George Spalding
Encyclopedia
George Spalding was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
, Perthshire, Scotland and immigrated to the United States
in 1843 with his parents. The settled in Buffalo, New York
, where he attended the public schools. He later moved to Monroe, Michigan
, and taught school in 1860 and 1861. He entered the United States Army
on June 20, 1861, as a private in Company A, Fourth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry
, and was promoted through the ranks to colonel
of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry
.
Spalding was appointed postmaster of Monroe, July 27, 1866, and served until December 15, 1870. He was special agent of the U.S. Treasury Department, serving from 1871 to 1875. He was elected mayor of Monroe in 1876 and served as president of the board of education. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1878. He later became a member of the board of control of the State Industrial Home for Girls from 1885 to 1897.
In 1894, he was elected as a Republican
from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
to the 54th United States Congress
, and re-elected to the 55th Congress
, serving from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1899. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1898, losing to Henry C. Smith
in the Republican primary elections.
Spalding was again appointed postmaster of Monroe on February 20, 1899, and served until February 13, 1907. He resumed the practice of law and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was president of the First National Bank of Monroe until his death there. He was interred in Woodland Cemetery
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Biography
Spalding was born in BlairgowrieBlairgowrie and Rattray
Blairgowrie and Rattray and Raitear is possibly from an English language cognate of Gaelic ràth, meaning fortress + a Pictish term cognate with Welsh tref, meaning settlement) is a twin burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Amongst locals, the town is colloquially known simply as "Blair"...
, Perthshire, Scotland and immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1843 with his parents. The settled in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where he attended the public schools. He later moved to Monroe, Michigan
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
, and taught school in 1860 and 1861. He entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on June 20, 1861, as a private in Company A, Fourth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry
4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 4th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The 4th Michigan wore a very americanized zouave uniform...
, and was promoted through the ranks to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry
12th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry
The 12th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 12th Tennessee Cavalry was organized at Nashville, Tennessee and mustered in for a three year enlistment on August 24, 1863 under the command of Colonel...
.
Spalding was appointed postmaster of Monroe, July 27, 1866, and served until December 15, 1870. He was special agent of the U.S. Treasury Department, serving from 1871 to 1875. He was elected mayor of Monroe in 1876 and served as president of the board of education. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1878. He later became a member of the board of control of the State Industrial Home for Girls from 1885 to 1897.
In 1894, he was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, and the northern portion of Allegan and the northwest portion of Kent. The 2nd district has...
to the 54th United States Congress
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
, and re-elected to the 55th Congress
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
, serving from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1899. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1898, losing to Henry C. Smith
Henry C. Smith
Henry Cassorte Smith was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Smith was born in Canandaigua, New York and in the following year moved with his father to a farm near Palmyra, Michigan. He attended the common schools and graduated from Adrian College in 1878. He taught school, studied law,...
in the Republican primary elections.
Spalding was again appointed postmaster of Monroe on February 20, 1899, and served until February 13, 1907. He resumed the practice of law and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was president of the First National Bank of Monroe until his death there. He was interred in Woodland Cemetery
Woodland Cemetery (Monroe, Michigan)
Woodland Cemetery, formerly known as Grove Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery, is a public, city-owned cemetery located at 428 Jerome Street in southeast Monroe, Michigan. It occupies 10 acres and contains over 6,500 graves. Founded in 1810, it is one of Michigan’s oldest public cemeteries...
.