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Note: 7, 1st marriage of 7 years, 2 of 2 children living; Eva 6; Edna 3; living in Milam Twp., Macon Co., Illinois (film T624_308, ED128, sheet 2A, p252, enum. 23 Apr)
1920 Census: Selma W. Spalding, 38, farmer; wife Icy B. 37; Eva L. 16; Edna I. 13; Elsie M. 9; Selma W. Jr. 5; Walter T. 2 11/12; living in South Macon Twp., Macon Co., Illinois (film T625_385, ED163; sheet 5A, p258, enum. 16 Jan)
living next to Arthur and Ida Hill Adcock
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DECATUR HERALD AND REVIEW, 1941
LEADING CORN SHOWMAN RETIRES
Two Sons of Selma Spalding, Macon, Have a Good Chance to Keep Up Their Father's Reputation.
Ribbons Make 2 Big Quilts
Hundreds of grain show fans throughout Illinois will learn with regret that Selma Spalding, Sr., of Macon, is retiring from the show game. Since his first showing in 1928 he has been awarded every honor that can be conferred in corn showing and has won purple and blue ribbons galore, enough in fact to make two good-sized quilts, but now the seed house from which these prize-winning samples have been selected is being dismantled and made into a garage.
Mr. Spalding's interest in showing corn dates back to when his two sons, Junior and Thomas had corn projects in 4-H and vocational Agriculture. At this time the father and sons began an intensive study of show corn. Their first experience in competing with other corn growers was at the 1928 Macon County Farmer's Institute where the father won two seconds with his white corn. The next year with a little more careful selection and knowledge he had acquired the previous year in showing, he moved up the ladder and needed but one-half point on his score-card to win high honors. The following year he came back and won the highest honors in the show.
Aided by Landlord
About this time the two sons, who were in high school had corn projects as part of their vocational agricultural work. The landlord became interested also and offered the boys a ten-acre tract, rent
free for their work and had the satisfaction of seeing them win the championship in the sectional vocational corn shows during those years.
From the Decatur show, which has always been marked by keen competition, the Spaldings began showing at other big corn shows in the state, the Illinois State fair, Farm and Home week at the University of Illinois, and the peer of all shows, the Hay and Grain show held in connection with the International Livestock Exposition.
The year 1931 proved to be a banner year in the Spalding family, for at Farm and Home week that year the father and sons carried off the high honors. The two boys were showing in the combined 4-H and vocational department.
Thomas won the championship on single ear samples. Junior won the championship in the 10-ear class and "Corn Prince" honors as well as a $40 gold watch. The father, also reached a high peak, winning the "Corn King" title and a gold watch valued at $50. This was the first time, according to University authorities, that a single family had won all these honors within one year.
Four International Awards
Four times at the International Spalding has won the championship on ten ears of utility white. The grand championship of that show has always gone to Indiana parties, the majority of the Judges of the show preferring the rough type of corn as shown by exhibitors from the Hoosier state.
At the Illinois State fair, Spalding won more honors than any man in the state during the years he competed. Eight championships have been won on 10-ear sample all being white varieties, with the exception of one year when he won on yellow, and that year he had both firsts in white and yellow.
For the past three years Spalding has won the high honors in the bushel class of old type or utility white. That the quality of his corn is still very high is indicated by the fact that the judges at the state fair this year, Prof. J. C. Hackleman and Prof. C.C Chapman, stated his bushel of white was the finest that they had ever handled in the many years they had judged corn shows.
Selects Samples Carefully
When he first began showing corn the score card was used, but later judging was by comparison, however, Spalding has never lost sight of the score-card in selecting his samples. No general ever assembled his troops for battle with more care and precision than does this showman select his samples. Preferring a day when the rest of the family is away, the sample ears are laid out on a table and with a ruler and a critical eye, ears are placed, discarded and re-arranged until the bunch are as nearly alike as peas in the pod.
Mr. Spalding aided many amateur showmen in the various grain shows, many of these persons unknown to him. He is ever willing to lend a helping hand and a word of advice regarding the placing and arrangement of their exhibits.
And now with the passing of the 1941 show season, there retires the man who has probably been Illinois' greatest corn exhibitor for several generations.
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DECATUR HERALD & REVIEW, ca 14 Nov 1976 SPALDING
Selma W. Spalding Sr., 95, of Route 2 died 8:45 p.m. Saturday in his home. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Ater Memorial Home, with visitation 5 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Burial will be in Macon Cemetery. Memorials: American Cancer Society. Mr. Spalding was born in Olean, Mo., son of Thomas J. and Nancy Jane Spalding. He was a member of the Christian Church. He married Icy B. Renfro in 1902. She died in 1961.
Surviving are sons, Selma W. Jr. of Decatur; Thomas of Phoenix, Ariz.; daughters, Mrs. A. J. (Eva) Adcock of Mount Zion; Mrs. Edna Landrith of Taylor, Mich.; Mrs. H. A. (Elsie) Bramel of Decatur; Mrs. David (Helen) Kothe of La Crescenta, Calif.; brother Henry of Bonner's Ferry, Idaho; sisters, Eunice Spalding of Wichita, Kan., Jane Spain.
Note: 1910 Census: S. W. Spalding, 28, 1st marriage of 7 years, born Missouri, farmer; wife Icy, 2
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