The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-02-18
FORMER SAM
TAR|UM HEAD IS
TAKEN BY DEATH
DIR. A. b. SPINNEY DIES AT IONIA
WHERE HE HAS SPENT
PAST FEW YEARS

DIR. Andrew b. Spinney, aged "a
years and one of the last, if not the
very last of the old time travelling
doctors of the state, died at his home
in Ionia, Friday, where he had been
living for the past two years after
having given up his practice owing
to the infirmities of old age which
began to creep in and take possession
of him.
DIR. Spinney was perhaps at one
time the best known physician in the
state, having Travelled extensively
throughout his younger and more act
i've days and had perhaps visited
practically every known city, town or
hamlet in Michigan and had at one
time built up considerable transient
business in his line. In the earlier
days he advertised extensively and
when he arrived at place for a reg
ular stop, he was always awaited by
a crowd of patients who had gathered
there for treatment.
Following his travelling for many
years, DIR. Spinney operated sanitar-
ium at Reed City. After this burned
he came to this city and purchased
the old hotel at Cooks Corners and
operated his sanitarium there until
that also burned. He then went to
Smyrna and established himself in
the old hotel building there and final
ly gave up the business and went over
to Ionia, apparently to await the end.
While residing at Cooks Corners and
operating the sanitarium there, DIR.
Spinney's wife died and some time
after he married again.
<<f =
patients while away on his travelling
trips and sent them to his sanitarium
for treatment. He usually spent his
time away from home and left his
institution in charge of some physi-
clan whom he could get to come and
run place of that kind. The cases
were as rule of venereal or con-
finement nature and several investi-
cations resulted from time to time as
result of complaints which were
made against the way the inmates in
the institution were treated COM
plants being made both by the peo-
pie living in the neighborhood and
sometimes by the inmates themselves.
The sanitariums as conducted, were
not considered as desirable asset
and as rule it was with feeling of
satisfaction that the people of COM
munity heard that the doctor and his
rather notorious institution were go
ing to move from the vicinity, owing
to fire having burned them out or
for some other cause.
The writer remembers several in
vestigations which were made into
the affairs of the Spinney sanitarium
and while nothing was ever done in
any OF the cases, still the notoriety
which the physician and his staff of
assistants received through the affair
was urwelcome and served to detract
from any popularity or good will
which they may have held in the
community before that time.
we remember one case in particular
where a young girl had gone to the
institution and was required to work
at certain labor in the place until her
bill was paid. While there the at
tending and head physician tried to
get the young girl-mother to give her
baby away. With a true mother love
she refused and trouble arose between
her and the chief physician and the
young girl invariably got the worst
OF the argument. Harvey Simmons
mad some distant relative being
treated at the sanitarum for an in
Jury which he had sustained to his
mead some years ago and he saw much
Oh what was going on and when Har-
vey visited his cousin the latter told
! MIN OF the case and of how the girl
was being treated by those over her.
Just how she left the hospital was
not known but the next morning she
was safe with her baby in the Har-
vey Simmons home in this CITY. with
Mr.. and Mrs. Simmons PLAYING the
Good Smaritan to herself and child.
The shrewd physician over at the san
itarium ferreted her hiding place out
and because she had taken a blanket
which really belonged to the hospital
with her in which to wrap her babv
when she left. she was charged with
theft of goods valued at a great deal
more than the rag which she had TAX
en- conld possibly have been appraised
at. The court, after hearing the evil
dence in the case dismissed II and
gave the physician the ragged blank
ct back. 1t was laughable 70 see him
take the practically worthless stuff
and carefully pack and fold it and
take it back with him. Local people
who had become interested in the girl
took pity on her and raised n sum of
money and after getting her some
clothes. bought her a railroad ticket
to her home in the southern part of
the state and the last report which
came from her was she was married
had a fine home and was the proud
and happy mother of several children.
DIR. Spinney's funeral was held Sat
urday afternoon at. two o'clock. II
was private >and burial was in High
land Park cemetery. He is survived
by his wife and two children, son.
living at Alto, and a daughter, living
at home