The Magoons - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

JACOB SMITH > WILLIAM CUSTER SMITH > HARLAND SMITH m Fannie Magoon (a brief
tale of some of her family)

Harland Smith and Fannie Stout Magoon married on the same day as Harland's sister Eva and her new husband, Arthur Bryce, on 21 Aug 1881 in Plainfield, Bremer County, Iowa.

Fannie came from a very large family headed by Lowell Josephus Magoon and his wife, Rebecca Davis Magoon. The Magoons both hailed from New York and married in Michigan, where they started their family of what would eventually be 13 children, according to Fred Magoon's obituary. The Magoons moved frequently. Leaving Michigan, they headed to Wisconsin, where they stopped for a short time and then moved on to Chickasaw County, Iowa in about 1856, making them early pioneers

Fannie Magoon Smith

to the area. They stayed long enough for at least two of them to grow roots - Fannie and Fred. They stayed in Iowa while it appears the rest of the family headed for the West Coast, landing in northern California and Oregon. Lowell died in Aug 1898 in Columbia County, Oregon and his wife, Rebecca, died in 1906, reportedly in Gaston, Oregon. In 1900, she was living with her son, Lowell, in Washington County, Oregon.

Daughter Azilda married well to Thomas Benton Lott. Below find a brief article about their life on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. The couple died in Columbia County, Oregon.

Son Fred, who remained in the Plainfield/Nashua area, seemed to have a little problem with his temper. He was a painter while living in Iowa and his obituary glowed with his various positive attributes, but the news archives said something more - one of the issues involved one of our Plainfield Smull's! Fred died in 1931 in Waverly, Iowa.

A man named Fred Magoon was arrested by Constable Brown of Plainfield on Saturday, charged with using threatening language and, on change of venue, brought before Squire Hanchett for trial on Tuesday, when, owing to lack of evidence ont he part of the prosecution, the Justice discharged the prisoner.
Waverly Republican, Waverly Iowa
Thursday, January 20,1887
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The early part of last week Magoon of Plainfield assaulted Mr Smull (ed note: Franklin Sylvester Smull, son of Johnathon Smull and Mary Jane Cooper) of the same place and it is claimed that in order to avoid arrest, after hiding for some days, went before a justice of his own volition and on pleading guilty of the offense and paying a fine of one dollar, was discharged. On hearing which Smull consulted the County Attorney who advised him that the course pursued by the defendant and justice was irregular and not conclusive and that he could have Magoon rearrested and properly tried, which was immediately done, and the prisoner taking a change of venue to Squire Watkins was tried before a jury who found him guilty. Messrs Kingsley and Billings appeared for the state and Jos. Empson for the defendant, who gave bail and appealed.
Waverly Republican, Waverly Iowa
Thursday, January 27, 1887
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In the case of Fred Magoon on appeal by defendant from justice court, the jury brought in a verdict for the state.
Waverly Republican, Waverly Iowa
Thursday, March 3, 1887
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Fred Magoon is boarding at the jail at present for disturbing the peace.
Waverly Republican, Waverly Iowa
Thursday, February 28, 1895
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Willis E Miller, proprietor of the Plainfield tannery, filed a complaint in Justice Fortner's court against Fred Magoon, charging the latter with assault and battery. His fine and costs amounted to about $12 which he paid.
Waverly Republican Waverly Iowa
Thursday, August 10, 1905
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Son Edwin Franklin Magoon died in 1922 in Yamhill County, Oregon.

Son Lowell John Magoon ended up in Paradise, Butte County, California, where he died at age 73, in
1944.

Daughter Ellen married Thomas E Mills while in Iowa, but moved to Oregon. They did not live together after 1900, perhaps even earlier. Thomas died in Portland in 1915 and Ellen died in 1929 in Vernonia, where her son Guy cared for her. He was also mayor of Vernonia.

Son Jerome Irving Magoon served in Company K, Iowa 13th Infantry Regiment and died of the measles on 01 Jan 1865 while in Alabama.

