Franklin Spalding

  AT A RIPE OLD AGE
Col. Franklin Spalding, One of the
  Oldest and Most Highly Esteemed
    Citizens, Died This Morning.
    PNEUMONIA WAS THE CAUSE.
He Was One of the Grand Old Men of Ni-
 agara and a Pioneer--Born in 1815--
   Has Been Honored in Politics--
       Held Prominent Places.
          -------------
 Col. Franklin Spalding, one of the oldest,
wealthiest and most highly respected
residents of this city is dead.
 For the past week he has been lying seri-
ously ill at his home on Third street and
death came this morning early, his demise
occurring at 12:55 o'clock.
 There were probably few men better
known on the Niagara frontier than Mr.
Spalding. He was born and reared in
Niagara county and identified with
its interests and prosperity. His figure
was a sight familiar to every resident of
the city, particularly in the years gone by.
That Mr. Spalding was seriously ill was
little known outside his few relatives and
neighbors. It seems that week ago yes-
terday he went to Lewiston to visit his
sister. He returned and sat out on the
veranda of his home quite late that even-
ing and complained of feeling chilly when
he came in. He arose Saturday morning
and dressed. He was feeling weak and
said he had a chill about 3
o'clock in the morning. From that on
he grew worse, and although he arose
Sunday morning and dressed he was quite
feeble. Dr. Hough was called in and
attended the sufferer. His illness proved
to be typhoid-pneumonia and rapidly de-
veloped into an alarming stage. He gradu-
ally grew weaker, finally lapsing into un-
consciousness on Friday afternoon and pass-
ing away at the hour announced. His
niece, Miss Francis Whitman of Lewiston,
was with him through his illness, as also
his sister, Mrs. J.E. Whitman, who is his
sole surviving family relative, Mrs. Whit-
man being in her 88th year.
 Franklin Spalding was a fitting example
of the self-made man who made a success
in life. At his death he represented one
of the last of several prosperous and
wealthy citizens. He was esteemed in the
business world as a man of sound judgement,
of remarkable energy, possessing a strong
personality and vigorous business capa-
bilities. Added to these requisites of a
successful man, he was generous
and of a kindly impulse. He showed a ripe
experience and was ever willing to aid in
the development and progress of this city.
He was withal a perfect gentleman,
courteous and frank with all whom he
came in contact.
 The deceased was born at Lewiston, this
county, on August 8, 1815. His parents
were Rufus and Abigail (Palmer) Spalding
and were of English extraction. They
were a family noted for their scholastic
and scientific accomplishments. The
Head of the family came to America in the
early history of the Massachusetts colony
and was known as Edward Spalding. The
subject of this sketch was a direct lineal
descendant of that family. The family
moved to this county and located at Lewis-
ton in 1810.
 Franklin Spalding was reared on the old
homestead at Lewiston and educated in
the academy so famous then as one of the
leading schools of learning in the State.
Mr. Spalding acquired the homestead from
his father by purchase and remained there
following the pursuit of a successful farmer
until 1865. In politics Mr. Spalding was
a firm Republican and in the earlyu days an
ardent Whig. In politics, as religious,
business and social life, he was honorable,
honest and courteous. He was honored by
his party by appointment and election to
various offices. In 1845 he was elected sheriff
of this county and served three years.
President Taylor appointed him collector
of customs in 1851 for the port of Suspen-
sion Bridge. He was retired after the
President's death, but was appointed in
1861 by President Lincoln to the collector-
ship and re-appointed in 1865 serving in
all nine years as collector. He retired
from active business in '69. He served as
supervisor for the town of Niagara for
several terms. He again entered public
life in 1882, when he was appointed
postmaster for the then village of
Niagara Falls by President Arthur.
He has lived quietly and retired since then
except to look after his business interests,
which were somewhat extended in their
nature. He was director, stockholder
and vice-president of the defunct Cataract
Bank, also a stockholder and director in the
Carter-Crume Company, besides having
interests and holding stock in many
companies. In religion Mr. Spalding was
a consistent churchman, an Episcopalian
in belief, and a vestryman for several
years at St. Peter's church in this city.
In 1839 the deceased was married to Miss
Sarah C. Jackson of Lockport. No child-
ren resulted from this union and Mrs.
Spalding died September 14, 1882.
 Mr. Spalding was one of the commis-
sioners appointed by the City Charter to
adjust the incorporated indebtedness of the
two former villages of Niagara Falls and
Suspension Bridge.
 The funeral will be held Monday morn-
ing at the house on Third street at 11
o'clock. A special train will be in waiting
at the New York Central station after the
the services, to convey the funeral party
to Lewiston, where the remains will be in-
terred in the old family lot in the Lewiston
cemetery.