the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company I, Captain JOHN KELLS. He went to New Orleans, thence to Pracius Island, Texas, and thence to Mata- moras, remaining there until after January, 1847. He then went down into Mexico, was at Monterey and Buena Vista, and then returned to New Orleans. After receiving his discharge he returned to Ohio, and again entered the employ of Mr. STANTON, remaining with him one year. In 1848 he removed to Washington County, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming. He resided there until 1869, when he determined to go farther west, and so removed to Cherokee County, Iowa. He purchased 320 acres of land in Rock Township, and later added forty acres more to his possessions. Mr. SPINHARNEY was united in marriage, August 2, 1848, to Miss BERTHA A. DENC, daughter of TRUPERT and MARY A. (SCHWUNDER) DENC. She was born in Germany, May 23, 1831, and when fourteen years old her parents emigrated to the United States, and settled in Ohio. Thirteen children have been born of this union: MARY M., SOPHIA L., Alex. G., CAROLINE G., AMELIA T., EDWIN F., JAMES H., STEPHEN A., ALVINA M., CHARLES P., LAURA A., ALBERT R. and MARTHA H. Politically Mr. SPINHARNEY affiliates with the Democratic party. He served as sheriff of Washington County, Wisconsin, and has represented the people of Rock Township as trustee and as president of the School Board. He is a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A.F. & A.M. Both he and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. SPINHARNEY has witnessed the wonderful growth of Cherokee County from her infancy, and has done his part in assisting that development. He is one of the men who organized Rock Township. A man of high principles, frank and cordial in manner, he has won an enviable position in the county. ===========================================================================