Gertrude Marie Englesby and Ohel Bostwick Spelman

GERTRUDE MARIE ENGLESBY, daughter of EMMA ZERVIAH HOUSTON and HENRY EDSON ENGLESBY, was born July 6, 1897 in Watertown, Codington, South Dakota,^{2424, 8583} and died June 24, 1984 in South Haven, Michigan.⁸⁵⁸³

She married OHEL BOSTWICK SPELMAN on August 6, 1919 in Codington County, South Dakota.⁵⁰¹ He was born March 14, 1891 in Genoa, Walworth, Wisconsin,⁴⁶⁵³ and died July 9, 1967 in Watertown, Codington, South Dakota.⁸⁵⁸²

• Descendant Reports
  • Samuel Houston Descendant Report (Ancestor of Gertrude M. Englesby)
  • Samuel Houston Descendant Report (Ancestor of Gertrude M. Englesby)
  • Samuel Fields Descendant Report (Ancestor of Gertrude M. Englesby)

Children of GERTRUDE MARIE ENGLESBY and OHEL BOSTWICK SPELMAN:

1. Son
2. Son

Personal Information

• Ohel Bostwick Spelman and Gertrude Marie Englesby were members of the First Congregational Church, South Haven, Michigan. ^{8582, 8583}

Gertrude M. Englesby

• graduated from Valparaiso University, Porter County, Indiana⁸⁵⁸³

Ohel B. Spelman

• was a US Army Veteran of World War I; served in the American Expeditionary Forces in France⁸⁵⁸²
• was a member of the Kiwanis Club⁸⁵⁸²

Work History

Obituaries

News-Palladium, July 10, 1967⁸⁵⁸²

Prominent So. Haven Man Dies

O. B. Spelman Civic Leader

Ohel Bostwich Spelman, 78, prominent South Haven blueberry grower, retired business man and civic leader, died unexpectedly Sunday morning at Watertown, South Dakota, where he was visiting relatives.

He is the father of Atty. John Henry "Jack" Spelman of St. Joseph, a former Berrien county prosecutor.

Born in Genoa Junction, Wis., March 14, 1891, Mr. Spelman was married in Watertown to Gertrude Marie Eglesby. His father was a Congregational minister and his youth was spent in various parsonages in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa. He attended high school in St. Clair, Mich., graduating in 1909. He then attended Iowa State college, Iowa City, for a year and Ferris Business school in Big Rapids.

VETERAN

During World War I Mr. Spelman served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France from where he returned in 1919.

He then became connected with J.R. Spelman company, which was founded by his uncle, John R. Spelman and owned grocery stores in South Haven. Ohel Spelman served the company in various capacities. He ran grocery stores and was for some time manager and secretary-treasurer of the company.

He was first elected city treasurer of South Haven in 1948 and served until 1961. He had been charmian of the city board of election canvassers since 1964.

He had been a member of the First Congregational church of South Haven and served it as a deacon and a member of the church choir for many years. He was also a member of the Kiwanis club of South Haven.

He acquired a blueberry plantation in South Haven which he also managed.

SURVIVORS

Surviving in addition to his wife are tow sons, John Henry Spelman of St. Joseph and Philip Ohel Spelman of Pleasant Ridge.

Arrangements for funeral services, which will be in South Haven, have not yet been made.

Memorials may be made to the First Congregational church of South Haven.

Herald-Palladium, June 26, 1984⁸⁵⁸³

Marie Spelman Dies At Age 86 In South Haven

SOUTH HAVEN — Mrs. Gertrude Marie Spelman, 86, of 500 North Shore Drive, South Haven, wife of the late former City Treasurer Ohel B. Spelman, died Sunday afternoon at South Haven Community Hospital.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete this forenoon at the Calvin-Starks and Frost Funeral Home, South Haven. Memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church, South Haven, where Mrs. Spelman was an active member for 50 years.

Mrs. Spelman was born July 6, 1897, in Watertown, South Dakota. She was educated at Valparaiso College, Valparaiso, Ind., and began her career as an elementary teacher in South Dakota prior to and during World War I. She was an accomplished painter in oils. She had resided in South Haven for 65 years.

Survivors include: two sons — Attorney John H. Spelman of St. Joseph and Philip O. Spelman, Ph. D., of Southfield, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Lawrence (Helen C.) Ditch of South Haven; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Census Records

Date	Location	Enumerated Names
June 11, 19003438	Watertown, Codington, South Dakota	Henry Edson Englesby Emma Zerviah Houston Ralph Richard Englesby Frank Houston Englesby Gertrude Marie Englesby
April 25, 19103437	Watertown, Codington, South Dakota	Henry Edson Englesby Emma Zerviah Houston Helen Carol Englesby Howard Edson Englesby Ralph Richard Englesby Frank Houston Englesby Gertrude Marie Englesby
January 6, 19207326	South Haven, Van Buren, Michigan	Ohel Bostwick Spelman Gertrude Marie Englesby
April 11, 19307327	South Haven, Van Buren, Michigan	Ohel Bostwick Spelman Gertrude Marie Englesby Son Son
May 3, 19407328	South Haven, Van Buren, Michigan	Ohel Bostwick Spelman Gertrude Marie Englesby Son Son