The New International Encyclopædia/Spinner, Francis Elias

SPIN'NER, Francis Elias (1802-90). An American political leader, born at German Flats, now Mohawk, N. Y. From 1845 to 1849 he was auditor of the naval office in New York City. In 1854 he was elected to Congress as a Free-Soil Democrat, but soon identified himself with the newly organized Republican Party, and was twice reëlected to Congress, serving from 1855 until 1861, when he was appointed Treasurer of the United States. This position he filled with great credit until 1875, when he resigned on account of failing health and went to Florida, where he passed the remainder of his life. During his administration women were first employed as clerks in the Treasury Department to take the places of the men who enlisted in the Federal armies.