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John's Obituary which follows truly says it all. I wouldn't be surprised if it was written by him before his passing! From the stories, I heard about him from my father, John Jasper Spilman, was an incredibly curious and intelligent man. We have the Bible he carried from the Civil war. S Boyce
Obituary:
The Monett Times - Monett, Missouri -18 Dec 1914, Fri • Page 8
NOTABLE CITIZEN DIES
John Jasper Spilman, Prominent Lawrence County Farmer, Passes Away
John Jasper Spilman died at his home five miles north of Pierce City, Sunday, December 13, after a few days' illness with pneumonia. Funeral services were held on Monday, December 14, under the auspices of the Mount Vernon Masonic lodge, of which the deceased had been an honored member for nearly fifty years. The ceremonies were most impressive.
Mr. Spilman was born April 21, 1827 in Allen county, Kentucky. He came to Lawrence county, Missouri, then a part of Barry county, in 1846.
In 1849 he crossed the plains to the gold fields of California. He returned to Missouri in 1851. On February 5, 1852, he was married to Laura Moody and settled on the farm on which he lived until his death.
They were the parents of nine children Harrison V. Spilman, of Kenney, Ill.; Francis B., Mrs. Cyrilla Needham, I. E. Spilman, J. W, Spilman (deceased), O. J. Spilman (deceased), B.N. Spilman, Mrs. Mary M. House and Mrs. T. C. Williams, of Wichita, Kan. All living children were at their father's bedside at the ! time, of his death.
His wife died nine years ago this month. There are living twenty-nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Mrs. Nancy E. Rice, of Mount Vernon, Mrs. T. E. Brite, of Peirce City and Mrs. Frances Mingus, of Iradale, Tex.
Mr. Spilman enlisted in the Union army at the beginning of the Civil war and served to the close of the war. He was a member of Company B. Mississippi Marine Brigade. He was, wounded in an engagement and the last twenty-five years of his life the wounds caused him much trouble and he walked on crutches for many years.
The deceased was a remarkable man in many ways. He attended school only three months in his life. He had a thirst for knowledge and after his marriage he purchased books and his wife taught him. He acquired a great deal of information in this way and by extensive reading and study. He took the examination and received a certificate for teaching in the pubic school and taught for two years after he had been married ten years. He was a great advocate of education and all his children were educated as well as circumstances permitted.
Mr. Spilman was three, times elected assessor of Lawrence county, holding the office for eight years. He was president of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company for twenty years. At the age of eighty years he com piled a history of the Spilman family and those related to him by blood or marriage. This was printed and is very complete when it is considered the difficulty he had in getting data.
He did not belong to any church but trusted in God. He believed that every man would be called upon to give an account of his stewardship here on earth and said he was not afraid to meet his record.
He was a man that old men went to for council and young men for advice. His usefulness continued until his life was ended and his works remain as a memorial of a life well spent.
Residence
Military Service: Civil War: 1861 - 1865 Missouri Union Volunteers.
Buried John Spilman was buried in December 1914 at the Mount Olivet Baptist Church Cemetery in Pierce City, Lawrence County, Missouri.
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