The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-06
He Was Carried Into q Waiting Room,
but Died Before Regaining
Consciousness.
A LEADING REALESTATE MAN
SPENT MOST OF THE FIFTY-TwO
YEARS OF HIS LIFE HERE.
President of Commercial Club and
Secretary of indianapolis Fire
Insurance Company.

John NJ. Spann. one OF the most promi-
nent of the insurance and real-estate men
of this city, died suddenly at o'clock last
evening at the Union Station as he was
about to take a train for Fort Wayne. He
purchased his ticket, and, leaving the win
dow, stepped toward the desk in the CEN
ter OF the room for the purpose 1t is
thought, of signing his mileage ticket. Be-
fore reaching the desk he fell face down
ward upon the floor.
c. Schroeder, a druggist OF Shelbyville,
and p p. Fettig also of Shelbyville. were
standing near him. They FASTENED to his
side. Mr.. Schroeder turned him over, and,
seeing his condition, attempted to start
the respiration, which had stopped. Then
Mr.. Spann was carried into the northeast
waiting room where the efforts to revive
him were continued, but without avail. He
lived about five minutes after falling. Mr..
Schroeder when he first reached him,
asked him If he could tell something of his
condition and his name, but received no
response, and Mr.. Spann did not recover
consciousness.
The body was taken in the City Dispen-
sary ambulance to the city morgue, but as
soon as it's identity became known 1t was
moved by C. E. Kregelo, undertaken, to the
family home at 25 West Drive, Woodruff
Place.
Mr.. Spann was born April %, 1880, in this
city, which was his home except for about
nine years. when he resided at Malone, n.
Y, where he was engaged in the hardware
business. After completing his school
years he became associated here with his
father, John 5. Spann, who died about two
years ago, in the real estate and insurance
business. He took prominent part in the
business until he went to Malone. He was
married there TO Miss Sarah l.. Lawrence,
a daughter of ID. w. Lawrence, a prom
inent man of that village. He returned to
Indianapolis about ten years ago and again
became a member of the firm of John s.
Spann & Co. He was prominent in most
public movements and enterprises of In
danapolis He was closely identified with
the business of insurance and real estate
and was an authority on subjects in con-
nection Herewith.
He was secretary of the Indianapolis Fire
Insurance Company. president of the Com
mercial Club. a trustee of the Second Pres
byterian Church. of which he had been a
member for thirty years, and was connect
ed i'm an official capacity with several other
public institutions.
He leaves a widow, two children. his
mother, Mrs. Hester A. Spann, two broth
ers Thomas j. and Henry j. Spann and a
sister, Mrs. II. 5. Hanckel. all of this city.
The investigation of Coroner Brayton
last night indicated that Mr.. Spann had
died of heart disease. Members of his
family said he had complained very little
of trouble with his heart. and il was not
thought to be Of such a serious nature as
10 cause sudden death. He attended a
meeting OF the officers of the fire insurance
company yesterday afternoon and was APP
parently in his usual health He expressed
himself. as he prepared TO leave the office,
as telling well. No arrangements were
made for the funeral last night
The directors of the Commercial Club
will meet to-day at noon to take appro-
pirate action relative to the death OF Mr..
Spann.