Spalding, Jesse
lumber merchant, was born April 15, 1833, in Athens, Pa.
His purchase of timber lands in Wisconsin and Michigan to supply his mills have aggregated three hundred thousand acres; and he is considered one of the greatest lumber merchants in America. He built and equipped the barracks of Camp Douglas during the war; was a personal friend of Grant and gave counsel in many grave exigencies; and he presided at the unveiling of the Grant monument at Lincoln park, Chicago. He is a director in many large corporations of Chicago; was three years in the city council; and in 1881 was appointed collector of the port of Chicago.