BIO: GEORGE W. SPERA, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 293-294
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    GEORGE W. SPERA, of Silver Spring township, belongs to one of the
  representative families of Cumberland county, which doubtless owes its origin
  to Switzerland, although its early history is not clearly known.
    
    Henry Spera, the father of George W. Spera, was born in Lancaster county,
  Pa., and had three brothers-William and George, deceased; and Esrom, living
  in Columbia. Henry Spera was a farmer, although he learned the blacksmith's
  trade. He married Mary Ann Eichelberger, of Silver Spring township, and eight
  children were born to them, two of whom died young Lusetta married Henry
  Staub, of Monroe township, and had five children-Mary married John Fail, of
  York county; Harry married and has one child, but his wife is deceased; Annie
  married William Ryder, of Cumberland county; Fanny married Levi Kalbach, of
  Lancaster county; Carrie married William Singiser, of Mechanicsburg.
  Katherine married Charles Whitcomb, of Cumberland county, and had five
  childrenHarry married Mary Cornman, of Monroe township, and has had two
  children Ellen married a Mr. Richter, of Boiling Springs; Annie married and
  lives in Steelton; Albert and James are unmarried and at home. William
  married Katherine Shumacher, of Cumberland county, and they had four
  children-John, Minnie (Mrs. Weaver, of Macon county, Ill.); Lily (living in
  Macon county, Ill.); William (living in Macon county, Ill.). Emanuel married
  Sophia Eidelblute, of York county, and has four children living. George W. is
  our subject. Henry married Miss Minnie Enck, of Cumberland county, and has one
  child, Nellie, a teacher, living at home.
    
    After the death of his first wife Henry Spera married Sarah Jane Messenger,
  daughter of David Messenger, of Hampden township, and they had four children:
  Ezra D., living in North Dakota, married Kate Weigel, of Shiremanstown. James
  B. mar-
    
    294  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  ried and is living in York County. Alberta married Mr. Christ and lives in
  Monroe township. Charles married and is living in York county.
    
    George W. Spera was born March 1, 1851, on the old Spera homestead, in
  Silver Spring township, and was there educated in the public schools. He
  attended school until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to work on
  the homestead, and thus continued until he was thirty-four years of age. Two
  years later he married Miss Anna Mary Williams, daughter of William and Sarah
  (Orris) Williams, of the same county, and one child was born to them, George
  Glenn,, who resides at home. After their marriage the young couple settled on
  the place they now occupy, a farm of 150 acres, which Mr. Spera cultivates
  and has in excellent condition, being numbered among the representative
  farmers of his township.
    
    Although he is not affiliated with any religious denomination, his
  sympathies are with the Lutheran Church, and he gives liberally toward its
  support. All of his life he has been a Democrat, and he has twice been
  appointed and once elected tax collector of Silver Spring township, and has
  also served eleven years as school director, finally refusing to accept
  further nomination. Few men stand higher in public esteem than Mr. Spera,
  for he is not only a successful farmer, but a kind-hearted, broad-minded,
  upright gentleman, and one who holds the entire confidence of the community.