Transcript:"Captain A. C. Spilman Passes On," McPherson Daily Republican (McPherson, Kansas)

From page 1 of The McPherson Daily Republican, Wednesday, 1 January 1919.

Captain A. C. Spilman Passes On.

The many friends of Capt. A. C. Spilman were shocked to hear early this afternoon that he had passed on at 12:20 o'clock today. Mr. Spilman had a heart attack Monday and was taken from his office to his home by Dr. Quantius, and since that time he has never rallied but gradually weakened until the end came at noon today. He was rational to the last, and when he passed into the Great Beyond he simply went to sleep.

Judge A. C. Spilman was an native of Mississippi, and was born in 1837. His parents moved to Illinois when he was a child and he was reared in that state. After finishing the public schools he took a two years' classical course at the Illinois College at Jacksonville and a one year's scientific course at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. His father wished him to finish his college course but Mr. Spilman had a severe attack of the western fever, and in 1857, before he was of age, he came to Lawrence, Kansas. A year later he came to Salina, assisted in laying out the city and was one of the original town company. He moved to McPherson county in 1870 and took up a claim near Roxbury where he was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising until his election to the probate judgeship of this county in 1886. He held this office for three terms. During the six years that he was probate judge he read law and was admitted to the bar. While he did not engage in legal practice his thorough knowledge of the law was invaluable to him in the abstracting business. Judge Spilman is a veteran of the civil war and with his regiment experienced the terrors and hardships of the frontier campaign. He enlisted as a private in the Sixth Kansas volunteer cavalry in August, 1861, and served on the frontier in Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory and Kansas. When mustered out May 31, 1865 he held a captain's commission, being captain of Co. B, of the same regiment.

Prior to coming to McPherson county he had been prominently identified with the early history of Saline county where he served as county surveyor one term, and served one term in the legislature from that district.

In politics he was a Republican, and a good one. He affiliated with the Presbyterian church and was also a member of the Masonic, Mystic Shrine and A. O. U. W. orders. His career both public and private had been such as to merit the confidence and respect accorded to him by his wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Funeral arrangements have as yet not been made.