Leonard D. Spann

    The Spann family was of English ancestry. A short time before the Revolutionary war, the head of the American branch migrated to America and settled in the Colony of South Carolina. There were four of the sons and brothers of this family engaged as soldiers in that war, on the side of the Colonies. Three of them were soldiers in the ranks, and Jesse, the youngest, born in 1756, being too young for regular enlistment, acted as a scout or helper in the service. He saw and conversed with General Washington.

    After the war he married, and lived, until 1801, in Sumter District, South Carolina; then moved to Garrard County, Kentucky, and in 1816 he came to Indiana, and settled in Lancaster Township, Jefferson County, Indiana.

    Moses Spann, the son of Jesse, was born June 3, 1799, in Sumter District, South Carolina, and came with his father to Kentucky and Indiana. He was a carpenter by trade, and assisted in the log rollings of the early settlement of this county, one spring being present at thirty-three of these interesting gatherings. In those days, the whole county voted at the county seat, Madison. About forty started from Lancaster to go to town to vote; a foot race to Madison was proposed, distance nine miles. Only four of the entire number made the race: they were Mosses Spann, Solomon Spann, Miller Hall and Lacy Reynolds. Moses Spann died in 1886.

    Leonard D. Spann, who furnishes this sketch, was the son of Moses, and was born May 26, 1841, in Jefferson County, Indiana. His mother's name was Nahala Smith, and she was the daughter of Asa Smith, who settled at an early date on the land where Dupont now stands.

    Mr. Leonard D. Spann was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools, and took a course of study at the High school at Dupont. Taught school for three years. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in the State service, and served there two years and six months, being in the United States service some sixty-five days.

    He was married in 1865, to Miss Laura Driggs, daughter of Lloyd Driggs, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a resident of Madison, Indiana, since 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Spann have eight children: Minnie L. is married to Mr. E. Bennett, and lives in New Albany, Indiana; John E. married Miss Alice Cary Patton, and lives in New Albany; Clara died when sixteen years of age; the younger children, Frank D., Harley, Lloyd, Ethel E. and Bessie L. are all at home.

    Mr. Spann was for some years representing the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of Madison, Indiana, and is now one of the directors. He is also a director of the Jefferson County Fair.

    He is a member of John A. Hendricks Post, No. 107, G. A. R. He owns eighty acres of well-improved land.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.