George Cook Spigener, sheriff of Autauga county, Alabama, was born in Robinson Springs, in what is now Elmore county, in 1849. His father, Llewellyn Spigener, was born near Columbia, South Carolina, in 1812, and married Mary Elvira Ramsey, who was born near LaGrange, Georgia. Llewellyn Spigener served an apprenticeship of four years to a wheelwright at Columbia, South Carolina, and soon after reaching his majority came to Alabama and engaged at his business in Washington, Autauga county, where he lived until Prattville was founded, when he removed to the new town, and in conjunction with his trade carried on farming, and later became traveling agent for the Pratt Gin company, which position he tilled both before and after the war. He was once town marshal, and during the period of hostilities was tax assessor of the county. For eight or ten years he was worshipful master of Prattville lodge of F. & A. M., and was also a royal arch Mason. He died September 25, 1887, a sincere Methodist. He had three brothers, Samuel, Joel and William, who lived and died in Coosa county. Their father died while still a young man, and their mother, Barbara, was married to a Mr. Oliver; both died in Coosa county. Mrs. Mary E. Spigener, also a Methodist, died about 1877. Her parents, James N. and Mary Ramsey, came from Georgia to Autauga county, but subsequently removed to Wetumpka, where they died after the war had closed. One of their sons, James Newton Ramsey, Jr., was colonel of the First Georgia regiment, was a brave soldier and a prominent lawyer of Columbus, Georgia.
George Cook Spigener is the eldest of a family of six children, the second born being Mary, wife of W. W. Pierce; the third is Julia, married to W. M. Fisher; Llewellyn, of Pensacola, and two girls deceased. George C. received his early education at Prattville and graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical college at Auburn in 1872. He then passed some time at the Red Mount Iron works, and then engaged in the undertaking business at Prattville, with which he has now connected a livery establishment. Mr. Spigener was married in 1883 to Miss Kate Gardner, a native of Prattville, and daughter of George and Bettie Gardner, the latter a daughter of Judge Gholson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are now deceased. Mr. Spigener once served as town marshal and is now intendent of the town. From 1880 to 1884 he was sheriff of the county, and in August, 1892, was reelected. He is a member of Prattville lodge, No. 19, F. & A. M., and has served as its worshipful master; is secretary of Daniel Pratt lodge, No. 96: is P. C. C. and representative to the grand lodge of Merrill Pratt lodge, No. 71, Knights of Pythias, also past dictator and grand representative of Prattville lodge, No. 2128, Knights of Honor. In religion he and wife are Methodists.