Son Byron George Magoon was a bit of trouble. He spent most of the early 20th century in trouble with the law, being sought by the Banker's Association, not supporting his wife who was able to secure a divorce from her nefarious husband, spent time in Oregon penitentiary, and died alone in 1923 at age 70.

BYRON G MAGOON, mentioned on page 188 of the September 1912, and on page 388 of the December 1912, Journal-Bulletin, on Oct 27, 1913 was convicted on a charge of forgery perpetrated against a bank member at St Helen's Oregon and sentenced to serve from two to twenty years in the Oregon State Penitentiary.
Banking: Journal of the American Banker's Association, Vol 6, 1913
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FOUR WOMEN UNHAPPY
Judge Hears Divorce Pleas But Delays Action
Laura L Magoon, Wife of Pendleton Piano Dealer, Say Relatives Support Her
Circuit Judge Morrow tried four divorce cases yesterday morning, taken them all under advisement, although he intimated that in two cases at least the decrees would be granted.
Laura L Magoon told the judge she was tired of depending upon her relatives for financial assistance. Her husband, Byron G Magoon, conducts a piano house in Pendleton, but Mrs Magoon said he has not properly provided for her. They were married June 23, 1901, but although she had lived with her husband for nine years, Mrs Magoon did not think she could be happy with him longer. She said he was very jealous, that he falseley accused her of infidelity, and abused her. She asked to resume her former name, Weigle. Judge Morrow as not wholly satisfied with the testimony.
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BAD CHECK ARTIST CAUGHT
BG Magoon, of Portland, Wanted byBanks, Arrested at Woodburn
Woodburn, OR, Aug 17 (Special) - BG Magoon of Portland, representing himself to be in the employ of the Norris Safe and Lock Co of Portland, was arrested here today by Constable Amos Beach, on information sent out by the State Bankers' Association, charged with having uttered worthless drafts.
Magoon came here today and after...missing rest of article
Oregonian, Portland Oregon
Sunday, August 18, 1912
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Magoon Cited for Contempt
BG Magoon, a traveling salesman, was hauled before Presiding Circuit Judge Bronaugh yesterday afternoon to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt of court. JL brought suit against him in the....rest of article missing
Oregonian, Portland Oregon
Friday August 27 1909
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Portland Salesman Charged
VANCOUVER WASH - BG Magoon, a salesman in Portland, was bound over to the Superior Court today, charged with larceny. Alton & Gail, oyster merchants, complainants. They charged Magoon would send in orders to the main house and collect his commission...rest of article missing
Oregonian, Portland Oregon
Thursday, November 23, 1911
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Alleged Forger Arraigned
B G Magoon, charged with grand larceny, was arraigned in the Superior Court today and pleaded not guilty. He was released on $1500 bonds. It is alleged that Magoon, and agent for Alton & Gall, of Portland, made a check payable to the company, endorsed and cashed it for $33.
Oregonian, Portland, Oregon
Tuesday, May 14, 1912

Clan William: Smith/Munson Family: Minor Discoveries

I've spent the last bit pouring over the newspapers now available through various small libraries here in Iowa. It's been exciting and illuminating. Solved mysteries. Added to the knowledge base I've accumulated in my new genealogy brain, and basically, allowed me to continue working without leaving my house!

So little is known about my 2nd great grandmother, Mary Ann Munson. She died quite young, at 51, but nowhere had I found any information about what happened. I had suspected cancer, but it could have been anything. I finally found this short item about her death in the Waverly newspaper:

One of the biggest mysteries thus far was the identity and relationship of William Custer Smith's second wife. After a fruitless search at courthouses in several counties, I discovered a small news item that said they had taken the train to yet another county to marry.Subsequent news items confirmed that she was the Alice Simmons I had suspected and is Mary Ann Munson's cousin through aunt Henrietta Munson Vaughn's side of the family.

