One who occupies an active field of usefulness is Fred Spoor, postoffice clerk of Herkimer, New York. He was born on January 31, 1872, in the town of Danube, New York, where his parents, James H. and Elda (Jones) Spoor, were also born. James H. Spoor was born on the old Spoor homestead on September 9, 1844, and is now living in East Herkimer, a retired farmer, at the age of eighty years. His wife was born on April 30, 1847, and died at Herkimer on August 1, 1902. James H. Spoor was the son of Gilbert and Nancy (Link) Spoor. Gilbert Spoor was born at Newville, New York, on July 7, 1817, and died there on January 29, 1897. His wife was also born at Newville, and died there. Gilbert was the son of Robert and Catherine (Harder) Spoor. Robert Spoor was born on August 10, 1767, and died on April 13, 1849; his wife was born on February 11, 1778, and died on April 3, 1844. Robert was the son of Isaac and Christina (Van Dusen) Spoor. Isaac Spoor was born, on August 16, 1741, and died on April 19, 1787. He served as ensign in the War of the Revolution. He was a farmer at Copake, New York, and a direct descendant of John W. Spoor, who came to America from England and acquired land between Albany and Schenectady. His wife's name was Ann Maria House.
Fred Spoor attended district school, No. 10, in the town of Danube, then entered Fairfield Military Academy, in the commercial and academic class. In the military department he rose to the rank of lieutenant, captain and cadet major. For five years he taught district schools in the town of Stark and Little Falls, then passed the civil service examination and in 1902 was appointed clerk in the Herkimer post office. Since that time he has been clerk and carrier and at the present time is clerk in the office.
On June 16, 1898, at the Vrooman residence in German Flats, New York, Mr. Spoor was united in marriage to Miss Bessie J. Vrooman, who was born on May 1, 1876, her parents being Jacob H. and Mary Jane (Ford) Vrooman. Jacob H. Vrooman, a farmer, was born on March 31, 1833, and died on December 22, 1888. He was the son of Nicholas and Christina (Wright) Vrooman. Nicholas Vrooman was born on July 31, 1809, and died on November 10, 1887. His wife was born on February 7, 1809, and died on July 12, 1841. Mary Jane (Ford) Vrooman was born in the town of German Flats on August 21, 1840, and died there on January 26, 1907. She was the daughter of Daniel and Lany (Youngs) Ford. Daniel Ford was born on August 29, 1804, and died on March 13, 1853. His wife was born on June 7, 1806, and died on January 26, 1894, at the age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. Spoor is a member of General Nicholas Herkimer Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. She is a member of the Methodist church and was superintendent of the Junior Sunday school for fifteen years, and is now a teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. and Mrs. Spoor have a daughter: Miss Louise Vrooman Spoor, who was born on June 20, 1889 [Editorial note: possibly 1899?]. She is a graduate of Herkimer high school, class of 1917, and of Syracuse University Department of Music, class of 1921. For a year she taught at Anderson College, Anderson, South Carolina, and for two years taught music at Perry, New York. She is now teaching music in the schools of Hastings-on-Hudson. Miss Spoor is a member of Sigma Kappa of Syracuse University.
Mr. Spoor is a member of Herkimer Lodge, F. & A. M.; Van Hornesville Lodge, No. 674, I. O. O. F., and General Herkimer Canton, Herkimer Encampment. He has also been noble grand subordinate lodge of Van Hornesville and chief patriarch of Herkimer Encampment and captain of the Canton. He is a member of the National Letter Carriers Association and served as secretary of the Business Men's Association, now the Chamber of Commerce. During the World war Mr. Spoor was second lieutenant of the Defense League and is now a member of the local council of Boy Scouts. He is a member of the Methodist church and teacher of the "Tower Boys Class" in the Sunday school. In politics he is a republican.