Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Spaulding, Jacob 1810 - 
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Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

JACOB SPAULDING is distinguished as being the oldest living pioneer of 
Wheatland Township, where he has made his home for nearly half a century, and 
it gives us pleasure not only to record his life in this volume, but also to 
present his portrait on the opposite page. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, 
carrying on his business at his well-appointed farm on section 21, so as to 
derive a good income therefrom, and, free from the necessity of constant labor 
that beset his early years, he can enjoy the fruits of a well-spent life as it 
declines toward its close. Mr. Spaulding was born in Norfolk County, England, 
August 23, 1810, to Jacob and Mary Spaulding, who were also natives of that 
country. The early years of his life were spent in the land of his nativity, 
and he was reared as a farmer and laborer, receiving but few advantages in the 
line of education while he remained on his native soil. After coming to this 
country he attended the evening schools in this State, and acquired the 
rudiments of an education. In 1836 he took his life and fortunes in his own 
hands and emigrated to America, taking passage at Yarmouth on a sailing-
vessel, and after a voyage of eight weeks and four days landing in Quebec, 
Canada. He did not, however, make a lengthy stay in the Queen's dominion, but 
crossed the border to Jefferson County, N. Y. After working there as a farm 
hand for a few months, Mr. Spaulding then took up his residence in Onondaga 
County. He was there for some three years, working as a farm hand, and in 1840 
sought the pioneer State of Illinois. He hired out here for the first summer, 
but the next summer, being more independent, he began farming on shares. He 
was thus engaged for two seasons, and finally settled on his present farm in 
1844. This he had purchased the year before from the Government, paying $1.25 
an acre for the eighty acres that then comprised his homestead. When he 
settled on it the surrounding country was very sparsely inhabited, and his 
farm was in a lonely place, there being no other house between it and 
Plainfield. A furrow had not been turned on the land, and our subject had to 
begin at the very beginning and evolve his farm from the wild prairie, the 
land being just as the Indians had left it. A great deal of pioneer work has 
been accomplished by the systematic labor of Mr. Spaulding, and under his 
skillful hand the farm has become finely improved; he has added to its acreage 
until he now has one hundred and sixty acres of as fertile and finely tilled 
farming land as may be found in the township. Here he and his wife have built 
up a substantial home, supplied with all the necessities and comforts of life. 
To this good woman who presides over his household, Mr. Spaulding was united 
in marriage January 1, 1848. Mrs. Spaulding's maiden name was Jane Vinson, and 
she was born in Cornwall County, England, February 13, 1827. Her parents were 
William and Mary (Corry) Vinsen, natives of England. In 1833, when Mrs. 
Spaulding was in her sixth year, she accompanied her parents to America, 
sailing from Bedford, and after a voyage of eleven weeks landing on Prince 
Edward Island. On the very next trip of the vessel in which their journey had 
been made, she sank about a half mile from Charlottetown, Prince Edward 
Island, but another ship rescued her passengers. The family lived on the 
Island until 1844, and in that year came to Illinois and resided in Kendall 
County for a short time. To Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding have been born ten 
children, six of whom are still living—Martha, wife of Lansing Lockwood; 
Edmund; Flora, wife of Hugh Lemmer; Cora, wife of Lewis Harford; Frank; and 
Nina E., wife of James Peck. The names of the deceased children are: Jacob W., 
Mary P., Richard W. and Charles H. Coming here when in the prime of a vigorous 
manhood, and having passed so many of the years of his life here, Mr. 
Spaulding is well known and is greatly esteemed, his reputation for veracity, 
integrity, and unostentatious piety being of the highest. As School Director 
and as Librarian of the Library, which positions he has held for several 
years, educational matters have received careful attention from him. He was at 
one time Pound Master. He and his wife are among the most respected members of 
the Baptist Church, and lead consistent Christian lives.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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