Introduction

Biography

Spilman was the son of Ben­ja­min Frank Spil­man and Nan­cy Rice, and hus­band of Eli­za­beth (Eli­za) Sar­ah Tay­lor.

Historical Note: Spil­man’s wife Eli­za was the daugh­ter of Han­cock Tay­lor (bro­ther of Am­eri­can pre­si­dent Zach­ary Tay­lor), and cou­sin of Zach­ary Tay­lor’s daugh­ter Sar­ah Knox Tay­lor, who mar­ried Jef­fer­son Da­vis, pre­si­dent of the Con­fed­er­ate States of Am­eri­ca.

Spilman prac­ticed law for 18 years, then be­came a min­is­ter at age 46.

As of 1880, he was a wi­dow­er in Can­ton, Mis­sis­sip­pi.