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NAVIGATION
Michigan
Histories
Clinton County
Biographies
Online Biographies
Illinois
Histories
Also see [Railway Officials in America 1906]
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Oliver Lyman Spaulding was born at Jaffrey, N. H., Aug. 2, 1833, and is the son of Lyman and Snsan (Marshall)
Spaulding. He prepared for college at Melville Academy, in Jaffrey, working on the farm during the time. In 1851
he entered Oberlin College, from which he graduated in 1855. He then spent three years in teaching, devoting his
leisure to the study of law. He taught successively in the union schools at Medina, Ohio, and Hillsdale, Mich.,
and in the academy at Mcdi, Mich. In 1858 he was admitted to the bar, and settled at St. Johns, where he has since
continued to practice his profession, with the exception of the time spent in the civil war. In 1862 he began military
service as captain in the Twenty-third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was appointed, successively, major, lieutenant-colonel,
and colonel, having been senior officer in command of the regiment from the time of receiving his commission as
major in 1863. At the close of the war he was in command of the Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, and was
brevetted brigadier-general of United States volunteers, June 25, 1865, “for faithful and meritorious services
during the war.” In 1858 he was elected a regent of the State University, and held the office until 1864. In 1866
he was elected Secretary of State, and was re-elected in 1868. In 1875 he was appointed, by President Grant, Special
Agent of the Treasury Department, which office he still holds.
Gen. Spaulding has for a number of years been actively conuected with the Masonic fraternity. In 1869 he was Grand
Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters; in 1872, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights
Templar; in 1877, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter; and for several years has been chairman of the standing
committee on appeals in the Grand Lodge. He is at present Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of
Michigan.
Gen. Spaulding was reared a Congregationalist, but in 1866 became connected with the Episcopal Church, and since
that time has been senior warden.
Politically he has been an active member of the Republican party since its organization, and an ardent member of
the State Central Committee since 1870. In the Republican Convention held at Owosso, he was nominated by acclamation,
Aug. 5, 1880, for member of Congress from the Sixth District.
His family consists of a wife and three children. Mrs. Spaulding was the daughter of the Hon. John Swegles, who
was the founder of the village of St. Johns.
FROM:
History of Shiawassee and Clinton Counties, Michigan
With Illistrations and Biographical Sketches
of Their Men and Pioneers.
D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia 1880
Press of J. B. Lippincoff & Co., Philadelphia.
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