Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Spilman, Smith Augustus 1853 - 
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Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

SMITH AUGUSTUS SPILMAN, M. D.

Prominent among the leading physicians of his section of the state is Dr. Smith
Augustus Spilman, of Ottumwa. In a profession where advancement depends entirely
upon individual merit he has steadily worked his way upward, promoting his skill
and ability by study abroad. He is now largely specializing in surgery and is a
member of the consulting staff of the Ottumwa Hospital.

Dr. Spilman was born in Jennings county, Indiana, March 6, 1853. He had three
great-grandfathers who were soldiers of the Revolutionary war and one of the
number held the rank of captain. John D. Spilman, father of Dr. Spilman, was
born in Kentucky in 1823 and made farming his life work. After living for some
time in Indiana he brought his family to Wapello county, Iowa, in November,
1871, and settled 011 a farm in Highland township, where he passed away in
August, 1876. He married Amelia Percival, who was born in Kentucky in 1825 and
died in 1881. She was a descendant of Captain Percival, of whom mention has been
made above. John D. Spilman was a soldier of the Civil war and one of his sons,
T. P. Spilman, enlisted for service in the Union army at the age of sixteen
years and had risen to the rank of major some months before he attained the age
of twenty years. He enlisted with the Fiftv-second Indiana volunteers and at the
close of hostilities was major in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Indiana, He
was also inspector general of the troops in Delaware and on the eastern shore of
Maryland. The family of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Spilman numbered eleven children,
five of whom are yet living: Major T. P. Spilman, now a resident of Wapello;
Smith A.; J. H., living in Highland township; Miss Dorinda R. Spilman, of
Ottumwa; and H. M., of Bigelow, Missouri.

Dr. Spilman was educated in the common schools of Indiana and in a private
school and completed the work that usually constitutes the high school
curriculum. He afterward engaged in teaching for several terms in Wapello and
Keokuk counties and then entered what is now the Northwestern University Medical
School, from which he was graduated on the 4th of March, 1879. He then entered
upon general practice, in which he continued for many years, but now confines
his practice largely to surgery and consultation work. He spent some time in New
York city, doing post-graduate work, and also pursued special work in Vienna,
coming under the instruction of some of the eminent physicians and surgeons of
the old world. He has been a constant student of his profession, broadening his
knowledge by wide reading and investigation and keeping in touch with the best
thinking men of the age through the dissemination of knowledge in books and in
the medical societies. He belongs to the Wapello County Medical Society and the
Des Moines Valley Medical Association, of which he was secretary for six years
and president for one term. He likewise holds membership with the Iowa State
Medical Association and with the American Medical Association. In addition to
his private practice he is acting as a member of the consulting staff of the
Ottumwa Hospital, and is local surgeon for several railroads.

On the 23d of September, 1873, Dr. Spilman was united in marriage to Miss Mary
J. Kizer, who was born in Decatur county, Indiana, where the marriage took
place, her parents being John and Martha (Woodfill) Kizer, both now deceased.
The father was a farmer. To Dr. and Mrs. Spilman was born a daughter, Martha,
now the wife of H. O. Bowen of Bellingham, Washington. Mrs. Spilman passed away
in 1876 and in December, 1879, Dr. Spilman wedded Miss Mary Ball, a native of
Jefferson county, Iowa, and a daughter of Joseph Ball. She died March 4, 1881,
and on the 29th of December, 1886, Dr. Spilman married Miss Alice Sellers, who
was born in Topeka, Kansas, a daughter of J. C. Sellers, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, now
deceased. The only living child of this marriage is Dr. Harold A. Spilman, who
is practicing medicine in Ottumwa. He was married September 10, 1912, to Miss
Myra Lawrence, of Decatur, Michigan. There was one son who died in infancy.

Dr. Spilman gives his political support to the republican party and has always
been a stanch advocate of its principles, but never an aspirant for office. His
religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his fraternal
relations are with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, while along more
strictly social lines he is connected with the Wapello and the Country Clubs.
Entertaining high professional ideas, Dr. Spilman has constantly striven to
reach their level and is today one of the eminent and capable physicians and
surgeons of Iowa, while at the same time his many friends appreciate his
attractive social qualities and enjoy his companionship.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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