William J. Speer Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1054

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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WILLIAM J. SPEER, whose fine estate is located on section 30, Montrose 
Township, Genesee County, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 
19, 1844. That continued to be his home until December, 1869, when he 
came to Genesee County and settled on section 30 of this township. His 
early training was taken upon a farm in Ohio, and while living there he 
pursued agriculture, but since coming to Michigan he has followed 
lumbering to some extent, but has never given up farming. He bought 
sixty-nine acres of wild land, and besides his Montrose property owns 
forty acres in Maple Grove Township, Saginaw County. Upon his home farm 
he has erected excellent buildings, which are truly an ornament to the 
township, and are most comfortable and commodious for his family and 
farm operations.

   Mr. Speer was married in Maple Grove Township, Saginaw County, this 
State, June 16, 1871, to Miss Alida Reed, who was born in Rensselaer 
County, N. Y., and was three years old when her parents brought her to 
Michigan. She is now the mother of two children: Helena M. and James E.

   For five years Mr. Speer has held the office of Supervisor of his 
township and has been Treasurer for two years. He has been Census 
Enumerator of Montrose Township for the tenth and eleventh census, and 
has taken an active part in political affairs, being a stanch 
Republican.

   Our subject enlisted in the spring of 1864 in Company K, One Hundred 
and Fifty-ninth Ohio Infantry for one hundred days' service and was in 
the battle of Monocacy, in July, 1864. He has taken an active part in 
religious work and is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and 
has served that body as Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee, and has been 
made delegate to the General Conference and other important religious 
gatherings.

  Robert W. Speer, the father of our subject, was united in marriage 
with Sarah Jamison, who died in the spring of 1882. The father still 
lives in Muskingum County, Ohio, on the farm on which W. J. Speer was 
born; he is eighty-five years old and a member of the Reformed 
Presbyterian Church. The father of Mrs. William J. Speer was William H. 
Reed, and her mother was known in maidenhood as Jane Chamberlin. She 
died in Montrose Township, October 21, 1891, and. her father lives in 
Owosso with his son Charles Reed. Mrs. Speer is a lady of more than 
ordinary ability, culture and amiability, and makes a delightful home 
for her family. The farm has upon it excel-lent buildings and 
everything is kept in such order as to show plainly the hand of a 
genuine systematic farmer.




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