REV. HORACE SPALDING, an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was also for many years identified with the educational interests of this part of Illinois, for a long time as principal of Howard Academy, Jacksonville, and subsequently as principal of other schools in the city, besides teaching in other places outside of the county. He held high rank among the members of his profession here, was well know, and was respected for his learning, while his simple, unostentatious, pleasing manner, combined with gentle dignity, made him beloved wherever he went.
Our subject was of New England birth and education, born May 27, 1802, in Moretown, among the beautiful hills of Vermont. There the thoughtful, studious lad passed his boyhood, and by his own exertions gleaned a substantial education, and, at the youthful age of fifteen years, entered upon his career as a teacher. He taught some little time in New York State, and thence went to the city of Lynn, Mass., where he engaged in his vocation some years. June 19, 1825, the young teacher was united in marriage with one of his profession, Miss Elvira M. Ladd, and in her sweet companionship he found intelligent encouragement and aid in his life work as an instructor and preacher. She was born in New Hampshire, a daughter of William and Abigail (Spalding) Ladd, who were also natives of that State, and there married, Jan. 20, 1795. They had ten children, two of whom died in infancy, and the other eight, who grew to maturity, received excellent educations, and at some period of their lives were teachers. Two of the sons, Laban and Azel P., both adopted the medical profession, and the latter became an eminent physician in Wisconsin, where he died. The names of the other members of the family are Levi, William, Martha, Cynthia, Maria, Abigail, and Elvira. Our subject and his wife both taught school in New Hampshire prior to their marriage, and after that they pursued the profession in Lynn six years, and from there went to the city of New Bedford, also in Massachusetts, where he had charge of a school four years. At the expiration of that time he was called on to preside over Howard Academy, in Jacksonville, and, as before noted, served as its Principal for several years, and also was connected with other of the city schools.
During that time he represented the State Bible Society some nine years as State Agent, and also acted often as local preacher. In his early childhood his earnest mind, religiously-inclined, had taken a bent toward Methodism, and he had joined the church, and from that day till the hour of his death he was a faithful worker in the cause of his beloved Master, commencing his ministerial career in his native Green Mountain State. In the year 1856 Mr. Spalding removed with his family to Cass County, this State, and taught school the three ensuing years in Virginia, his daughter Martha acting as his assistant the first year, till she accepted a position in a district school, and then her adopted sister Harriet supplied her place as her father's assistant in the village school. From Virginia the family returned to Jacksonville, and they taught in the town schools several years. In 1876 our subject and his wife removed to this farm, where Mrs. Spalding is still living with her daughter and son-in-law, Samuel Jumper, here gracious and kindly presence making her a venerated and loved member of the household. From this peaceful abode, where loving care had smoothed the pathway to the grave, he entered upon the life eternal Jan. 10, 1881, in the fullness of time, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years and eight months. His memory is held in sacred remembrance by all who ever came under his influence, to whom he had acted as teacher, guide and friend. Of his happy wedded life of nearly fifty-six years two children where born, namely: William W., who died of consumption, in Virginia, in the opening years of manhood, when only twenty-three years old; and Martha, now Mrs. Samuel Jumper. Mr. and Mrs. Spalding also adopted a daughter of his deceased sister, Abigail Smith, Harriet A. Our subject's great-grandfather, Crary, was for many years one of the leading jurists of the Connecticut bar, and Judge of the Probate Court in that State. Back another generation is the ancestor of that name who came from Ireland to America very early in its colonial history.
We cannot better close this sketch of our venerated subject than by giving an outline of the life of his well-loved and highly-respected son-in-law, Samuel Jumper. This gentleman is a veteran of the late war, and on Southern battlefields fought nobly for his country, and bravely endured sufferings and hardships in her behalf. He is now identified with the agricultural interests of Morgan County, as a practical farmer of township 16, range 9 west. He is a native of Ohio, born in Richland County, in December, 1832, to Abraham and Catherine (Shaffner) Jumper. They were both natives of Pennsylvania, where the former was born Aug. 12, 1798, and the latter Nov. 4, 1801. They were united in marriage Feb. 1, 1820. Four years later they professed religion, and became members of the Church of the United Brethren. Soon after uniting with this church, the father, Abraham Jumper, commenced to preach in the German language. In this he was very successful, but it was a matter of much regret among his friends that the was unable to speak the English language with the fluency necessary for public speaking. Therefore he began to study under the instruction of an English teacher, and, in the course of four months, could address both English and German audiences. He spent thirty-five years in the ministry, and passed from his labors on earth April 13, 1869. The wife and mother died July 22, 1883, at the age of eighty-two years.
