Solomon L. Spink

Solomon L. Spink
Brady-Handy collection portrait of Spink,
taken between 1860 and 1875
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Dakota Territory's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871
(Delegate)
Preceded byWalter A. Burleigh
Succeeded byMoses K. Armstrong
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the Edgar County district
In office
1864
Personal details
BornSolomon Lewis Spink
(1831-03-20)March 20, 1831
Whitehall, New York, US
DiedSeptember 22, 1881(1881-09-22) (aged 50)
Yankton, South Dakota, US
PartyRepublican
OccupationPolitician

Solomon Lewis Spink (March 20, 1831 – September 22, 1881) was an American politician. A Republican, he was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Dakota Territory.

Biography

Spink was born on March 20, 1832, in Whitehall, New York. A graduate of Castleton Seminary, he worked as an educator between Maryland and New York, among other states.[1] He studied law, and in 1856, was admitted to the bar, after which he commenced practice in Burlington, Iowa. In 1860, he moved to Paris, Illinois, where he was editor of the Prairie Beacon, a local newspaper.[2] He purchased the newspaper from Jacob Harding and eventually sold it to William Moore.[3]

Spink was a Republican.[2] In 1864, he represented Edgar County in the Illinois House of Representatives.[4][5] From 1865 to 1869, he was Secretary of the Dakota Territory,[2] being appointed by President Abraham Lincoln on April 13, 1865, a day before being assassinated.[6] He served until 1869.[2] After being appointed, he moved to Yankton.[2]

Spink was elected at-large to be a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1869, to March 3, 1871.[2] He supported the temperance movement.[7] He lost the following election, then again ran unsuccessfully in 1876.[2] Also in 1876, he was a delegate to the Centennial Exposition.[8] The Union and Dakotian described him as a "magician" for the Democratic Party upon Congress.[9]

After serving in Congress, Spink returned to practicing law in Yankton.[2] He also founded The Yankton Press, a newspaper.[10] He was a Freemason.[11] He died on September 22, 1881, aged 50, in Yankton, and was buried at the Yankton Municipal Cemetery.[4] He is the namesake of Spink County, South Dakota.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary Notes". The New York Times. 25 September 1881. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Spink, Solomon Lewis". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  3. ↑ "Papers Of Abraham Lincoln". papersofabrahamlincoln.org. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  4. 1 2 "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Spendley to Spragins". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  5. ↑ "From Springfield". Chicago Tribune. 15 April 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  6. ↑ "Hon. Solomon Lewis Spink". www.loc.gov. 1860. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  7. ↑ "The Old Log Barracks". Canton Farmers Leader. 10 January 1902. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  8. ↑ "Centennial of American Independence". Boston Evening Tribune. 3 May 1871. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  9. ↑ "Republican Ticket". The Union and Dakotian. 15 September 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  10. 1 2 "Two S.D. Men Help Found Paper". Argus-Leader. 7 September 1986. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  11. ↑ "Masonic Notice". Yankton Press. 24 September 1881. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
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