Zephaniah S. Spalding Born in Ohio, Zephaniah S. Spalding (1837-1927) commanded the 27th Ohio Infantry as a lieutenant-colonel during the American Civil War (1861-1865). After the war, he continued in government service and was dispatched to Hawai‘i as a secret
Zephaniah S. Spalding
Born in Ohio, Zephaniah S. Spalding (1837-1927) commanded the 27th Ohio Infantry as a lieutenant-colonel during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
After the war, he continued in government service and was dispatched to Hawai‘i as a secret agent of the United States with the mission of learning what effects a proposed reciprocity treaty would have on relations between the United States and the Hawaiian Kingdom.
He arrived in Honolulu in 1867 pretending to be a prospective cotton planter and mailed a number of confidential reports, rejecting reciprocity, to his father, a U.S. congressman.
Spalding later became a sugar planter on Kaua‘i and the owner of Makee Sugar Company, named for his father-in-law Captain James Makee.
Also of interest is Spalding’s Valley House, which was located beyond Hauaala Road in Keapana and was destroyed by fire in 1950.
Valley House featured a great central hall with a wide staircase leading upstairs. Also gracing the interior was an eye-catching crystal chandelier, imported European furniture, and a dining room spacious enough for twenty-four guests. Outside, visitors could play tennis on the estate’s courts or swim in the pool.
Perhaps the greatest luau ever held on Kaua‘i took place at Valley House in September 1912 in celebration of Spalding’s 75th birthday.
Three thousand people came, with many arriving by plantation train.
Sixty-two tables were filled with food and drink.
Ten bullocks, twelve pigs, hundreds of chickens and several barrels of poi made up the basics.
Fruits, sweets and all anyone could drink were right at hand to enjoy, while a band played lovely melodies.
In 1916, Spalding sold the controlling shares of Makee Sugar to Lihue Plantation for the then phenomenal sum of $1,500,000.
He moved to California in 1924.
Spalding Monument is located on Kealia Road.
