The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-03-26
The Late Gen. Spinner.

New YORK, Jan. S.-One hundred years |
ago there dwelt at Werbach IN Baden, a |
studious youth of 20. 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 cana across the
turbulent western ocean TO build a new
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 Herkimer county, n. Y. Here, on the
21st day of January, 1902, a son was born
to the worthy immigrants. They called
their boy Francis Elias, and he was DIES
tined to run notable career as II public
servant-treasurer Of the United States
and to write an autograph in every
respect unique.
His father was pastor of the Reformed
churches ut Herkimcr and Mohawk,
preaching in both German and English
for nearly half a century. He died III
1918, 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 sourel on taffy
and sugar frOsting. However, he kept
in trade harness by apprenticing himself
to saddler at Amsterdam, n. Y.
Francis E. Spinner was % years OF
age when he began storekeepng on his
own account ut Herkimer. He made
both ends meet and had something
left over. County politics naturally at
tracted him. and he became Il deputy
sheriff in 1920. He was also quite active
as a militia officer, reaching the rank OF
major general of the National guard,
state of New York, in 1891. The year,
1888, 1886 and 1887 found him q busy
man, indoors and outdoors, shine OF
storm, for his neighbors familiarly called
him sheriff" 1t is said that at thus
time his attachments We're strong apG
urgent rather than friendly. In 1S3|
and the year following he was one o
the commissioners for erecting the Stat,
asylum for Lunatics at Utica, but ht
was removed from this post by pOlitica
domination. Then he became cashle
Ct bank at Mohawk, Of which institu
ton he was repeatedly elected presiden
for many years.
In 1913 and 1919 Gen. Spinner wa
auditor and deputy United States nava
officer at, the New York city custom
house. and in 1854 he was sent to con
| gress from his bone district as a fire.
soil Democrat. During the hrst session
for which he was elected lie served u
the committee on privileges and on liz
special committee to investigate the ut
tack made by Preston Books. repre-
sentative from Somh Caro.al on Hon
Charles Sumner, the GIssacl sett5 ora
tor ANA champion of t-ee labor. Gen
Spinner also was Il Woodworking mem
her of n committee of conference of boti
nousrs on The army appcopria ION bill
This measure had bern rejected by tn
senate on account Of clause in it whicl
forbade the use of government forces
against the setlle,s IL Kansas.
Gen. Spinner y Is ma Ie United State
treasurer in 1861. His career thereafter
his long posr-oificlal life and his recen
| death, are they no; known vf AZ lien?