History Of Myra  Worthington Spalding Herron

By Myra Herron, her granddaughter 

Sometimes, one feels the need to commemorate family or ancestors, to let others know what kind of a life they led and what they accomplished.  And in doing that, very often one finds out a lot more than was expected.  Such is this story, my story about Myra Worthington Spalding.  She spelled her name ‘Spaulding’ because she thought it was spelled that way.  She told people she was born in Massachusetts, her father’s birth place, because she thought she was.  But, when it came to living her life, she was one of the most honest, strong, kind, caring women I’ve ever investigated.  And she was my grandmother.

Between the years 1865 and 1870, things changed drastically for many.  Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the Civil War ended, the South and the North had to become the United States again, and on a lower level, David Worthington Spalding lost his wife and left his home state, Massachusetts, with his youngest son to make a new life.  Somehow, they ended up in 1870 in Centralia, Wisconsin.  They were recorded in the 1870 census. 

Because no one kept any written records, I can only believe that they may have moved there at the invitation of other Spauldings that lived in that area.  David W. Spaulding, then aged 40, was living alone with his son, David, aged 10, and was working as a carpenter/joiner.  That census was taken in July.  By November 22, he was married to Libbie Hingley, from Nova Scotia, who lived nearby in the city of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin.   

Elizabeth Christina Hingley was 27, a seamstress, and boarding with a family there.   Her cousin, Sara Turnbull, age 18, from Prince Edward Island in Canada, was living in Centralia as a school teacher, not too far from David Spaulding.  Perhaps Sara met David Dunn as his teacher, and introduced David and his father to her cousin Libbie.   

David and Libbie lived in Centralia for a few years, and a son was born in 1872, and named Harvey Leon (Lee) Spalding.  On August 23, 1873, Myra Worthington Spaulding was born - in Centralia, Wisconsin, not in Massachusetts as she thought.   

There is very little information about Harvey Leon Spaulding.  I have his death date in the family Bible, along with a one-line mention in the Alpena Argus newspaper, for his death.  I also have found notes in the Alpena City Directory for the 1893-4 years, with him being listed as an ‘inmate’ of the ‘County House’.  Investigation proved that the County House was the Poor Farm, located just past the Alpena General Hospital on Chisholm Street, north of the town.  His death date was 2-7-1895, even though the death records in the family Bible say it was 1894.  (Since that date is 6 years before the Bible was purchased, I can see why the error was made.)  Unfortunately, all the Poor Farm records have since been destroyed, so there is no information on Lee, his life or his death.  His death was not officially recorded, nor is his burial site known.  He lived a very short 23 years.  All I have is this picture of him at age 9, taken in Alpena, Michigan. 

HARVEY LEON SPAULDING, AGE 9 (taken in Alpena) 

Myra’s younger brother Henry Wilson Spalding (Will) was born on April 27, 1876, in Alpena, Michigan, about 3 years after she was born.  They remained close all their lives, I believe.  A short time after their father died, Will left Alpena and moved to the thumb area of Michigan.  I have found more information about him, but that’s another story.  I do have a picture of him as an adult, that is very similar to a picture of him taken with Myra.  This single picture, however, was taken in Port Huron, Michigan.

HENRY WILSON SPAULDING, AGE ABOUT 15+ (taken in Port Huron, MI) 

THE FAMILY BIBLE

At Christmas in 1880, in Alpena, Michigan, the entire family bought a family bible, and presented it to David Worthington Spaulding.  And, at that time, they entered some important dates in it.  They also wrote a note presenting the Bible to Mr. Spaulding, and it’s still there in the bible.  David W. added to the note.  The note stated:  Presented to Mr. D. W. Spaulding by his family,  Libbie (Elizabeth)  $2.50 / Sarah (E. Turnbull-Menary, Libbie’s cousin) $2.00 / Dunn (David Dunn) $4.00 / Lee 50 ct / Myra 50 ct / Willie 50 ct.  Dec 25, 1880.  A Merry Christmas.  Then, in David Worthington Spaulding’s handwriting: To descend from oldest to next oldest descendant of D. W. Spaulding.) 

By the 1880 census, the entire family was in Alpena, Michigan.  They lived on Campbell Street: father David was 62 and a painter, mother Libbie was 38 and keeping house, son David Dunn was 21 and already an assistant Lighthouse keeper (I question that!), Harvey L. (Leon/Lee) was 8, Myra was 6 and Henry Wilson (Will) was 4, and the only one born in Alpena.  With them was Libbie’s cousin, Sarah Turnbull, as a dressmaker aged 27.  Listed with Captain John Pearsons (Persons), who was in charge of all the life saving on Thunder Bay Island was also David Dunn again, as a ‘servant’, which I believe was the enumerator’s mistake.  David was a surfman, which was a life saver.   

