The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-07
A NOTED PHYSICIAN DEAD.
The Demise OF DIR. ID. Il. spann of
Anderson.

ANDERSON, Feb. 2.-Special.-Dr. h.
+. Spann, one of the best known doctors
in the state. and also one Of the direc-
tors of the State normal college at Terre
Haute, died at his home in this city this
afternoon after long illness Of heart
disease.
DR.. Spann had been suffering from a
COMPLICATION of diseases the past few
Well and walked about the house Chatting
and laughing with his wife and trlends
who called. About o'clock Mrs. ". n.
Spann, and Mrs. Forrey who had called,
were remarldng of the excellent spirits OF
the doctor A half hour later Wash Black
Of RiChland township. an old friend. called.
Before Mr.. Black Went TO leave he paid
the doctor some money he owed him, ana
while Mr. Spann was sitting IN his easy
SAID: Wash, this will save me long
drive, gasped once or twice, and was
dead. The time Of the funeral has net
been announced.
Or. Benjamin F. Spann. citizen Of An
derson for nearly a third of a century, and
z pfacuclng physician and surgeon since
Nov -, 1853, was born near Madison, Jet-
terSon county, Indiana, May Il, 1880 his
father was John Spanu. a native of
Charleston, :. g.. and his father was JET
ifey Spann, a native of Germany, Who IN
company with four brothers. came TO south
Carolina and located. Jeffrey removed 10
Garrett county. Kentucky, and later TO
Jefferson county. Indiana, where he dled-
When DR.. Spanns father settled in JET
terSon county. there abundant game,
and he being a fine shot, secured great
trophies, on one day killg three bears
He was a carpenter by trade but devoted
MS attention TO agriculture lie repre-
scented Jefferson county four times in the
lower house OF the legislature and Jen-
tnree times, and in the senate three times;
lie was a member OF the constitutional
convention in lS50-5l which revised the
original law OF the state. Following tRis
he was member of the senate that adopt
ed inc constitution. lie was a ma iOr-gen-
eral of the Indiana militia and was known
rs Gen. Spann at his death, when seventy
three years OF age. Or. Spann'S motEer
was Sophia Smith. who was born in Madison
Npu.ty' NentuchN' ana was the daugnter
oi Asa smith, who was born al New Ha-
ven, Ky. She died at the residence Of one
on her sons in Boone county, Indiana. in
1861. at the age OF SeVcnty-fiVe years. Their
family consisted Of twelve children. ten Of
whom grew up and four Of whom survive.
George, proprietor OF the City drug store
m Anderson, was in the army a short
uhe, thompson w was a merchant In
AhdefSon' John :. an attorney by profess
sion, IL a large real estate dealer and
broker At Indianapolis; benjamin F. was
Iourth oldest; William, the Oldest was n
lumber dealer. died i'm Keokuk Ia: Dr.
Charles \. died at the age of thirty, at
Madison: one brother and Edith. Martha.
young.
Dr. Spann went to Jennings county with
his parents when he was five years Of age
itls school beginning was in the log school
houses or the day. Later he was sent TO
BIT Vernon academy, where he was a
schoolmate OF John &. New, consul-generaI
to London. Judge Horatio g. Newcomb,
many years a member of congress and
Jeptha ID. New, Judge Of the state appel
late court. While remaining on the farm
he had a desire to study medicine. and he
devoted his evenings and mornings TO read
ing until 1850, when he went to townsville
and later to Lebanon, where he studied
under his brother DR.. Charles y. Spann.
In 1852 he attended medical college at &C.
neva, y. Y. After this he entered practice
with his brother and in 1858 entered the
Ohio medical college at Cincinnati. from
which he graduated in 1853. In the mean
time his brother had become ill in health
and moved to Madison. He went to him
and remained until his death Nov. %
lHl9. Then he located In Anderson and
entered the practice. In those days IL was
customary for physician 10 ride all over
the country i'm response TO calls carving
his medicines in saddle bags. In 1901 DR..
Spann attended another course of lectures
Al Ohio medical college aud graduated with
the degree OF NJ ID. In 1862 Dr. Spann went
to tennessee at the request of Governor
Morton. at the time OF the battle Of Stone
river. He was directed TO take charge Of
a hospital at Nashville AfterWard. DIR.
Kelly asked him If he would prefer to go
home or go TO the front. DR. Spann said
he was ready 10 go wherever sent. He
was sent north with a boat load OF sick
and wounded men. TO be distributed among
the hospitals. Governor Morton issued Dr.
Spann "A commission as assistant surgeon
OF the one Hundred and Second regiment.
but he never received it until thirty years
after the close of the war Ii had laid
among Col. Gregory's papers until four
years ago il was discovered and forwarded
by the colonel with suitable apology. DIR.
Spann has always enjoyed large practice
which has never been interfered with eX-
cept in 1889, when he met with an acct
dent which disabled him for a time. He
was disabled for year or more.
DR.. Spann has held several Offices of
trust and honor. For four years he was
trustee of the hospital for the insane at
Indianapolis. being appointed by Governor
Williams. In 1884 he was appointed one of
the trustees Of the Indiana normal school
at Terre Haute and has been reanpointed
by every succeeding governor. each APP
pOintment being made without solicitation.
He has been an elder in the presbyterian
church for twenty years. He is a. member
of the state medical assoca ton and was
ST. Paul. He was president Of the Madison
county association and the district asSocia-
ton, composed of six counties. He was
pension examiner four years, with head
quarters at Muncie. Politically Or. Spann
has always been a democrat.
In 1866 Or. Spann and Miss Mary O'Hara
were married in Anderson. She was the
daughter of Mcdonald O'Hara and was
born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in
Richmond Ind. No children have been
and burden of raising three. Mary A
O'Hara sister TO Mrs. Spann, is the wife
OF Mr. English Of the DanVille national
bank: George ). OHara of Harvey, Ill, a
travelling salesman, and Thomas a. Afford,
who is engaged in wholesale house in
Indianapolis.
John S. Spann Of indianapolis is his
brother For nearly all of the foregoing
| The Sentinel is indebted TO the Bulletin
Of this city.
DR.. Spann was buried at Indianapolis
| Monday.