The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-03
DEATH OF JOHN S. SPAWN
ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN OF IN
DIANAPOLIS'S OLD CITIZENS.
Published the Indiana Democrat Dur
ing the Mexican War-He Lived in
This City Fifty-Seven Years.

John S. Spann died at his residence, 1913
North Pennsylvania street. last evening at
1880 o'clock of heart disease, after an ill
ness of about two months. He was in his
seventy-ffth year Much of his life Mr..
Spann had suffered from this disease, but
it did not assume a dangerous form until
nine weeks ago. Since that time he has
been able to go out driving with members
of the family. During the last three weeks
he has been confined to the house continu
ally. His family realized that he was in
very critical condition. He passed a more
comfortable day yesterday than for some
time. In the evening he was sitting on
sofa talking, when he suddenly threw up
his hands, gasping. His death was almost
instantaneous, and came peacefully and
without suffering. Beside his wife, Mr..
Spann left three sons and one daughter,
Thomas H., John NJ. and Henry j. Spann
and Mrs. Henry S. Hanckel, all of this city.
Although Mr.. Spanns death was not un-
expected, it was received with regret by
large circle of friends who had learned to
respect him through years of intercourse
in business, social and church relations,
and many friends called to express sympa
thy with the family. Arrangements have
not yet been made for the funeral.
John S. Spann was born in Jefferson
county, this State, May a. 1923. His early
education was only such as could be OBJ
tanned in the district county school, which
he attended as a lad and a short expert
ence in the neighboring town academy. AT
the age of thirteen he went to work in a
printing office at Vernon, where he learned
his trade as a printer and acquired such
% Il
employment In January, 1910, at the age
Of seventeen, he accompanied his father,
John l.. Spann, then a member of the
House of Representatives, when he came
up to the session of the Legislature, which
convened in this city at that time. While
here he found employment in job printing
office, and thereafter renamed here. From
his good New England mother he inherited
the qualities of industry and thrift, and
after a few years of hard work was able
to go into business for himself. His first
newspaper venture was with Alexander F.
Morrison in the publication of the Indiana
Democrat. This paper had been established
only about a year when the Mexican war
broke out and Mr. Morrison went off with
the Indiana troops as quartermaster 1eav-
ing Mr.. Spann, then only twenty-five years
litical paper engaged in a bitter quarrel
with the Sentinel, then well-establshed
paper, published by George "A. and j. 2.
Chapman.
In the fall of 1876 Mr.. Spann discontinued
the Democrat and formed a partnership
with the Chapmans under the firm name
of Chapmans & Spann. This new arrange
ment gave him larger field and better
opportunities, and enabled him TO MAKE
acquaintances and friends with many of the
notable men Of the State, and some of the
friendships then formed continued through
a busy life From the printing of the
Biackford Reports and from the reading of
a few elementary law books he acquired
some knowledge of legal principles, and his
vigorous mind was subsequently developed
by the reading Of good books, from winch
he had the faculty of absorbing and appro-
priating knowledge. In connection with
DR. E. w. H. Ellis, of Goshen, he obtained
the contract for the State printing in 1850,
out of which he secured his first financial
success. AT the end of this partnership
with DR. Ellis his health seemed to be per-
manently impaired For seventeen years
he had been the first at the office and the
last to leave. He had been through all the
grades of the printing house from roller
bow to proprietor, and when he settled up
his business at that time it was with the
belief that he had but few years to live.
Cessation from labor, however, for snort
period proved that his trouble was over
work, and he subsequently purchased the
Sentinel again and published It Tor Whlle
with John B. Norman. In 1860 Mr. Spann
established the real estate business in
which he has since been engaged. During
most of this period of thirty seven. years
his business has been carried on in the
firm name of John s. Spann & Co, his part
ners for many years being his sons,
Thomas H. John NJ. and Henry j. Spann,
who have had Immediate charge OF the de-
tails of the business for several years past.
Mr. Spann's name has been intimately
identified with the growth and development
of the city. The business of the firm has
increased from year to year, and 1t is to-
day one of the strongest and most reliable
in the city. Mr.. Spann had little desire for
public office In 1850 he was elected city
treasurer but resigned the office after a
few months. He served for several years
on the boards of trustees of the Deaf and
Dumb and Blind Asylums, and was one Of
the incorporators of Crown Hill Cemetery
Association. In 1912 he became a member
of the Second Presbyterian Church during
the ministry of Henry Ward Beecher, and
has continued deVotedly attached to 1t ever
since He served for many years on It's
board of trustees, was chairman of the
committee which had charge of the build
ing of its edifce. and has been one of the
ruling elders since 1861. For ntty-seVen
years Mr. Spann has lived In indianapolis,
and for the greater part of this time he has
been an important factor IN It's NE lie mad
opinions on all the vital questions of the
day, and was intensely interested in every
thing that pertained to the Nation, the
State and the city. He was man OF
strong convictions and never hesitated to
express himself. He was deVout, noble
minded and singularly beautiful in char
acter. He was married June 2, 1871 70 Miss
Hester A Sharpe, a daughter OF Ebenezer
sharpe. formerly agent of State.