Los Angeles
County
Biographies
TIMOTHY SPELLACY
“The name of Timothy Spellacy,”
said an earlier biographer, “deserves permanent
recognition in the history of California because of his prominence in the oil
industry and in democratic politics. He was one of the very able citizens of
Los Angeles county, and at one time was a candidate
for lieutenant governor of the state. He achieved material success and also
achieved friendship, and is remembered for his genial social qualities and
kindly humor that flavored his social relations.”
Timothy Spellacy
was born at Conneautville, Pennsylvania, on July 14,
1854, the son of John and Ellen (Byrne) Spellacy, and
his experience from early manhood was largely in connection with the oil
industry. He was a resident of California about a quarter of a century, first
locating at Bakersfield for six years and then moving to Los Angeles. He
attained much success as an oil operator in the Kern River, Midway and Coalinga
districts, becoming an official in the Illinois Crude Oil Company, the Premier
Company, and president of the Mascot Oil Company and the Topila
Petroleum Company. He was also president of the California Willite
Paving Company.
Mr. Spellacy
was a democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in 1910, served as a member
of the Los Angeles county civil service commission, and was president of the
Sierra Madre Club and a member of other social organizations. He is survived by
his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Spellacy, and one daughter
and a granddaughter. The daughter, Miss Mary, is Sister Mary Timothy at St.
Mary’s Academy, member of the order Sisters of St. Joseph. Florence, the oldest
daughter, married Joseph Slaney and died leaving a daughter Florence, who makes
her home with her grandmother. The mother of Mrs. Elizabeth Spellacy
died in August, 1933, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years.
Mr. Spellacy,
after suffering a nervous breakdown, spent a number of months at prominent
resorts in the middle west in a vain effort to regain
his health. He died at Lima, Ohio, July 28, 1921, and his body was returned to
California for burial. Not long before his death Mr. Spellacy
had dictated a brief sketch of his life, an interesting and unusual bit of
autobiography, which is quoted below.
“I was born in the beautiful little
village of Conneautville, Crawford county,
Pennsylvania. Was born of rich but honest parents; rich as accounted in those
days; the evidence of which was the fact that my father cut his own ice.
“I have no remembrance of the first year
of my existence, and that history comes entirely from tradition, which informed
me that at my birth my father was not well pleased, and after taking one look
at my face indicated disappointment. In the early years of life, some of our
wealthy relatives insisted that we were descended from royal ancestry. My
father and mother were both born in Ireland and naturally claimed descent from
King Brian Boru, and made efforts to establish the
claim, but upon the ancestral tree there always appeared the mud cabin which
convinced me that we were from common stock or from that noble class that
Lincoln claimed the Lord loved, proven by creating so many.
“My education consisted in graduation
from the Conneautville high school, and I am frank to
admit that I did not graduate from the top of the class, and during life I
found much trouble in conforming with the great
majority in spelling. I had a system of my own, when I found that a specialist
in orthography by the name of Webster had induced people to follow his plan,
and this interfered with my personal liberty. I tried to adopt his, but even up
to twenty-eight or thirty years of age I still insisted on spelling sugar with
an ‘h.’ I left home at a rather early age and became interested in the
production of oil. After one year at the University of Edenburg,
Clarion county, Pennsylvania, I graduated as a
full-fledged driller and most of my life followed that occupation. I succeeded
at times as an oil producer, but found it rather a hard game, as the profits
were not always sufficient to satisfy a vicious appetite and the bankers,
especially the latter. I found with them flying was easy, but, like Darius
Green, the great trouble I encountered was when I was compelled to alight. The
only time and place with my fellow countrymen where I cut much ice was the
winter of ‘98 and ’99, which I spent in Alaska. There being no market for ice,
and failing to find gold in sufficient quantities, I returned and anchored in
California, and I am pleased to say that in this glorious state I have been
shown much honor, no doubt beyond my real worth. I served two terms as a
chairman of the democratic state central committee, and at one time was
nominated and ran for railroad commissioner, in which race I was defeated.
Later on I was nominated for lieutenant governor, and this was the glorious epoch
of my life. Owing much to the magnificent campaign of the candidate for
governor, the voters came nearly putting me over, but I was defeated by a small
majority. I am still here and hope that I may remain for the balance of life
and have the pleasure of enjoying the beautiful climate and the fine
associations of the good people of this state.
“I have up to the present time refused
to give my age, but, confidentially, will say I was born in the year 1854. Some
of the old men insist I have passed my prime, but one thing is sure, real joy
of living will prompt me to stay as long as the Lord is willing, and while I
know I have not always followed the Golden Rule, I hope that when I pass to the
other side that I may be admitted to the celestial band and would be happy to
play upon any instrument.
“I was married in the year 1893 to Miss
Elizabeth Doty, of St. Marys, Ohio. For over
twenty-five years we have journeyed along the pathway of life, encountering
some storms, but, taken all in all, have enjoyed much sunshine, not always
having the good things that money buys, but, compared with others, we have no
complaint.
“I have been what might be called a
temperance man, but not a bigoted one. In politics I am a democrat, and
sincerely hope that the effort for a world combination may succeed in
eliminating the great curse of war and may bring a real democracy which means
genuine peace and comfort to the inhabitants of the world. I am a member of the
Knights of Columbus and of the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks.
Transcribed 7-25-12 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California of the South
Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 207-210,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
©
2012 Marilyn R.
Pankey.
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