Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/674

640 in 1819, and Lafayette that of D. D. in 1858. In addition to many pamphlets he published " Essays on the Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character" (New York, 1813); "Fragments from the Study of a Pastor" (1838); "Obligations of the World to the Bible" (1841); "The Attraction of the Cross" (1845); "The Bible not of Man" (1847); "Discourses to Seamen" (1847): "The Power of the Pulpit" (1848); "The Mercy-Seat" (1849); " First Things" (3 vols., 1851); "The Glory of Christ" (2 vols., 1852); "Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel J. Mills" (1854); "Contrast between Good and Bad Men" (2 vols., 1855) ; "Pulpit Ministrations; or Sal plinth Readings, a Series of Discourses" (2 vols., 1864); and "Personal Reminiscences of the Life and Times of Gardiner Spring" (2 vols., 1866). He also published several occasional sermons, the last of which are contained in the "Brick Church Memorial" (New York, 1861). Many of his books were translated into French and other languages, and republished in Great Britain. A collective edition of his earlier works was published (9 vols., New York. 1855).

SPRINGER, Reuben Runyan, philanthropist, b. in Frankfort. Ky., 16 Nov., 1800; d. in Cincinnati, Ohio. 10 Dec., 1884. The family, originally from Sweden, settled ruled in Delaware in the 17th century. Reuben's father, Charles, a native of West Virginia, moved to Kentucky, was a soldier under Gen. Anthony Wayne in the Indian war, and afterward postmaster at Frankfort. At thirteen his son became a clerk in the post-office, and in three years succeeded his father as postmaster. He was next a clerk on a steamboat that ran between Cincinnati and New Orleans, soon acquired an interest in the boat, and thus laid the foundation of his fortune. Later he became a partner in a large and prosperous grocery house in Cincinnati, but retired in 1840 on account of his health, and never resumed active business, lie went abroad repeatedly, buying many fine works of art, most of which are now the property of the Cincinnati art museum. He gave to the Music hall, the Exposition building, the Odeon theatre, and the Art museum in that city, in all $420.000; to private charities of the Roman Catholic church, of which he was a member, more than $100.000. and at least x:!n.i> in annually in the way of benevolence, besides contributing liberally and regularly to various charities and public enterprises. He left about #3,000,000 to his nearest of kin, having no children; also annuities to the College of music, the Music hall and the Art museum, and nearly $400,000 to various Roman Catholic charitable institutions, among these, $40,000 to the cathedral schools. $50.000 to St. Peter's benevolent society, and $100,000 for the education of priests.

SPRINGER, William McKendree, lawyer, b. in New Lebanon, Sullivan co., Ind., 30 May, 1836. His family removed to Jacksonville. Ill., in 1848, and, alter receiving his early education at the Illinois college, he was graduated at Indiana university in 1858, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1859. and practised in Springfield, 111., where he still resides. He was secretary of the State constitutional convention of 1862, served in the. legislature in 1871-'2, which was engaged in revising the laws of the state, and was elected to congress as a Democrat, serving since 4 March, 1875. On 15 Dec., 1875, he introduced in the house his resolution declaring the precedent of retiring from the presidential office after the second term has become a part of our republican system, and that any departure from this time-honored custom would be unwise, unpatriotic, and fraught with peril to our free institutions, which was adopted yeas, 233, nays. 18. This large affirmative vote contributed materially to the defeat of President Grant for renomination in 1876 for a third term. In 1875 he was appointed chairman of the committee on expenditures in the state department, and has been a member of other important committees, including the Potter committee, which investigated the presidential election of 1876. and of the joint commit in which reported the electoral commission bill of 1876'7. and in 1882-'4 delivered numerous and exhaustive speeches in congress on the establishment of the tariff commission and the revision of the tariff. He has also introduced several notable bills, and his amendment, to the bill granting $1,500,000 to the Centennial commissioners and his successful efforts in recovering the amount through the U.S. supreme court have won for him a wide reputation. During the 50th congress he secured favorable action in the committee on territories, of which he was chairman, on his bill to provide for the organization of the territory of Oklahoma, and on his bill to enable the people of Dakota, Montana, Washington, and New Mexico to form constitutions and state governments. In 1888 he was chairman of the committee of the whole house pending the protracted debate on the tariff bill. In May, 1888 he was renominated as a candidate for the 51st congress. His wife, Rebecca Ruter, author, b. in Indianapolis, Ind.. 8 Nov.. 1832, is the daughter of the Rev. Calvin W. Ruter, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1850 she was graduated at the Wesleyan female college, Cincinnati, and on 15 Dec., 1859, she married Mr. Springer. She is the author of numerous fugitive poems, and of two novels, "Beechwood" (Philadelphia, 1873), and "Self" (1881).

SPROAT, Ebenezer, soldier, b. in Middleborough, Plymouth co., Mass, in 1752; d. in Marietta, Ohio, in February, 1805. He entered the Provincial army as a captain early in 1775, was promoted major and lieutenant-colonel, and finally given command of the 2d Massachusetts regiment. He was in Gen. John Glover's brigade at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth, and was appointed brigade-inspector by Baron. After the war he was a surveyor at Providence, R.I., where he married a daughter of Com. . Subsequently he went to the west, and in 1786 began a survey of the territory now within the borders of the state of Ohio. In 1788 he led a party of emigrants that settled Marietta, and he was fourteen years sheriff and colonel of militia. He was tall and commanding in person, and was known among Indians as “The Big Buckeye.”

'''SPROULL. Thomas''' (sprowl). clergyman, b. near Freeport, Pa.. 15 Sept., 1803 ; d. in Pittsburg, 20 March, 1892. He was uradnatrd at the Western university of Pennsylvania in 1829. studied for the ministry, and was pastor of the Refori 1 Presbyterian congregation of Alleghany and I'ittsburg from 1834 tall 1868. llew.-e- a prnt'e.-sor in 1S38-'40 in the Reformed Presbyterian we-tern theological seminary, and in 1840-'45 in the united Eastern and "Western seminaries. In 1856 he was i-i- elected, and in 1874 was made professor emeritus. In 1847 he was moderator of the synod of the Reformed Presbyterian church. lie edii.d "The Reformed Presbyterian" in l!SVi-Vp:: and ' The Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter" in 1863-'74. both in Pittsburg. He received the degree of D. D. from Westminster college. 1'a.. in 1857, and that of LL. D. from the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1SS6. Besides numerous