Harris Spaulding

SPAULDING, JINKINGS, KNOX, CAMPBELL, LINES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/17/2011 at 17:25:44

HARRIS SPAULDING has throughout his entire life followed farming, and now carries on agricultural pursuits upon a valuable tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres on section 12, Lincoln Township, Grundy County. He was born in the neighboring state of Illinois, and is a son of Edward and Julia (Jinkings) Spaulding. His father was born in Wells Township, Broome County, N. Y., and grew to manhood upon a farm in the Empire State. After his marriage he turned his attention to clearing and developing a new farm of his own, which he sold about 1839, preparatory to his emigration westward. Believing he could benefit his financial condition by removing to Illinois, he loaded his household effects into a wagon, and with his family started across the county. He cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Carroll County, where he bought a farm and later entered land from the Government. He accumulated two hundred and forty acres, and by good management and business ability succeeded in acquiring a comfortable competence. In his political views he was a Democrat. He became quite a prominent and influential citizen in the county, and was honored with a number of official positions. He continued to reside in Carroll County until called to the home beyond, in 1878, at the advanced age of eighty years. His wife died the following year, at the age of seventy-eight. Unto this worthy couple were born thirteen children, all of whom reached manhood and womanhood and reared families. John, the second son, went to Colorado in the early days of the gold excitement there, and nothing has been heard from him for twenty years.

Harris Spaulding was born in Carroll County in 1845; he became familiar with the common English branches of learning in the district schools, and remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he rented his father’s farm. After continuing its rental for a long time, eighty acres of the farm were given him, and he continued their development until 1879. He then sold out and came to Grundy County, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of improved land in Shiloh Township. He afterward sold that tract and came to his present farm in Lincoln Township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres. No other work has engrossed his attention save that of agriculture. He is familiar with the business in all its details, and in his management of the same has displayed a sagacity and enterprise that have brought him success.

In the state of his nativity, Mr. Spaulding was joined in wedlock with Frances Knox, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Jacob and Abigail (Campbell) Knox. Her father was born in Putnam County, Ill., and was a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of that state. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania. Two children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding: Clara, now the wife of Fred Lines, and John. Our subject votes with the Democratic party and warmly advocates its principles.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894