Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Speer, James B 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 4:54 am

Author: Past & Present, 1907

James B. Speer, who for many years figured prominently in connection with the 
business history of Joliet, belonging to that class of representative American 
men who, in promoting individual success, also contribute to the general 
prosperity, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His parents were 
Dr. William Russell and Nancy (Denniston) Speer, the latter a native of 
Westmoreland and the former of Mercer county, that state. Dr. Speer acquired 
his education in the county of his nativity and subsequently took up the study 
of medicine, continuing his preparation for the profession as a student in the 
University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated, 
receiving his certificate to practice. He then located in Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1869, when he removed to Joliet, where 
his son James was already living. On account of ill health Dr. Speer never 
resumed the active practice of medicine in Joliet but lived retired here until 
his death, which occurred in June, 1881. His wife survived him for about four 
years and passed away in August, 1885. Of the children born unto Dr. and Mrs. 
Speer three are now living. James B., Harriet S. and Nannie L. The elder 
daughter is the widow of Dr. Milton Foster Hand, of Utica, New York, who was 
graduated from a dental college in the east and on coming to Illinios settled 
in Joliet, where he engaged in the practice of dentistry for many years. In 
1888 on account of illness he withdrew from the profession and lived retired 
until called to his final rest. He passed away in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 
April 20, 1891, and is still survived by Mrs. Hand, who now makes her home in 
Joliet, her sister Nannie residing with her at No. 112 Richards street. James 
B. Speer at the usual age entered the public schools of his native county, 
where he continued his studies to the age of sixteen and he came to the middle 
west with his uncle. They settled in St. Louis, Missouri, and Mr. Speer 
accepted a position as clerk in a dry-goods store, after a brief period thus 
passed he secured a better position as a clerk in a bank in that city, where 
he remained for a few years. In 1868 he took a contract for work on the 
Michigan Central canal and came direct to Joliet, that business occupying his 
time and energies for a few years. After completing his work according to the 
terms of the contract he turned his attention to the business of quarrying 
stone and later embarked in the grain trade in partnership with the firm of 
Carpenter & Marsh. They engaged in buying and shipping grain for several 
years, after which Mr. Speer became a member of the Chicago board of trade, 
with which he was identified for twelve years, making daily trips to the city 
and operating on the grain exchanges of the metropolis. At the same time he 
was interested in the bicycle manufacturing business on Railroad street in 
Joliet. He established the enterprise but placed the management in the hands 
of others although he continued financially interested in the same for several 
years. Later he established the Joliet Novelty Works, in which he was 
interested for some time. In all his business undertakings he strove to attain 
the highest degree of perfection possible and made substantial advancement 
along financial lines. Mr. Speer was married in Joliet to Miss Sallie Worrell, 
a daughter of Charles Worrell, a pioneer merchant of this city, who was born 
in the south and came to Joliet in 1858. For a long period he conducted a dry-
goods store on Jefferson street, retiring after twenty-five years' connection 
with commercial interests. Both he and his wife died in Joliet and in their 
demise the community lost two of its representative people who in public 
regard and social life occupied an enviable position. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Speer 
have been born two children: Mrs. George A. Barr, whose husband is one of the 
prominent druggists of Joliet; and Genevieve, who is with her mother. For a 
number of years Mr. and Mrs. Speer spent the winter months in the south, and 
eight years ago in a runaway accident Mr. Speer was thrown from the carriage 
and badly injured by the fall. He then returned to Will county and located 
upon a farm two miles south of Joliet, where they resided for a short time but 
the injuries which he has sustained had undermined his health and as he grew 
no better on the farm they returned to Joliet. Mr. Speer is a republican in 
politics. He was quite successful in business life and owned much property 
here, for as his financial resources increased he made judicious investments 
in property. He possessed excellent executive ability and the happy faculty of 
judging men, and the causes which led to his success were to be found along 
the lines of well tried and old-time maxims. Honesty, fair dealing, 
perseverance and fidelity—all these he strictly enforced and adhered to, not 
only on his own part but also required the same qualities from his employes. 
Mrs. Speer and her daughter and also Mr. and Mrs. Barr reside at a beautiful 
home at No. 215 Sherman street and are prominent socially in the city.

Additional Comments:
Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907.

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