Oliver L. Spaulding. was born in Jaffrey, N. H., August 2, 1833, graduated at Oberlin college, Ohio, in 1855; removed to St. Johns, Mich., in 1857. In 1858 he was elected a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan for the term of six years. Served during the war of the rebellion in all the grades from captain to brevet brigadier-general In 1866 he was elected secretary of state for Michigan, and was re-elected in 1868. Was a special agent of the United States treasury department from 1875 till he resigned the position to take his seat in Congress to which he was elected in 1880. In 1883 he visited the Sandwich Islands as chairman of a commission to investigate the practical operations of the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty. In 1884 he declined a third nomination for Congress which was tendered him. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been grand master of the grand lodge, grand high priest of the grand chapter grand master of the council of royal and select Masons, and grand commander of grand commandery of Knights Templar, of Michigan. Is a member of the Episcopal church, and has been senior warden of the church St. Johns since 1866. In 1862 he married M. Cecilia Swegles, daughter John Swegles, ex-auditor-general of Michigan. He is a lawyer by profession.