W. C. seemed to be a popular guy, based on my notes from various items placed in the paper. In 1890, he had quite the birthday party.

The people of Plainfield and vicinity gathered at the home of Wm Smith last week Wednesday evening and gave him a surprise, it being his birthday. A fine hanging lamp and center table was presented to him, besides other presents.
Waverly Democrat, Waverly Iowa
Thursday, October 23, 1890

I had no idea that two of the Smith children had a double wedding! Eva and Harland married their respective spouses, Arthur Bryce and Fannie Magoon on August 21, 1881. The information was available, I just hadn't noticed until I saw the article! Eva only had Arthur five years before he died, but Harland and Fannie had 52 years together.

I watch "Who Do You Think You Are" pretty religiously and I think the celebrities that discover their family are always so stunned by how attached they become to these people they never met. I have the same feeling every day that I do this. Maybe that's why it's important.

The Smiths: The Very Best Kind of Day

Yesterday, I drove up to Nashua to meet a cousin on the Smith side, Betty Jane Smith. There with her for the meeting were two of her kids and their spouses. I felt like I had been dropped into my own family, without all the expectations! Very nice, wonderful people. We told stories and shared photos. Betty is 94 years old and I spent time giggling with her - giggling - and laughing and smiling. She shared the most awesome family photos and filled in blanks in my knowledge about her father and mother, Walter Smith & Isabelle Monteith. At the end of the day, we had a piece of homemade pie, made by Betty, who had skipped church in order to provide the delicious treat for me - a virtual stranger. Did I mention how much I love Iowa?

Here is a beautiful photo of Isabelle, from her youth. As you might recall, Isabelle was one of three Monteith sisters who married Smith men. Jessie and Elizabeth married Walter's cousins, Alexander and Jacob.

Betty was adopted by Walter and Isabelle Smith after her birth. They were her biological great grandparents. She lived in the same house since she was born - the house Walter & Isabelle had lived in since they had "moved to town" sometimes around the turn of the 20th century.

The lovely Betty Jane Smith

Betty continued to live there after Walter and Isabelle died. Her adopted sister Maude moved in with her and finished raising her after Isabelle's death. When Betty married widower Leland Hahn, the family of Lee's two kids and their own two kids made the house their home. After Leland died, her second husband also lived in the home. Ninety-four years in the same house!

This is a particularly great photo of the Smith boys Mirt,  Rev Parker, Harland, Edwin, & Walter and sister Dora (Eva and Ella both died in 1924, so I'd put this photo at between 1924-1933):

They were at some kind of picnic - looks like some kind of pavilion behind them - perhaps the Nashua fairgrounds?

This is the boys and their spouses, except Edwin's wife, Kate Smull, This also includes sister Mary Madora "Dora" Smith and her husband BF Lichty, who lived in Waterloo.

William Custer Smith: Harland Smith

JACOB SMITH > WILLIAM CUSTER SMITH m Mary Ann Munson > HARLAND SMITH

Click chart to increase size

Harland Smith was the third child born to William Custer Smith and Mary Ann Munson. He was born
02 Nov 1861 in Grant County, Wisconsin and came with his parents to a farm two miles west of Plainfield, in neighboring Butler County, Iowa in the fall of 1865.

Harland and Fannie
Photos from Tom Rasmussen

On 12 Aug 1881, he married Miss Fannie Stout Magoon, daughter of Lowell Magoon and Rebecca Davis in Plainfield. She was born on 14 Jan 1863 in Fayette County, Iowa.

Information I recently found about Harland comes from the reminisces of Alyce Smith, Tom Rasmussen's mother and granddaughter of Harland.  Tom has posted much of this information. I'll transcribe portions below and you can see the original page 1 document here.

Page 1 of Alyce Smith Rasmussen Memories
Courtesy Tom Rasmussen

"My grandfather, Harland Smith, and his father, William Custer Smith, raced horses. Wm. Smith owned a farm 2 miles west of Plainfield, Ia. There was a race track on this farm. They went all around the mid-west to harness races - fairs as well as regular racing events.

