Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-01-10

ne A<oso 49, ov9os
NEW YokK, Jan. 6.--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. hpwas for some time noted IN ths
Roman Catholic church Of that locality
for his learning, piety and neal. After
ward, having embraced the Protestant
faith. he married, and eame ACROSS the
turbulent western ocean to build . now
home and reputation.
He settled, with his wife, in 1901 at
what was then known a. German Flats,
now Mohawk. on the river Of that name
In Herkimsr county, N. Y. Here. on tho
elst day Of January, 1909, SON was born
to the worthy immigrants. They called
their boy Francis Eliza, and he was des-
tined to run . notable career a. . public
servant-tre~surer Of tho United States
and 10 wrte 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 century. He died In
1913, an octogenarian. His careful edu-
cation a the future banker and financieg
was matter for wonder on the part Of
the village gosipe.
When the boys schooling was COM
pleted, Ut the desire Of his father he went
TO Albany to learn candy and fancy cake
making. This was IN oversweet busi-
ness, and it is not surprising that tho
ambitious country boy soured on taffy
and sugar frosting However, he kept
m tSadc harness by apprenticing himself
TO saddler at Amsterdam, N. Y.
Francis Z. Spinner was % years Of
age when he began storekeeping on his
own account at Herlimer. He made
both ends meet and had something
lett ovs. County politics naturally at
tracted him, aud he became . deputy
sheriff in 1929. He was also quite active
- . militia osficer, reaching the rank Of
major general Of tho National guard,
state Of New York. In 1894. The years
1895, 1886 and 1887 found him q busy
man, indoors and outdoors, shine or
Storm. Tor his neishhors Familiarity called
him sheriff" It is said thst at this
time his attachments were strong and
urgent rather than friendly. In 1888
and the year following be wH Ons Of
The commsnousrs for wacting tho 6tstD
asylum for Lmstics g Utica, bat h
was removed from Tim post b. po1tical
dunmahon. Thsa he becams cDhiR
II bsnk NJ k0tnwk. q wAich instftn-
Non b was repss1Bdly sasetsd ps.sidsnt
for many ysau.
In tSfs and 1870 Gen. Spinner va
suditor and deputy United Stato nawsl
officer 1t the New York city custom
house. and in 1854 h was sent to con-
gress from his home district - . FREQ
soil Democrat During the first session
for when he was elected he served on
ths committee ON privileges and on tho
special corssBittee to iavsstirA1e the 81
tack made by Preston Brooks, . repro
sentative from Se1th Carolina, On Hon.
Charles Sumner. the NasnrAUeeas ora-
To- sad ef,azpipa II frcs hbu. Gen.
Spinner siso wss hzsrdveskfK mem
ber a committee Of csaferencs q both
bousss on the army appropriation bin
This measure had heea veiectea By the
senate On account of si~uss in il which
forbade the use Of government fsres
ayainst the SETTLERS in KAnsas
Cen Spinner wH mAie United State9
treasurer in 1881. His eaxser thcssaftex,
his lsnx poss- o<'icial kfe and his reeent
death. are trey not known Of all nen7
conssd~rn&6ca-
wife-John. I hssr bsrgiafs down
ssaHs: you'd bettsr res mp
Hushand-ISh' Don't think Of such .
Shin9' / mishs ssartle hsn. and, VINO
knowss-perhaps the poor fsllow has
hsar4 disass. - Hnghamton Leader.
Net EDprcA>s1e-