Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES CHASE, EVANS,
In no portion of the world can there be found a body of men and women, the history of whose lives contains so much of stirring adventure and heroic bravery as those who came to this State during the few years immediately following the discovery of gold in California. The best material from all of the States east of the Missouri River came here during those eventful years of California's history, and it was these pioneers of 1849 to 1852 which formed the nucleus of population that has developed into a State of vast resources and almost limitless possibilities.
Mr. Joseph S. Spaulding, who came to California in 1851, is a native of Maine, born at Calais, Washington County, September 9, 1833. His father, Joseph S. Spaulding, Sr., was a New Hampshire farmer, a native of that State, and his mother, whose maiden name was Clara Ann Chase, was born in New Brunswick. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life at the place of his birth. Coming to California, in a sail-vessel, by the Nicaragua route, he landed at San Francisco on the fourteenth of July. Some two months after his arrival there he cast his fortunes with the seekers after the precious metal and entered the mines at Murphy's Camp, in Calaveras County. Eleven months later he returned to San Mateo County and built a saw-mill at a point some five miles distant from the Santa Clara County line. For thirteen years he operated this mill, mostly on redwood lumber. He then sold out and embarked in the mercantile business at Searsville. After conducting the store at that point one year, he disposed of his business and went East. Five months afterward, however, he returned. In 1862 he was seized with a desire to visit the Territory of Idaho, and for nine months was engaged in mining gold at the Granite Creek diggings. He then returned to Searsville. Four years later he came to Mayfield and purchased the property known as Chandler Hotel, on the corner of Main and Lincoln Streets, which he has since owned except for a period when he was conducting a hotel at Searsville. Although Mr. Spaulding has not operated this hotel all the time himself, it has ever been conducted in a manner worthy of the highest praise, and the house therefore has a better reputation than any other between San Jose and San Francisco. Mr. Spaulding also carries on the livery business and farming. In the latter interest he has 215 acres of land in Fremont Township, in two tracts; one piece, of fifty acres, adjoins the great Stanford Ranch, and the remainder lies west of the San Jose and San Francisco road, between Mayfield and Mountain View, and occupies a commanding position on the rising ground. From this place a splendid view is obtained of a large portion of the Santa Clara Valley, of the bay, and of the country and mountains beyond, while Lick Observatory is also plainly visible. His land is peculiarly adapted to fruit and vines, though it also produces abundant yields of grain and hay.
Mr. Spaulding was married, May 24, 1866, to Miss Eliza Evans, who was born in Kingston, Canada, and brought up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and came to San Francisco in 1858. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding are: Georgiana, born March 7, 1867; Bertie, December 18. 1870; Hattie, September 29, 1873; and Josie, March 20, 1875.
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
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SANTA CLARA COUNTY The Valley of Heart's Delight