By, the way, Wm C got his middle name, Custer, because George Custer's family (ed note: Emanuel Custer was George's father and Jacob Smith's neighbor) of the Smith's when they lived in Belmont County, Ohio.

After Mary Munson Smith died, Wm C. married again and shortly thereafter, died. His widow and her children got that farm and Harland and Fannie Magoon Smith, his wife, were left without anything but a couple of horses and sulkies and some paraphenalia.* My dad, William Lowell Smith, and his father now could only race occasionally and much to their chagrin, unsuccessfully. It was in their blood, however, so they had a difficult time of letting go and finding gainful employment. I think maybe my grandfather never did. I know my grandmother Fannie was the one who earned a living to make ends meet.*"

This does explain why I had difficulty figuring out what exactly Harland did for a living. Alyce goes on to discuss her father and then I discovered Harland was a one-eyed man!

"As a young girl, I remember Harland only from him telling about his artificial eye and how he got it while chopping wood and a piece flying into his eye cutting his eyeball. I also remember his dying. He had asthma very often and very seriously. He died from it. We went to his bedside to tell him goodbye. His breathing was something I can still hear - and the smell of something steaming on the stove - tincture of benzine (?) - to help him breathe."

Harland and Fannie had four children:

Percy & Edna Smith Corey

1. Orrin Smith, born 1882 and died in 1889.

2. Edna Mae Smith, born 05 Jul 1885 outside of Plainfield. She married Percy Corey on 02 Jun 1934
in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Percy was born 09 Feb 1892. After living in Minnesota for many years, they moved to southern California, not too far from sister Leona Smith Spurgeon. Edna died 09 Jan 1959 in Long Beach and Percy on 04 Nov 1955 in Los Angeles County. They had no children.

3. William Lowell Smith was born 18 Feb 1890 outside of Plainfield. He married, Hazel Parks 12 Jul 1916 in Nashua. Hazel was born 10 Dec 1891 in Nashua, the daughter of Fred Parks and Minnie Alice Hicok. They had two children, Burton and Alyce (the author of the above letter). I'll write more about WL Smith in a later post.

4. Leona Smith was born 26 Apr 1895 outside of Plainfield. She married Walter Kermit Spurgeon, son of a local grocer/pastor on 27 Dec 1916 in Polk County. I have written about them before here and here. They had one child, Richard Kermit Spurgeon (1920-2000). After leaving Iowa, they settle for several years in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Walter was in real estate sales.He had a sister living there as well and his asthma demanded a change in weather. When they moved to California, he worked as a grocery clerk.  He died on 20 Jul 1961 in Los Angeles County and she on 09 May 1976 in San Diego County

Harland died of complications of asthma and a cerebral hemorrhage on 21 Nov 1933 at home. Fannie would suffer a stroke in 1942 and would live until 31 Mar 1944.

This certainly clears up a lot about William Custer Smith as well. Thanks to Alyce Rasmussen (1924-2012), may she always rest in peace, for having the foresight to jot things like this down and to Tom Rasmussen for sharing his family history.

* Please see the new, updated information regarding the property of William Custer Smith after his death, here.

Going Beyond the Details - The Nashua Reporter

I've been pouring over newspapers the last couple of weeks trying to find out something about the actual lives of some of my long-dead relatives. I've subscribed, at various times, to several different services, but despite ancestry.com's partnership with newspapers.com, I generally find I like newspaperarchives.com much better for easy retrieval and review.

One of the papers this service offers is from Nashua, Iowa. The Nashua Reporter from 1899 to the early 1980s. Early on, there were news notes from each town and township I call the "gossip column." It is chock-full of who went to this house or that for dinner, shopped out of town on the weekend, or visited or had visiting relatives. It's a great source to find spouse names, what they did, where they moved to once they left the area, and service information, especially during World War II.