Samuel Jumper accompanied his parents when they removed to Illinois. They located first in Alexander County, but soon after removed to Union County, of which they thus became pioneers. Our subject was reared in that county, and was educated in the subscription schools. In the fall of 1851 he went to Texas, with several others, and worked as a farm hand there a few months, and was then employed in a blacksmith shop a short time. After that he began to learn to make saddle-trees, and subsequently plied that trade there two and one-half years. In the summer of 1854 he returned to Illinois, bringing a herd of cattle with him, and settled in Jacksonville. He remained here until Nov. 20, 1858, when he married and moved onto a farm near by. A year later he went to Cass County, and lived in Virginia till the fall of 1861, when he located on his present farm on section 16, and has made his home here ever since, with the exception of the years spent in the South aiding his brave fellow-soldiers to save their country from dishonor and disruption. His farm of seventy acres is under fine tillage and is well improved, and his beautiful orchard of choice varieties of fruits is one of the finest in the neighborhood. His happy marriage with the daughter of our subject has proved the wisdom of his selection, as she is as wise and good as she is true, and none know her but to value her for her great worth. Six of their nine children are still spared to bless the home circle - Hattie M.L., William H.A., Samuel M., Edward G., John A., and Sarah E. Three of their children have been called to the higher life - Frank H., Alice Carey and Clarence H.
On the 8th of August, 1862, Mr. Jumper laid aside all private duties to take an active part in the great war then waging in this country, and enrolled his name among the gallant members of Company D, 101st Illinois Infantry. From that time till the cessation of hostilities, in the spring of 1865, he did good service in many engagements with the enemy. While on the ironclad gunboat "Cricket," at Greenville, Miss., his regiment had a hot contest with the enemy, and was then dispatched on a foraging expedition to the country in the vicinity of Vicksburg, our subject being with the party who on one occasion confiscated 3,500 bales of cotton. They then went up the Mississippi, and had a very heavy engagement at Greenville. After the surrender of Vicksburg, Mr. Jumper and his comrades were sent up the White River to Clarrinton, where they made a pontoon bridge for the boys to cross the river to capture Little Rock. They proceeded up the White River to the Little Red River in Arkansas, in search of two rebel boats, supposed to be in that stream, and they finally overhauled the captured them fifteen miles above where the river is usually considered navigable. At that place the Confederates had built a pontoon bridge, which they destroyed on the approach of the Union soldiers. Our men succeeded in capturing some of the horses and some of the guards, and returning down the river to West Point, they managed to secure the two boats for which they had been searching, though Gen. Marmaduke had stationed his men at that place, and, as soon as our men got within range, opened fire on them, wounding nine men, one of whom died. The captured boats were taken to Napoleon, where the Red River empties into the Mississippi River. At that place Mr. Jumper was taken sick and sent to the hospital in Columbus, Ky., where he remained six weeks, and was then transferred to Mound City, Ill. Four months later, having sufficiently recovered, he joined his regiment at Cassville, Ga., April 15, 1864. Five days thereafter he took part in the hotly-waged contest at Dallas or Good Hope Church, his corps losing 1,800 men in that battle, and there his brother William was shot through the left thigh. He next engaged with his regiment in the battle at Peach Tree Creek, and in other contests and skirmishes with the rebels prior to the capture of Atlanta, his regiment being the first to enter that city. Thence the men proceeded to Savannah, Ga., where they captured the fort and held it several weeks. After that they went through the Carolinas, and at Bentonville had their last pitched battle. From there they went to Goldsboro, thence to Rolla, from there to Richmond, and onward to Washington, D.C., where our subject and his brave fellow-soldiers were honorably discharged, June 7, 1865, having served with credit to themselves and to the everlasting honor of their country.
After his military experience Mr. Jumper lived for awhile in Jacksonville, but Jan. 1, 1866, moved on his farm, and has lived here ever since. He and his family are deservedly held in high estimation in this community, and are people of good standing in religious and social circles. He and his wife are among the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and actively aid their pastors and fellow-members in all good works. He is a modest, unassuming man, although possessing judgment, resolution and capacity to do whatsoever he attempts. He interests himself in the welfare of his township, and has served it faithfully and well for years as Road Supervisor and School Director, to the great satisfaction of all concerned, although he is by no means an office-seeker. He is a firm Republican, and uses his influence in support of his party.