Mrs. MARIA SPEER, one of the oldest and most highly esteemed residents of Peters township, Washington county, is the widow of James Speer, a son of James Speer, whose father, Robert Speer, came from Adams county, Penn. , at a very early date, and first located in Washington county, but soon after moved with his family to New Concord, Muskingum Co., Ohio' where he died. James Speer, son of Robert, was born in Adams county, Penn., and when quite young, came east of the mountains with his father, and spent the greater part of his boyhood days near New Concord, Ohio. In those days but few white settlers had penetrated the western forests of Ohio, and the Indians still held possession of the land. The Redmen of that vicinity were for the most part friendly to the " Palefaces," and often paid visits to the Speer family, on which occasions the squaws would invariably leave their papooses outsides tightly strapped to a board. In the forest wilds, surrounded by Indians and savage beasts, James Speer grew to manhood, and was married to Miss. Catherine Latta. After their wedding the young couple moved to Washington county, Penn., and settled on the farm in Peters township, where they lived until his death, November 14, 1849. Six children were born of their union, viz.: Deborah, Robert, Thomas L., James, Jane and Nancy, all of whom are now deceased. James Speer, Sr., was a member of the Associate Reformed Church, of Cross Roads, and one of its organizers. In polities he was a Whig. James Speer, son of James and Catherine Speer, was born December 10, 1810, on the farm in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn., where his widow is yet living. He was trained in the usual duties of agriculture, and passed his youth on the place. On February 2, 1839, he married Miss Maria Calahan, who was born October 4, 1814, in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn. a daughter of the late Thomas Calahan, who was a son of Joseph Calahan, a native of Ireland. Her father was a carpenter. Her mother died when she was but five years of age, and she went to live with John Rankin, a farmer of Washington county, Penn., where she remained until her marriage. Of the union of James and Maria Speer were born eight children, viz.: Mary (Mrs. William Boon), Kate, Eliza J. (deceased), a son deceased in infancy, Adeline (wife of George Scott, of Des Moines, Iowa), Blanche (Mrs. James Emery, of Washington county), an infant daughter (deceased), Anna Margaret (widow of William Paden, has one son, Lloyd H., and is now living with her mother, Maria Speer). The home farm contains 127 acres of excellent land, on which a test oil well is being put down, oil drilling already been found in paying quantities; and they are still drilling with the expectation of finding more of the valuable lubricant. Mr. Speer was a Republican, and a member of the United Presbyterian Church, of Mt. Prospect. He -died April 29, 1878.

Text taken from page 668 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by John R. Mort of Salt Pointe, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]