I've found the answers to many mysteries or at least grabbed a thread that allowed me to fill in blanks in standard records. I discovered the long, interesting marital history of my great aunt Mary and just recently discovered that her sister, Bernice Smith Beckage, who lost her husband Andrew Beckage suddenly in 1947, almost immediately remarried her second husband whose existence I've never heard about from anyone. My guess is the marriage didn't last too long and she reverted to her first husband's name after that marriage.

Papers like the Nashua Reporter were a treasure. They show the ties that span through families and marriages and the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of generations of relatives. While I'll never find out why my Great Grandma Kate Smull Smith was so ornery, I do get to see that her children and their children were frequent visitors and who cared for her through the years after her husband's death.

I took a liking to this young fellow, who married one of my relatives, I couldn't for the life of me
figure out why they left Iowa for Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had assumed it was job-related - he was a grocery wholesaler and retailer throughout his life. Turns out I was wrong- it was a very bad case of tuberculosis that sent him to drier climes and he had a sister, Mrs DO Marshall living in Albuquerque. He also went into the real estate business in 1929 (Walter K Spurgeon Realty - later Walter K Spurgeon Courteous Realty) and as late as 1945, not the grocery business. He returned to that business, as a clerk, once they moved to California. This is what I found on he and his young wife, Leona Smith Spurgeon, daughter of Harland Smith and Fannie Magoon Smith:

