Born in Maryland on the 11th of June, 1829, a son of George V. and Rebecca (Cleggett) Spangler. The father was a farmer and the owner of a number of slaves. He removed from Maryland to Ohio when his son Samuel was nine years of age and in the Buckeye state the boy was reared, having the usual experiences which fall to the lot of the farm lad who divides his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a common-school education. When twenty-one years of age Mr. Spangler bought a farm in Ohio and cultivated it until 1856, when, attracted by the business opportunities of the growing west, he came to Iowa, making the journey by rail to Dubuque and thence by wagon to Buchanan county, settling in Buffalo township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land. He successfully developed and improved his farm, and he added to his holdings from time to time until he became the owner of about fifteen hundred acres. He was also among the pioneer stock raisers of the county, making a specialty of handling thoroughbred Durham cattle. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Aurora Savings Bank of Aurora, this county, was elected its first president. On the 31st of July, 1851, Mr. Spangler was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Adams, who was born in Keene, Ohio, December 29, 1833, a daughter of John Q. and Lavina (Walker) Adams. Mr. Spangler voted with the democratic party and was called by popular suffrage to represent his district in the state legislature for one term. He was also justice of the peace in pioneer times and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial.