Encyclopedia Dubuque
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SPENSLEY, Harker Brentnal, Sr.
SPENSLEY, Harker Brentnal Sr. (Mineral Point, WI, Mar.7, 1875--Dubuque, IA, Oct. 23, 1946). Real estate and insurance agent, director, Spensley Theater. The son of John Spensley and Mary Jane Waller, Harker Spensley was educated in Dubuque. He received his LLB from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1896. Spensley married Elsie G. Tileston, May 8, 1907, in Garvanza, California. Their children included: son Harker Brentnal Jr., daughter Anne Tileston (Mrs. W. L. Gallogly), Mary Alice (Mrs. John M. Weir Jr.), Elsie Georgette (Mrs. Frank T. Hardie).
From 1896 to 1910 Spensley was associated with Spensley, Bailey and Spensley Mortgages, Insurance, and Investments in Dubuque. From 1910 to 1916 the company was named Spensley and Spensley. He was a partner with his younger brother, Robert W. Spensley, who died in 1940. From 1910 to 1939, Mr Spensley had his own business at the H.B. Spensley real estate and insurance, and he was also president of the Spensley theater, which he operated until 1933. In 1939, he took his son-in-law William L Gallogly into the firm known as Spensley and Gallogly Insurance and Real Estate. His office was 524-26 BANK AND INSURANCE BUILDING.
From 1929 to 1933 Spensley was the president and manager of the Spensley Theater. This building was later renamed the ORPHEUM THEATER and later the FIVE FLAGS THEATER.
Honorary pallbearers were J. C. Collier, George Shaffhauser, Clarence W. Richards, Michael Horning, Fred W. WOODWARD, Henry Charles KENLINE, W. Burton Wallis, Albert Fluckinger, William LAWTHER, Jr. Thomas James MULGREW, W. S. Merryman, Fort Dodge; J. Wallis Winall, Judge John G. CHALMERS, Dr. Henry Glover LANGWORTHY, William B. POINSETT, and P. K. Karberg.vSurvivors were his wife, the former Elsie Tileston, whom he married in 1907; three daughters, Mrs William L. (Anne) Gallogly, Mrs John M (Mary Alice) Weir Jr, and Mrs Frank T. (Georgette) Hardie, all of Dubuque; one son Harker B. Spensley Jr of Denver, Colo. One sister Maria R Spensley, of Dubuque and 12 grandchildren.
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Source:
"Death Claims H. B. Spensley, Prominent Retired Realty, Insurance Man Dies," Telegraph Herald, Oct 24, 1946, p. 1
Christa Hughes, descendant