Walter Spurgeon, who had been spending a few days at the Harland Smith home, returned Friday morning to his home at Boone. Miss Leona Smith accompanied him as far as Cedar Falls.
Nashua Reporter March 26, 1914
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Walter Spurgeon, who had been spending a few days at the Harland Smith home, returned Friday morning to his home at Boone. Miss Leona Smith accompanied him as far as Cedar Falls.
Nashua Reporter March 26, 1914
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LEONA SMITH A BIRDE
WEDS WALTER SPURGEON AT BOONE DECEMBER 27
At the home of Otis L Spurgeon, 1515 12th St Des Moines on Wednesday afternoon, at 5:00, occurred the marriage of Walter K Spurgeon, of Boone, Iowa, to Miss Leona Smith, of Nashua, Iowa. The ceremony was performed by Otis L Spurgeon, brother of the groom. The bride is the daughter of Mr & Mrs Harland Smith of this city. She was a former member of Mr Spurgeon's congregation at Nashua, he having baptized her into the church. She was during his stay here his efficient organist. The bride is of charming personality and a fine musician. Mr Spurgeon has been for a number of years a traveling salesman, but with the first of the coming year will enter into business with his father at Boone, where the parent is already engaged in the grocery and meat business. The young couple go to housekeeping at once in a home already furnished and will be at home to their friends on 10th St, Boone, Iowa.
Nashua Reporter January 4, 1917
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon who had been spending a couple of weeks at the house of her parents, Mr & Mrs Harland Smith, returned Friday to her home at Boone.
Nashua Reporter August 1, 1918
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Mrs Harland Smith went to Boone Thursday morning to nurse her daughter, Mrs Walter Spurgeon through a case of influenza. Mr Spurgeon is just recovering from an attack of the disease.
Nashua Reporter November 21, 1918
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Mrs Harland Smith returned from Boone Monday where she had been called by the illness of her daughter Mrs Walter Spurgeon. She reports that Mrs Spurgeon is much improved and able to be about once more.
Nashua Reporter May 8, 1919
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon of Boone, who had been spending a few weeks with her parents Mr & Mrs Harland Smith, went to Minneapolis Thursday to visit her sister, Mrs Corey.
Nashua Reporter July 31, 1919
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon of Boone, who had been here visiting her parents, Mr & Mrs Harland Smith, left for Minneapolis Monday to visit her sister, Mrs Percy Corey.
Nashua Reporter April 1, 1920
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon and baby of Boone, arrived Saturday for a visit with her parents, Mr & Mrs Harland Smith.
Nashua Reporter February 9, 1922
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Mirt Smith and Harland Smith autoed  to Cedar Falls Monday to visit the latter's daughter. Mrs Walter Spurgeon and little son of Boone, who came for a visit with her parents and other relatives and friends.
Nashua Reporter June 22, 1922, p 1
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For Marcelles 50 cents and bob curl 25c. See Leona Spurgeon, 1st door north of Reporter office. 16-2
Nashua Reporter December 3, 1924
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Mrs Beulah Lewis and little daughter, Betty of Boone, came Saturday evening to visit her brother and his wife, Mr & Mrs Walter Spurgeon, at the Harland Smith home.
Nashua Reporter February 4, 1925
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Methodist Episcopal Church, Elmer Shafer, Minister
...The special musical number for the morning was the solo by Mrs Leona Spurgeon, sung in a very effective manner. It was entitled, "Oh, What a King."
Nashua Reporter February 25, 1925
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon and little son arrived Wednesday of last week from Boone, to remain a few weeks with her parents, Mr & Mrs Harland Smith.
Nashua Reporter August 19, 1925
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Walter Spurgeon, who Has been for several weeks receiving treatment at the sanitarium at Oakdale, is able to return home and is with his family at the Harland Smith home.
Waterloo Evening Courier January 8, 1925, p 14
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Walter Spurgeon who had been spending several weeks with his wife at the home of her parents, Mr & Mrs Harland Smith, went to Boone, Iowa, Thursday to spend a few weeks with his parents, Mr Spurgeon, who had been at Oakdale Sanitarium for some time taking treatments, before coming to Nashua, is gaining steadily in health.
Nashua Reporter March 4, 1925
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Mrs. Leona Spurgeon and little son Richard have returned to Boone. after  visiting at the home of her parents.Mr. and Mrs. Harland Smith
Nashua Reporter September 2, 1925, pg 8
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Friends of Mr & Mrs Walter Spurgeon, who went to Albuquerque, NM, about a year ago to seek relief for Mr Spurgeon who was suffering from tuberculosis, will be glad to learn that he is much better and expects soon to go to work. At first, he did not improve satisfactorily and the only chance he had, which was one out of ten, was to have his affected lung collapsed, and he took the chance with the above result. Mrs Spurgeon is employed in the offices of the Great Western Railway.
Nashua Reporter December 8, 1926
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Mr & Mrs Walter K Spurgeon, 1208 East Roma Ave, are enjoying a visit fro Mr Spurgeon's brother, Rev Otis L Spurgeon, pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. Rev Spurgeon was a chaplain in the World War and is a captain in the 443rd Field Artillery, ROTC. He is also a lecturer widely known over the country, being in demand before public schools and dinner clubs for his lectures on Character Analysis and Applied Psychology. Also a Kiwanian and a Mason, Rev Spurgeon is also a brother of Mrs DO Marshall of this city.
Albuquerque Journal March 28, 1929
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Walter K Spurgeon Real Estate 1208 East Roma Ave Phone 2867-R.
Albuquerque Journal July 2, 1929
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Modern home with big sleeping porch, price only $3,000 on easy terms. Walter K Spurgeon, 694 East Central.
Albuquerque Journal August 26, 1929
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In a pretty home wedding Wednesday morning, Rev Otis L Spurgeon peformed the ceremony uniting his daughter, Miss Velma Spurgeon and Herbert C Chandler of San Francisco in marriage. The ceremony was read at 10 o'clock at the home of the bride's uncle, Walter K Spurgeon, 1208 East Roma Ave.

The bride was gowned in a blue chiffon velvet ensemble, the jacket covering a blouse of eggshell satin. Her hat of dark blue velvet and other accessories matched. Miss Roberta Spurgeon, who attended her sister as maid of honor wore a dress of heavy flowered crepe in blue and white. Walter K Spurgeon the bride's uncle, acted as best man to Mr Chandler.

