The Speer family is worthy of special mention in a history of the pioneer settlers of Scott County. James Speer, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1803, son of William and Margaret (Hunter) Speer. They were married in Cumberland County, where a family of seven children were born. In early life James learned the tailor’s trade, but in later life followed farming. He died in Pennsylvania in 1862. He was reared on a farm, and after receiving a common school education, decided to engage in the Indian trade. With that object in view, he secured employment with a fur company on the Tennessee river, traversing a country which was then a wilderness. His compensation was ten dollars a month, until he went to New Orleans, where he was offered better wages for that kind of work in Louisiana.
In 1829 he married Miss Margaret Crawford, a daughter of John and Mary Crawford of Pennsylvania, where she was born June 21, 1810. By their union eight children were born: Mary J. married William Miller, of Clinton County; John (deceased), Robert married Sarah Thomas, James married Miss Elizabeth King, Joseph married Miss Matilda Field, Andrew married Miss Rebecca C. McConnell, Eliza, married James White of Shelby County, Iowa.
In 1840 Mr. Speer came west and settled in Scott County. His first home was in Le Claire, where he moved into a log cabin sixteen by fourteen, covered with clapboards and having a sod chimmey, as Mr. Speer used to say, with the “wrong end down.” Through the roof they could see the stars at night, and often during a storm they had to spread an umbrella to keep off the rain while in bed. These were some of the unpleasant experiences of pioneer life. In common with other early settlers this family endured many hardships and privations, but they had a well-defined object in view, and better times soon dawned upon them. After a few years Mr. Speer made a land claim in Lost Grove, where he improved a farm and began to prosper. Adding steadily to his possessions, he became the owner of the thousand three hundred and forty acres of land, and was noted alike for his thrift and his generosity.
When he first came to the County he had a cash capital of seventeen dollars, eleven dollars of which he spent for a cow. Having learned the brick-maker’s trade before coming west he decided to make a kiln of brick. He went in debt for a spade, made the woodwork of a wheel-barrow and again went into debt to have it ironed, and with these tools he started his brick manufactory. He sold the brick to the few settlers in the County, and in this way got the start which gave him a comfortable fortune. He died April 17, 1884, after a three months’ illness, and Mrs. Speer died June 4, 1892.
William Speer was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1832. His education was obtained in the common schools of Le Claire Township, and he moved to Princeton Township with his father, where he cultivated land on his own account until the spring of 1860, when he decided to go to Colorado and prospect for gold. After six months experience, which proved unsuccessful, he returned home and on March 14, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca McHenry, daughter of Archibald and Amanda (Eaton) McHenry. She was also a native of Pennsylvania. By their union eight children were born. Two died in infancy. Margaret M. married Samuel A. Wilson, a prosperous farmer of Le Claire Township; Anna N. married James D. Porter, Carrie B. married John Banmer; Jennie, William J. and Edward J. are single. After Mr. Speer was married he farmed on his father’s land for two years. Afterward he rented a farm in Lincoln Township, where he remained for three years. And then moved to the farm where he now resided. He owns five hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as there is in Scott County, all being under a high state of cultivation, and is very extensively engaged in stock raising.
Mr. Speer is a liberal spirited man, always willing to aid any movement likely to promote the interests of the community with which he is prominently identified. In political matters he affiliates with the Republican party and is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
BIOGRAPHIES