George H. Spangle

GEORGE H. SPANGLE, a prosperous and progressive business man of Chetopa, Labette county, Kansas, is a member of the jewelry firm of J. B. & G. H. Spangle, which was established in 1882. He is also part owner and manager of the Chetopa Telephone Company, and electrician of the Chetopa electric light plant. He is a man of recognized ability, and has many stanch friends throughout the county. He was born in Jasper county, Indiana, in 1859, and is a son of J. B. and Emily A. (Packer) Spangle.

J. B. Spangle and his wife are natives of Ohio where they were married. When George H. was a small boy, they moved to Missouri, and in 1879 came to Parsons, Labette county, Kansas. They had one daughter, who died in 1892. The father is a member of the firm of J. B. & G. H. Spangle.

George H. Spangle, after coming to Parsons, engaged in the jewelry business for himself, and upon removing to Chetopa he and his father established their present business in 1882, buying out the interests of R. G. Bishop. In 1883, they built a building 24 by 50 feet, in dimensions, and have since put in a fire-proof vault; they have also a burglar-proof safe, George H. Spangle and R. B. White are partners constituting the Chetopa Telephone Company, the former being manager. They put in an exchange in 1896, the first switch-board having 25 numbers; at the present time there are 103 numbers. Mr. Spangle puts up the instruments, rewinds the drop, superintends the working of the line, and does general repair work. The central office is in block 34, Chetopa, and they give night and day service. There are toll lines connecting Oswego, Labette, Parsons, Montana, Altamont, Mound Valley, Independence, Cherry-vale, Coffeyville, Erie, Caney, Tyro, Chanute, and Galesburg. They own the toll line from Chetopa to Coffeyville, connecting Bartlett, Edna and Valeda. They also own a half interest in the line from Chetopa to Columbus. Mr. Spangle is also electrician for the electric light plant put in at Chetopa in 1887, and now owned by R. B. White, and has shown unusual, ability in that capacity. In his store, he carries a most complete line of jewelry of all kinds, and diamonds and watches, and makes a specialty of high class repair work. At the rear of the store he has a shop for his electrical work, and has arranged many conveniences, such as burglar and fire alarm connecting the store with his home, and a device for demagnetizing watches. He is a practical optician, having graduated from the Detroit Optical Institute, in the department of ophthalmic refraction, in 1895. He purchased a Geneva retinoscope at a cost of $85, by the means of which instrument a perfect test can be had for fitting glasses to the eyes.

Mr. Spangle was united in marriage with Clara Evans, a native of Ohio, who owns some real estate in Chetopa. In politics, he is a strong supporter of the Democratic party. He is liberal in religious views.