Thomas Harrison Spooner was born August 18, 1849, in Macon, Mississippi. He was the son of Horace N. and Sara Massie Harrison Spooner of Virginia and came to Texas with his parents in 1865. In 1869 Tom became a law student in the office of (James F.) Miller and (W.B.) Sayers, local lawyers and bankers, was admitted to the bar in 1871 and had a private practice in Gonzales from 1874 to 1884. On January 12, 1876, he married Molly Elizabeth Allen in Sweet Home, Texas. Molly was born March 29, 1856, the daughter of William and Martha Ann Burroughs Allen.
Thomas had the house built in 1875 as a wedding gift for Molly. The house was built of cypress and is still in remarkable condition even though it was not painted for over 50 years. An outside staircase was removed after antiques were stolen during the late 1980’s. The structure is on a large lot that at one time covered half a block and was the center of the residential area of Gonzales. It was the first house in Gonzales to use natural gas. The woodwork inside the house has been lovingly cared for and is in mint condition. There is beautiful fretwork dividing the entry hall and the hand carved walnut staircase that leads to the second floor. A revolving stained glass window is set in the wall between the hall and the dining room-kitchen area. Several fireplaces with original mantels create a warm gracious atmosphere. The Spooners spent their entire married life in this house and raised eight children, two boys and six girls. During the research of the Spooner family, it was clear that Tom and Molly lived in the house until their deaths. However, I misinterpreted information indicating that Ms. Tom Spooner lived there until her death. I assumed that Ms. Tom Spooner was Molly when actually it turned out to be Miss Tom Spooner, a spinster daughter, who Tom and Molly had actually named Tom. Miss Tom Spooner lived in the house until her death in 1982. The house was donated to the Gonzales County Historical Commission by Dr. and Mrs. W.B. Denman and was later sold to an individual. It has been restored and serves as a bed and breakfast.
Tom gave up his private practice in 1884 when elected District Attorney. In 1892 he was elected to the bench and served as District Judge of the 25th Judicial District for four years. Governor J.D. Sayers, brother to W.B. Sayers, appointed Tom to the position of inspector on the State Penitentiary Board where he served for four years. In 1902 he retired from his law practice and purchased controlling interest in all four of the utilities serving the town. They were The Gonzales Water Works, The Citizens Electric Light and Power Company, The Gonzales Water Power Company, and the Gonzales Ice & Refrigeration Company. He was an active member of the Baptist Church and a long time member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. He died October 3, 1921, following an operation and was buried in the Gonzales I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Molly died May 20, 1933, and is buried beside him.
