An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 375-376
	
	CAPTAIN ALBERT P. SPAULDING, manager of the Seattle Tug and Barge Company,
was born in Dixmont, Maine, December 14, 1839, a son of Joseph and Clarissa
(Gliddon) Spaulding, natives also of that State. Albert P. remained at home
until 1855, when he made his first cruise on the sea, as cabin boy on the
topsail schooner, H.M. Jenkens, bound for Baltimore with lumber. The following
year he shipped as able seaman on the bark Peri, of the West India service,
sailing between Portland and Havana three years, and during that time giving the
closest application to the study of navigation and seamanship. In 1859 Mr.
Spaulding became mate of the ship St. John, sailing to Havre, France. After the
bombardment of Fort Sumter in 1861, our subject entered the navy, first as
Captain of the Gig, on board the Kensington, in the Western Gulf Squadron; in
1862 was transferred as master mate to the dispatch boat, Velocity; in March,
1863, was appointing quartermaster of the flagship Hartford; was at the taking
of Vicksburg and Fort Hudson; and in September, 1863, resigned his position and
returned to his home in Maine. In October, 1863, Mr. Spaulding re-enlisted in
the First District of Columbia Cavalry, and served in Virginia and Florida under
Generals Butler, Terry and Grant. The regiment was independent, and by tranfers
engaged in frequent raids and many battles. For meritorious conduct our subject
was promoted in regular order from private to First Lieutenant. The regiment
originally numbered 1,200 men, but by frequent engagements it was reduced to 200
men, and, as these were transferred to other departments in the fall of 1864,
Lieutenant Spaulding was left without a command. He tendered his resignation,
received his discharge and returned to his home in Maine.
	After making one voyage to Europe, our subject embarked as mate of the ship
Herald of the Morning, landing in San Francisco in August, 1866, after a voyage
of 132 days. He then became master of the schooner Ocean Wave, made several
trips up the coast, and then shipped as mate of the bark Scotland, for Puget
Sound. Landing at Port Orchard in the fall of 1867 he found occupation about the
mill during the winter, the following year returned to his native State and was
married, and in 1869 sailed as master of the brig, B.F. Nash, for Liverpool,
held that position about ten years, and visited the prominent ports of Europe
and South America. In 1878 Mr. Spaulding entered the employ of the Oregon
Improvement Company, at Seattle, where he remained seven years, and during the
last three years of that time held the position of superintendent. In 1885 he
purchased the steamer Bee, on Lake Washington, which he operated on the lake,
and also conducted a small hotel at Houghton until 1887.
	In that year he brought his boat to Elliot Bay, and engaged in general
jobbing about the Sound. His boat was burned in the fire of June, 1889, but he
succeeded in saving the machinery, which he put on a yacht,  and in six weeks
was again ready for trade. Mr. Spaulding subsequently built the steamers Wasp
and Hornet, and with a number of scows conducts a general towing and jobbing
business, under the name of the Seattle Tug & Barge Company.
	August 13, 1868, in Maine, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary
E. Field, a native of Milbridge, that State. They have four children: George O.,
Mary L, Abbie C. and Albert P. Captain Spaulding has become prominent in
Masonry, being a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and the
Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree, United States Jurisdiction. He is also
treasurer of American Association of Steamboat Pilots, and Past Post Commander
of Stevens Post, No. 1, G.A.R.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.