Myra Worthington Spaulding, age 8 (taken in Alpena)

Myra’s mother, Elizabeth Christina Hingley Spalding died in Alpena Michigan on October 30, 1883, when Lee was about 11, Myra was about 10, and Will was 8.   By then, David Dunn was working as a life saver on Thunder Bay Island Life Station at age 22.   Will lived with his father after Libbie’s death, in the city of Alpena, Michigan.  However, at that time, Myra and Lee were evidently forced out of the home to fend for themselves.   

According to Myra’s obituary, she had lived with an Ellen Davis, “with whom Mrs. Herron had made her home after her mother’s death”.  It was assumed in the obituary that Myra’s father was dead long before her mother, which was not true.  Myra and her father may have had a falling out, but it is not known.  David Sr. lived in Alpena until his death, and he is buried in Evergreen Cemetery without a tombstone.  According to the family bible, he died March 11, 1890.   

Myra’s older half brother David Dunn,  who lived in Alpena, was born in Massachusetts May 29, 1859.  He was about 14 years older than Myra.  In Alpena, he had evidently been a sailor for about a year, but starting in about mid 1882, he was hired  as a surfman to work on Thunder Bay Island, eventually becoming #1 surfman under Captain Persons, as well known local figure.   It is believed that he used his position to get a job for his little sister, Myra, as the governess for Captain Persons’ 2 children on the island.  She worked there until she was able to get a position as a teacher in Alpena county.  That was about the year 1888-90, so she might have worked as a governess for about 7 years, while she was becoming capable and educated enough to teach in school. 

 This picture was taken of David Dunn Spaulding about 6 months before his death, taken in Alpena, MI (May 22/23, 1896). 

DAVID DUNN SPAULDING, AGE 36

 During her tenure as a governess, Myra is said to have been able to go down onto the Pewabic, a ship that had sunk in Lake Huron, in a diving bell with the daughter of Captain Persons.  It was a very dangerous thing to do, as people had died going onto the Pewabic because of problems with the diving bell.  Captain Persons had mentioned that fact in an interview which was printed in an Alpena newspaper.    

“And I saw her [the Pewabic] lying on the bottom of the lake, 160 feet down, from a diving bell.” He said.  “My daughter, her governess and another friend went down in the bell in the ‘90’s.  I could hear them talking as plainly as if they were right on the deck of the scow where I was standing, above them.  After they came up, I went down.” 

One of Myra’s obituaries also stated that by age 15 (1888), she was teaching school in the local rural schools.  This is actually easy to accept, since I have a book of hers, a collection of Longfellow’s poems, and the date in that book is May 21, 1886.  “Greene, Mich” was with her name.  Greene is now called Merrill, and is in Saginaw County, Michigan.  At that date, she would have been age 12, almost 13.  I can make a conjecture that she took some time off from her governess position and went to live with someone in Saginaw county until she was better schooled to teach in rural schools, or perhaps was just visiting someone there, and bought the book there, and made that entry.  It is in her handwriting.  Merrill is about halfway between Saginaw and St. Louis, on Michigan highway 46.  It’s a very small town, with a population now of less than 1000. 

In the 1800’s, they did have places to get schooling at for teaching, and it didn’t take long to get the schooling, perhaps a few months.  Myra may have saved enough money to board somewhere and take classes, and then come back to Alpena to teach.   

If Myra actually started teaching school at age 15, then she would have been teaching by 1888.  According to the obituary, she was teaching in Alpena county rural schools.   Also, she died in 1925, and her obituaries stated she had taught for 35 years, which would start her teaching in about 1890.   

By October 17, 1897, she had married Robert Fred Herron.  He was known as Fred.  According to her obituary, they were married at the home of her friend, Ellen Davis, where she had been living after her mother died.  Evidently, she taught for about 8-9 years before she met and married Fred.  They immediately moved to Herron (then known as Dafoe) Michigan and set up residence in his great farm home.  It is still standing.  You can see Myra standing in front of the home in a white dress.     

 Myra continued teaching throughout the years they were married, while having two sons, Harlo Elmer Herron, born 11-10-1898, and Harvey Colburne Herron, born 6-28-1901.  Harvey was probably named for Myra’s younger brother, Harvey Leon Spalding (Lee), who was born in 1872, and died at the Poor Farm in Alpena by 2-7-1895.    

