William O. Speer
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu

Honorable William O. Speer, Judge of the Second Judicial 
District Court of Silver Bow County, is a native of 
Pennsylvania, born August 26, 1846. His grandfather, 
William Speer, emigrated from the north of Ireland to 
America soon after the Revolution, settling in western 
Pennsylvania where he was an industrious farmer. He was 
one of the lay members of the Covanters' Church who took 
an active part in forming the new division of that 
denomination. His son Robert, the Judge's father, was 
born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and married Charlotte 
Covert, a native of the same state and in 1855 moved to 
Iowa settling in Davenport, where for many years he 
followed his trade of carpentering.He had seven children, 
of whom three are now living. He with his wife still 
survives, he being now in his eightieth year.His eldest 
child, whose name heads this sketch, was educated 
principally in Davenport, graduating at the high 
school there. He then read law under the preceptorship of 
Brown and Campbell of that city and was admitted to the 
bar in 1874. After practicing two years alone, he formed a 
partnership with N.S. Mitchell, which continued three years.
In 1880 he came to Butte City and at once opened a 
successful practice. Soon afterward he took part in the 
formation of Silver Bow County and being a stanch 
Republican also participated efficiently in the 
canvass with Honorable W.F.Sanders; and in 1882 he 
was a candidate against W.F. Pemberton for the office 
of District Attorney, but was defeated.In 1884 he was 
elected a member of the Legislature in which body he 
was chairman of the Judiciary Committee. In 1887he was 
elected City Attorney for Butte and was re-elected to 
this position in 1888 both times being opposed by the
 candidacy of Judge McHatton. In 1889 he again ran for 
the office, Frank E. Corbet being the candidate on the 
Democratic ticket; but the entire Republican ticket 
was defeated that year. In 1890 Judge Speer received 
the appointment of Superintendent of the Census for 
the State of Montana. In 1892 he was made a non-partisan 
candidate for the Judge of the Second Judicial District 
of Silver Bow County, which position he has since filled, 
giving uniform evidence of his fitness for the place. 
He has a fine judicial mind, is  thoroughly conversant 
with the law and is a man who has the credit of being 
self-made and he pleasantly remarks that he is "not a 
bit proud of the job." In his everydaylife he is a 
very pleasant and agreeable gentleman.To fraternal 
orders and other absorbing interests outside of his 
profession he has not devoted a great degree of 
attention, but he is a member of the I.O.O.F. and 
of the A.O.U.W; and it is indeed a matter of wonder 
that such apleasant good-looking gentleman should 
have remained single all his life.

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