Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 614 - 615 

A. J. SPENGEL, the genial and enterprising partner of Mr. Arey, of the Arey Furniture Company, is a native of the Prairie State, having been born there in 1856. He is of German and Swiss ancestry. After their marriage his parents moved to Illinois, and settled in Madison County. Mr. Spengel received a good common-school education in his native State, which was further supplemented by a thorough course of study at the St. Louis High School. When starting in life for himself, our subject first obtained employment in a wholesale grocery house in St. Louis, and remained with the same firm ten years, gradually and steadily working his way up from the humble position of errand boy to that of buyer and responsible partner. 

            In 1880 Mr. Spengel, who was ambitious and quick to take advantage of a good opening for business, removed to Gunnison, Col., and engaged in the grocery business. He at once became prominently identified with the interests of the city, politically and socially, and during his residence there held many of the city and county offices, and was Secretary of the Democratic State and Central Committee. In 1883 he sold out his business and became engaged in mining in the western part of Colorado, remaining there two years, and went from there to Aspen, Col., where he mined for a year. He then decided to return east, and coming to Wichita bought an interest with Mr. Arey in his business, and has since been very successfully engaged in that line. 

            Mr. Spengel married Miss Nellie Newcomb, a most estimable young lady of Eastport, Me., and they occupy an important social position in this city. Politically, our subject is a Democrat, and socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, in which order he has held the office of M. E. H. P. Mr. Spengel is a representative business man, and an important factor of the industrial element of Wichita, the firm of Arey Spengel being composed of two wide-awake, energetic business men, who deal squarely and liberally with their patrons, and merit the confidence of the community.

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