After the ceremony, a wedding breakfast was served to the bridal party and the ten guests present: Rev & Mrs Otis L Spurgeon, Mr & Mrs SA Spurgeon, Mr & Mrs WK Spurgen, Mr & Mrs DO Marshall, and the mIsses Esther Jensen and Carrie Swendson.

Mr & Mrs Chandler left Wednesday afternoon for a short honeymoon of unannounced destination after which they will be at home at the El Centro apartments, 270 Turk St, San Francisco, Cal.

The bride attended Des Moines College, the bridegroom Texas University. Mr Chandler is branch manager on the west coast for the Holcomb & Hoke Manufacturing company of Indianapolis. Mrs Chandler was formerly secretary to Dr OA Cox.
Albuquerque Journal October 17, 1929
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Mr & Mrs Walter Spurgeon and son, of Albuquerque, NM, arrived Tuesday evening of last week by auto for a visit with Mrs Spurgeon's parents, Mr & Mrs Harland Smith, and her brother, Will Smith and family.
Nashua Reporter July 22, 1931
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon of Albuquerque, NM, who was called here by the illness and death of her father, the late Harland Smith, returned home Wednesday of last week.
Nashua Reporter December 13, 1933
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon of Albuquerque, NM, came last week to visit her mother, Mrs Harland Smith.
Nashua Reporter May 20, 1936
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Mr & Mrs Walter Spurgeon of Albuquerque, NM, came last week for a visit with her mother, Mrs Harland Smith, and her brother, Will Smith and wife. Mrs Harland Smith accompanied them to Minneapolis, where they visited another of her daughters, Mrs PE Corey and husband. They also visited relatives and friends at Duluth returning to Nashua last Wednesday, after which Mr & Mrs Spurgeon started home.
Nashua Reporter June 18, 1941
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Mrs Fannie Smith, who suffered a severe stroke Thursday, was slightly improved Friday. She was alone in her home at the time she was stricken, and was found lying across the bed by Mrs John Anderson, who went to the home to call. Her daughter, Mrs Percy Corey, and husband of Minneapolis, Minn and another daughter, Mrs Leona Spurgeon of Albuquerque, N M were summoned to her bedside.
Waterloo Daily Courier April 12, 1942, pg 20
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Mrs Walter Spurgeon of Albuquerque, NM, has returned to her home, after helping care for her mother, Mrs Harland Smith, who suffered a stroke about a month ago.
Nashua Reporter May 13, 1942
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Couple 18 years residence wants unfurnished duplex or apartment. References Walter Spurgeon. B Apartment No 21.
Albuquerque Journal April 12, 1944
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Attractive Duplex in Heights. Two bedrooms ech. Walter Spurgeon with Karr A Kichenberger, 311 West Gold.
Albuquerque Journal June 10, 1944
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PFC Richard K Spurgeon, son of Mr & Mrs Walter Spurgeon, 1002 North Fifth, is serving as a photographer at an air depot of the Air Service Command in the Netherlands East Indies.
Albuquerque Journal April 18, 1945
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SMALL grocery and filling station, stock andand fixtures only, Good little business. Walter K. Spurgeon. Fifth and Grant e5840 Albuquerque Journal May 29, 1945
Albuquerque Journal May 29, 1945
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30 Years Ago
Grandpa and Grandma Harland Smith are waring the smile that won't come off, all on account of a card which they received telling of the birth of a 7-pound son at the home of Mr & Mrs Walter Spurgeon in Duluth, on Aug 3, 1920.
Nashua Reporter August 16, 1950
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Built for two, home and half acre, furnished. Walter K Spurgeon, 5840.
Albuquerque Journal May 31, 1945
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30 Years Ago
Mrs Harland Smith went to Minneapolis Friday to get acquainted with the new grandson at the Walter Spurgeon home.
Nashua Reporter August 23, 1950
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 The Spurgeon's moved to Southern California after New Mexico, and died there.

Without this valuable resource, Walter's life might have been missed in a cut and paste the records and move on kind of way.