Clarence Spooner, a prominent lawyer of Newton, Kan., is another of the strong men of the state who have risen to prominence through the sheer force of their own industry and ambition. He claims New England as his place of nativity, having been born in Southbridge, Worcester county, Massachusetts, Aug. 22, 1856, son of Dr. Benjamin A. and Mary E. (Johnson) Spooner, the former likewise born in the same county and state. Dr. Spooner was a prominent and successful physician, who practiced medicine at Southbridge, Mass., until his death in 1860 the same being caused by exposure endured in his country practice. Clarence Spooner was but a lad of five years when both of his parents died. Having completed a course of instruction in the academy at Wilbraham, Mass., and being dependent upon his own resources, he secured employment in a textile factory at Chelsea, and from this employment earned the necessary funds to complete his education. He then engaged in teaching in the district schools. In 1881 he began the study of law in the offices of Bacon, Hopkins & Bacon, of Worcester, Mass., and was admitted to the bar at Worcester in 1883. In the spring of that year, having determined to avail himself of the greater opportunities for a young man in the West, he came to Kansas, where he taught school one year in Reno county. In 1884 he engaged in the practice of his profession at Newton, Kan., being associated with John Reed, under the firm style of Reed & Spooner. Mr. Reel retired in 1885, since which time Mr. Spooner has practiced alone. Success attended him from the very beginning of his practice in that city and he is now recognized as one of the strongest and ablest members of the Newton bar. Politically, Mr. Spooner is an adherent of the Republican party. He has served as city attorney and as police judge for a number of years, and also one term as a member of the city council. He is attorney for the Missouri Pacific railway and various commercial interests of moment. In the many years of his practice he has appeared in the most important litigations of the local and state courts. He is a member of the Kansas Bar Association.

On Aug. 13, 1889, occurred the marriage of Mr. Spooner and Miss Mary E. Scribner, daughter of George Scribner, a native of Illinois and a pioneer settler of Newton, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Spooner have a son, Walter Spooner, who is a graduate of Bethel College at Newton, with the class of 1909. Both Mr. and Mrs. Spooner are members of the Baptist church, and both are valued members of Newton social circles.