After her marriage, she not only continued teaching, and had her 2 sons, she also was an active church member locally, and was the normal farm wife.  The family raised cows, chickens, had their normal run of cats, and the boys were trained to become farmers by joining local clubs, like the Potato Club, and by raising their own crops, from start to finish. 

Not only did Myra Spaulding Herron teach in Wilson Township for many years, her oldest son, Harlo Elmer Herron, also taught school for about 17 years.  He went to Ferris Institute in Big Rapids, Michigan, for his training and then had to wait until he turned 18 years of age to start teaching.  That would have been in late 1916.  He evidently started teaching at the Huron Shores school, north of the city of Alpena, and just south of Grass Lake.  

 According to Ruth Ann Cochrane, in her article in a copy of the Wilderness Chronicle titled “History of Herron”, one of the teachers in the Martell School in Dafoe, Wilson Township, Alpena County, was Harlo Herron, Myra’s oldest son.   

Myra Worthington Spaulding Herron taught school almost all her life, up to about 3 months before her untimely death.   

DEATH NOTICES OF MYRA WORTHINGTON SPAULDING HERRON

DEATH DATE: MAY 14, 1925

A  short notice of Myra Worthington Spaulding Herron’s death:

There were no services at West Wilson Sunday on account of the funeral of Mrs. Fred Herron.  Death visited our community Thursday May 14 and claimed as its victim, Mrs. Fred Herron, a woman of sterling quality who was beloved by all who knew her.  The chief aim in all the life of this good woman was the upbuilding of the community both educational and spiritually.  For many years she had been a teacher in the Sunday school and for nearly five years had taught the Byers school of Wilson.  A wonderful impression she has left behind, instilled in the hearts of both young and old an impression that the young will take as their example for the future.  The poet was right when he said “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime and departing leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.”  The funeral of Mrs. Herron on Sunday afternoon at the home was one of the largest ever held in Alpena County.  The heartfelt sympathy of the community goes out to the bereaved relatives in the loss of the dear wife, mother and friend to all.

Another short notice:

A life of distinguished service came to a close with the death of Mrs. Myra Spalding Herron, for 28 years a prominent figure in the life of Wilson Township. 

One hears frequently of self-made men.  Mrs. Herron was a self-made woman.  Left on her own resources at the tender age of eleven she managed to educate herself in a broad way that was a most important factor in the life of service she lived.  While still a young girl she became a school teacher, finding in that field of work opportunity for pursuing the cultural interests for which the foundation had already been laid.

Growing to womanhood, Mrs. Herron became a spiritual and intellectual force in the community where she had taught school and lived for years after as a mother and home maker.  The influences of a life such as hers can hardly be estimated and they will continue to operate long after her death.    (Alpena News, May 16, 1925)

Another short death notice:

 Mrs. Fred Herron of Herron, one of the most widely known and popular women of Alpena County, died just before noon today at her home at Herron after an illness that had confined her to her home for the past three months.  Further particulars regarding her death and funeral arrangements will be found in Friday’s news.

Another longer death notice:

COMMUNITY PAYS TRIBUTE – The funeral services for Myra Spaulding Herron, wife of Fred Herron of Wilson whose death occurred Thursday, May 14, were held Sunday afternoon from the family home at Herron.  Entirely too small was the commodious Herron home to accommodate the immense concourse of friends who gathered to pay their last tribute to the woman who had meant so much to the community, and in addition to the house being filled, a large gathering stood bareheaded on the lawn during the impressive ceremonies.  Especially fine was the sermon delivered by Rev. D. E. Trueblood who stressed the heritage to the community and to the family that had resulted from their having been privileged to have had Mrs. Herron’s life spent among them.  The speaker charged them the best was to show their appreciation of their friend was to endeavor to perpetuate the ideals which she had sought.  A quartet composed of Mrs. O. W. Bishop, Mrs. Fred E. Smith, Judge McLean and Ralph Michaud sang a group of favorite hymns, while Ralph Michaud’s rendition of “One Sweetly Solemn Thought” was especially fine.  Bearing their beloved teacher were Fritz and Wilbert Leek, Edward Kemnitz, Arnold Werth, Adrian and Eldon Shenk, while six members of the Congregational Sunday school class of which Harlo E. Herron is a member, viz: Leo Legatski, Jim McConnell, Ernest Benedict, Harold Bishop, Wendell Legatski and Roger Misner served as honorary pall-bearers.  Interment took place in the King Settlement cemetery a funeral cortege of more than 100 automobiles following in procession to the cemetery.

Another longer death notice:

DEATH TAKES LOVED TEACHER

Mrs. Fred Herron, 35 years In County Work, Heart Disease Victim.

The death of Myra Spaulding Herron, wife of Fred Herron of Herron, on Thursday morning, May 14, cast a pall of gloom over an entire community as well as on the immediate family, for Mrs. Herron was the community’s own – a life of loving, thoughtful service having endeared her to every man, woman and child with whom she had come in contact.  Hence, the common grief of neighbors and family.

Mrs. Herron was born in Springfield, Mass. 51 years ago, and came to Alpena with her widowed mother when a child.  (This statement was, of course, not true.  She was probably born in WI, and both her father and mother brought her to Alpena.)  Bereaved of her mother at the age of 11 years, she faced the world alone, (her father was still alive) and proceeded to make her life what her ambition would have it – that of an educated, cultured woman, which she achieved in an outstanding sort of a way.  By dint of working between school terms she obtained an education, not only high intellectually, but one that was rounded out exceptionally in the moral and spiritual sides. 

At fifteen, the young girl was teaching in the rural schools, and continued in her chosen profession with a love for it that made it most efficient and inspirational to all who were fortunate enough to have Mrs. Herron for a teacher.  With the exception of the few years she was governess in the family of Capt. John D. Persons at Thunder Bay Island, Mrs. Herron’s work was with the rural schools of Wilson.  For the past five years, she had taught the Byer school – in fact, it was  only in January that she was compelled to give up her work at this school, and on Sunday, six of her ‘boys’ from that school will act as pallbearers.

An affection (sic) of the heart from which Mrs. Herron had suffered for a number of years and which became so advanced as to become incurable, was the cause of death.  However, it was only the last week that Mrs.  Herron had been entirely incapacitated.

Her marriage to Fred Herron occurred in 1897 at the home of Mrs. Ellen Davis with whom Mrs. Herron had made her home after her mother’s death.  Immediately after their marriage, they went to Herron where they have since continuously resided, their farm home being one of the most comfortable in the county. 

 PICTURE OF THE FUNERAL OF MYRA S. HERRON, 1925 

Little did she know that within a year, her only living brother would also be dead of heart problems as well.  He died as Captain of his ship suddenly, while docked at Menominee, MI, with his son also there as wheelsman. 

Myra Worthington Spaulding Herron’s life was certainly never easy by anyone’s standards.  She probably learned much from her mother, who had been a seamstress in Wisconsin, and her mother’s cousin, Sara Turnbull Menary, who had been a school teacher in Wisconsin and in Alpena County.  Her early loss of a home forced her to become the woman she was when she died.  I have a letter written to her son, my father, that mentioned ‘she who is gone would have been awfully proud’, paying Harlo Herron a compliment in reference to his beloved mother. 

MAJOR EVENTS IN MYRA’S LIFE:

BORN             (1873) Myra born in Wisconsin on August 23, 1873.

AGE 10          (1883) Myra’s mother died

AGE 10          (1883) David W. Spaulding lived in Alpena “s s Lewis, 2 w of 2^nd”

AGE 10-11    (1883) Myra started working at the lighthouse as governess

AGE 14-15    (1887-8) David W. agent, lived “n s River, 1 w of 7^th”

AGE 15 (?)    (1888) Myra started teaching school

AGE 16          (1889-90) David W. agent, lived 136 State St.

                             David Dunn was U. S. Life Saving Service, lived with father

                             Henry Wilson was a student, living with father

AGE 17          (1890) Myra’s father died 

AGE 21          (1891) Henry Wilson lives at 136 State St.

                        (1891) David Dunn works in the laundry and boards at The

                                                Churchill

AGE 20          (1893-4) Leon Spaulding is ‘inmate County House’ (poor farm)

AGE 22          (1895) Myra’s older brother, Harvey Leon died

AGE 22          (1895-6) David Dunn is a laborer, living ‘w s State, near city limits’

                             H. Wm. Spaulding is a clerk, for B. C & A line, boarding at 227 E

                                    Campbell.

AGE 23          (1896) Myra’s half brother David Dunn died

AGE 24          (1897) Myra married Fred Robert Herron

AGE 24          (1896-7) Myra’s brother Will left for Port Huron

AGE 25          (1898) Myra had first child, Harlo E. Herron

AGE 28          (1901) Myra had second child, Harvey C. Herron

AGE 51          (1925) Myra died of heart problems, May 14, 1925.

This page last updated 04/26/2006