The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-05
The Late Gen. Spinner.

NEW YORK, Jan. S.-One hundred years
ago there dwelt at Werbach, in Baden,
studious youth of 90. His name was John
Peter Spinner. Ordained for the priest.
hood, he was for some time noted in the
Roman Catholic church Of that locality
for his learning, piety and zeal After
ward, having embraced the Protestant
faith, he married, and came across the
home and reputation.
He settled, with his wife, in 1901 at
what was then known as German Flats.
now Mohawk, on the river of that name
in Herllimer county, N. Y. Here, on the
21st day Of January, 1902, % son was born
to the worthy immigrants. They called
their boy Francis Elias, and he was des-
tined to run q notable career as public
servant-treasurer of the United States
and to write an autograph in every
respect unique.
His father was pastor of the Reformed
churches at Herkimer and Mohawk,
preaching in both German and English
for nearly half II century. He died in
1913, an octogenarian. His careful edu-
cation of the future banker and financier
was matter for wonder on the part of
the village gossips.
When the boys schooling was COM
pleted, at the desire of his father he went
to Albany to learn candy and fancy cake
making. This was an oversweet bust
ness, and it is not surprising that the
ambitious country boy soured on taffy
and sugar frosting. However, he kept
in trade harness by apprenticing himself
to a saddler at Amsterdam, N. Y.
Francis E, Spinner was % years OF
age when he began storekeeping on his
own account at Herkimer. He made
both ends meet and had something
left over. County politics naturally at
tracted him, and he became a deputy
sheriff in 1920. He was also quite active
as militia officer, reaching the rank of
major general Of the National guard,
state of New York, in 1884. The years
1885, 1886 and 1887 found him busy
man, indoors and outdoors, shine or
storm, for llis neighbors familiarly called
him sheriff" 1t is said that at this
time his attachments were strong and
urgent rather than friendly. In 1895
and the year following he was one OF
the commissioners for erecting the State
asylum for Lunatics at Utica, but he
was removed from this post by political
domination. Then he became cashier
Of bank ct Mohawk, CT which institu
ton he was repeatedly elected president
for many years.
In 1913 and 1S49 Gen. Spinner was
auditor and deputy United States naval
officer at the New York city custom
house, and in 1854 he was sent to con-
gress from his home district as q free
soil Democrat During the first session
for which he was elected ne served on
the committee on privileges and on the
special committee 10 investigate the at
tack made by Prest On Brooks, q repre-
sentative from South Carolina, on Hon.
Charles Sumner, the Massachusetts ora
tor and champion of free labor. Gen.
Spinner also was a hardworking mem
Der of a committee of conference Of both
houses On the army appropriation bill.
This measure had been rejected by the
senate on account Of u clause in it which
forbade the use Of government forces
against the settlers in Kansas.
Gen. Spinner W .s made United States
treasurer in 1851. His career thereafter,
his long post-oflicial life and his recent
death, are they not known &c al, sem