Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Spears, Daniel P 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 12:18 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1885

Daniel P. Spears, of the firm of D. P. Spears & Son, dealers in dry goods, 
hats, notions, gentlemen's and ladies' furnishing goods, at Morrison, Ill., 
was born Dec. 29, 1822, in Milan, Erie Co., Ohio. His father, William W. 
Spears, was born in Pennsylvania and went thence to the State of New York, 
whence, after a residence of some years there, he went to Ohio where he 
remained until the termination of his life. The mother, Love (Watkins) Spears, 
was a native of Massachusetts. Of their ten children five are living: Nathan 
W. is a farmer and merchant in Fayette Co., Iowa; Nancy is the widow of Samuel 
Harper and lives in Lawton, Mich.; Betsey is the wife of Russell Munger, a 
retired farmer at Lawton, Mich.; Mary A. married Crowell Eddy, a farmer in the 
township of Clinton, Lenawee Co., Mich., and died there March 10, 1885. Mr. 
Spears is the youngest of the children born to his parents, and until he was 
24 years of age remained on the farm of his father. Meanwhile his brothers, 
William and Charles, both now deceased, had established themselves in business 
at Pittsburg, and at the age named he went there and engaged in their employ, 
where he continued four years. About 1840 he went to Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., 
Mich., and entered in partnership with his brother, Nathan, where they were 
interested in the manufacture of woolen goods. On the termination of this 
venture he went to White Co., Ind., where, associated with W. R. Davis, he 
embarked in a mercantile enterprise in which he was occupied seven years. In 
1858 he came to Morrison to enter upon the duties of the position of salesman 
in the dry-goods house of Spears & Bro. Four years later he purchased a part 
of the building where he is now engaged in the transaction of his business and 
put in a stock of merchandise. He embarked in the enterprise in company with 
Joseph Shafer. This relation existed until the death of the latter, when Mr. 
Spears purchased the claims of the heirs of his late partner, and became 
associated with James Shafer, nephew of the deceased. Two years later he 
became by purchase sole proprietor of the establishment and until September, 
1884, conducted the business alone. At that date he purchased the store and 
stock of Chas. Spears & Son, situated adjoining, opened communication between 
the sales-rooms and is now transacting business in the double store. At the 
date of enlargement he admitted his son, Frank W., to a partnership. Their 
establishment includes two large sales-rooms, 51 by 44 feet in size, and they 
employ four assistants. Their stock is estimated at a value of $17,000, and 
includes a full line of goods suited to the local patronage. In the spring of 
1885 Messrs. Spears & Son added a carpet department to their business. Mr. 
Spears belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Board of 
Aldermen of Morrison. He owns a farm of 70 acres lying three miles south of 
the city, also 12 acres connected with his residence in this place. He is also 
the owner of a half interest in 160 acres of land in White Co., Ind. Mr. 
Spears has been married three times. He was first joined in marriage in Milan, 
Ohio, to Elizabeth Walbridge, who died two years later, after becoming the 
mother of one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Spears was again married, in 
White Co., Ind., to Sarah J. Burns, who survived between two and three years. 
Dec. 6, 1858, Mr. Spears contracted a third marriage at Monticello, Ind., with 
Mary Shafer. Their five children were born at Morrison. Frank W. is the oldest 
and is in business with his father. Fred is the next in order of birth. Burt 
C. is a clerk in the store. Maggie J. and James are the two youngest.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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