Spivey, R. M. (1845-1923)

Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1923 Aug 20 p. 6

Birth date: 1845 Apr 27

text of obituary:

CAPT. R. M. SPIVEY DIED AT TOPEKA

Apoplexy Claimed Veteran Soldier and Santa Fe Official

Newton friends who had the pleasure of greeting Capt. R. M. Spivey here but a few days ago, were shocked yesterday to learn of his sudden death at Topeka Saturday night. Capt. Spivey had much to do with the early history of Newton, this city being his headquarters while he was land agent for the Santa Fe in the early seventies. He was a promoter of business activities on the Kansas frontier, and no issue of the early day newspapers of this section appeared without mention of him in some manner. For many years he was associated with R. W. P. Muse here and was identified with many enterprises developed in this section. Many old time personal friends of Capt. Spivey here will regret very much to learn of his death.

This morning's Capital speaks of his death and gives a bit of his history as follows:

"Capt. R. M. Spivey, 78, Civil war veteran, died shortly before midnight Saturday night at his home, 1100 Topeka boulevard. A cerebral hemorrhage, resulting in apoplexy, was the cause of Captain Spivey's death, according to the attending physician.

"Captain Spivey was born in 1845 at Maysville, Ala., and received his education at the La Grange Military academy and at the Southern university of Alabama. Immediately at the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, serving until Lee's surrender at the close of the struggle. Captain Spivey was a member of the 35th Alabama volunteers.

"After losing a hand as a result of a gunshot wound in the battle of Shiloh, he served in the quartermasters department of the Southern army.

"In 1869, Captain Spivey came to Kansas. For a number of years he was an appraiser of land for the Santa Fe railway—during the period which that system made its greatest extensions throughout the Middle West.

"For the past 26 years he had been a special representative of the Santa Fe's Grand Canyon service as an inspector for the Fred Harvey department. On the day of his death he made his run to Emporia, as usual. Captain Spivey was one of the best known railroad officials of the Santa Fe.

"The fifty-first wedding anniversrary of Captain and Mrs. Spivey was celebrated February 22 of this year.

"Captain Spivey is survived by his wife, Mrs. R. M. Spivey, of Topeka; two daughters, Mrs. Alta Ogilvie, of Topeka; Mrs. J. G. Updegraff, of Topeka; two sons, R. M. Spivey, Jr., of Topeka; A. R. Spivey, of Los Angeles, Calif.; four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

"No funeral arrangements had been made last night."

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biographical sketch from History of the State of Kansas... (Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1883), p. 781

R. M. SPIVEY was born in Madison County, Ala., April 27, 1845; was appointed cadet to the military school at La Grange, Ala., July, 1860, and remained there till April 1862, when the school was closed on account of the advance of the Union army. He then enlisted in the Confederate army, serving till April, 1865. After the close of the war he finished his education at the Southern University, located at Greensboro, Ala. January 1869, he came to Kansas, locating first at Valley Falls, remaining there till 1870, when he was appointed one of the commissioners for surveying and appraising of A. T. & S. F. R. R. lands; 1871 he located at Newton and remained there till September, 1874, when he took a position in the General Land Office, Topeka, remaining there till January, 1881, when he returned to Newton to accept the position of cashier of the Harvey County Savings Bank, which position he still holds. Mr. Spivey has been closely identified with the developments of Newton and Harvey County. He was married in 1872 to Miss Lina Owens, of Shawnee County, Kan. They have three children. Mr. S. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P.