CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5 William Speer, Jr. Family

WILLIAM SPEER (1747-1830)

ABBEVILLE COUNTY

SOUTH CAROLINA

HIS LIFE, FAMILY AND

DESCENDANTS

Compiled and Written By

Wade Edward Speer

With Special Help From

George William Whitmire, Sr., Jacksonville, Florida

William Arthur Speer, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia

Portraits By Edward Shanon Wood, Asheville, North Carolina

Published By

Wade Edward Speer

Marion, North Carolina

1998

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NOTES FOR ONLINE BOOK VERSION

Original page numbers did not survive the file conversion to the Internet-ready html format.

Some editing of the original text has been done, such as correcting typos and eliminating unnecessary line spaces.

All images, including portraits, tombstone sketches, house sketches, and signature tracings have been omitted; however the text accompanying the images is retained.

The William Speer Descendent report (Chapter 1) has been omitted. A greatly updated version can be found at:

http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/p/e/Wade-E-Speer/index.html

http://hometown.aol.com/wspeer1161/myhomepage/heritage.html

{Wade E Speer July 20, 2000}

CHAPTER 5

WILLIAM SPEER, JR. FAMILY

William Speer, Jr.² (William¹) was a settler, farmer, cotton planter, judge, soldier, postmaster, politician, Presbyterian, and family man. He lived his entire life in present day Abbeville County, South Carolina and died only a few miles from where he was born. William and his wife Mary Sue raised eight children, many of whom remained in the area. Three sons and a daughter however, moved to Alabama. William probably served in the War of 1812. Six of his sons and four of his grandsons served in the Civil War. This war brought an end to his prosperous cotton-growing plantation and most of the estate was lost during the turmoil following the war. Today his remodeled house still stands and a great-great-grandson lives nearby on part of the original plantation.

Growing Up William was born May 9, 1788 and was the second child of William Speer, Sr. and Eleanor Little^A (see CHAPTER 2). He was born on his father's homestead at Cherokee Ford on the Savannah River. William, as well as his two brothers and sister, were born in the original homestead house on Carter Island (CHAPTER 2). William was four years younger than his brother John, two years older than his brother Alexander, and four years older than his sister Margaret. It is probable that some of Eleanor's four children by her first husband were also raised in the Speer household.

Like his older brother, William must have learned early the responsibilities of wilderness living. Although little is known of his early childhood, it seems safe to assume that he was often called on to help with the homestead. His father raised numerous cash crops and operated a grist mill and general store. There was plenty of work and responsibility to mold a young man's character.

Recreation and diversion were provided by nature. The river must have held a special fascination for William. Swimming and fishing would have been daily activities. Dreams of a 'Tom Sawyer' adventure rafting down the river would have been hard to resist. Hunting the plentiful wild game in the surrounding forests must have provided countless hours of excitement and enjoyment. Perhaps William, Sr. entertained his sons by telling stories about his war adventures fighting the Tories and the British along the river. One such battle took place right there at Cherokee Ford!

William's mother Eleanor died in 1795 when he was seven years old. This must have been devastating to him. The four years before his father remarried would have been particularly hard for the young man. This time period probably also marked the beginning of his schooling.

Schooling Schooling would have been hard to accept for a wilderness boy, but William, as well as his brothers and sister received a sound education. William's accomplishments later in life attest to a superb education that probably began first at home and later at school. In his 1869 letter, William, Jr. mentions "My father gave his children the best educational advantages South Carolina afforded."^B This suggests that the children attended more than the local public schools.

Perhaps William attended classes at the famous Moses Waddel School. The Speer family was familiar with this Presbyterian minister who also ran a school wherever he was assigned to preach. The family attended the Rocky River Church at Church Hill where Reverend Waddel preached in the early 1800's. Dr. Waddel also conducted the marriages of John and Elizabeth Speer, William, Jr. and Mary Speer, and Margaret Houston Speer and Joseph Rucker. Waddel's schools were noted for their accomplished graduates, including some of South Carolina's finest statesmen. The Waddel schools brought great acclaim and recognition to the Back Country. His Church Hill school is shown adjacent to the Rocky River Meeting House (church) on an early map of the region^C.

The University of South Carolina opened as the South Carolina College in Columbia in 1805, but it is doubtful William or his siblings attended.

Postmaster In 1800, when William, Jr. was 12 years old, he began to show the responsibility that characterized his later life. At this time, he took over the management of the post office on his father's plantation^D. On January 15, 1833, this post office was officially recognized as the Cherokee Heights Post Office by the US Postal Service^E. It continued to operate during the Civil War under authority of the Confederate States Postal Service.

Marriage William married Mary Sue Gill on December 2, 1811. As mentioned above, Moses Waddel, DD performed the service. Mary Sue was the daughter of Daniel and Susannah Gill. Her nickname was Polly. William and Mary Sue became the parents of twelve children. Four of the children are detailed elsewhere in this book, while the remaining eight children are covered at the end of this chapter.

On March 10, 1818 William, Jr., like his brother John, attended a meeting of the Presbyterian Rocky River

Religious Tract Society and donated one dollar toward the purchase of additional land for the church^F. William, Jr. and his family were members of this church.

It is not known for certain when William left his father's plantation. The 1820-through-1860 Census surveys of Abbeville County (see below) show him as the head of his own household. However, it's possible that he stayed on the plantation until after his father's death in 1830. If so, he must have built a house for his family since his father's house would have been too small for two families. Perhaps William, Jr. built a house at Cherokee Heights where the general store and post office were located. This is supported by evidence that a small community existed at Cherokee Heights^G. In any event, William probably used the inheritance from his father's Cherokee Ford estate to purchase or enlarge his own estate at Monterey.

Monterey William, Jr. settled his family on a new homestead one and one-half miles east of the Rocky River Church. Although it is not known exactly when he moved, it is known that the community that sprang up around his plantation was subsequently called Monterey. The site is located on the western slopes of the low ridge between Kerr's Creek to the west (later renamed Morrow Creek) and Shanklin Creek to the east. Both creeks drain south to the Little River. Monterey is located at the intersection of County Roads 146 and 195, about six miles northeast of Calhoun Falls.

Several families still live in the community, including the Robert Mark Speer family, descendants of William, Jr. and Mary Sue (CHAPTERS 1 and 14).

The name Monterey was chosen to honor the South Carolina Palmetto Regiment's actions during the Mexican War in 1846-7^H. This famous regiment, composed of many Abbeville County men, fought gallantly at several battles, including Monterey and Mexico City. The Palmetto Regiment was the first American unit across the fortified wall at Mexico City. Casualties were extremely heavy and many of the state's soldiers died. The capture of Mexico City forced the surrender of Mexico and the end of the war. South Carolina memorialized the Palmetto Regiment soldiers with a remarkable monument on the west side of the State Capitol at Columbia. In addition, the state issued a ceremonial medallion to each surviving soldier; gold for the officers and silver for non-officers.

Several undocumented stories of William Speer, Jr. serving and being wounded in the Mexican War have not been verified^D. It seems unlikely that William served in this war since he was 58 years old at the beginning of the war in 1846. It is more likely that he served in the War of 1812 since he was 24 years old at the outbreak of this, the second war with Britain. However, no supporting records are known to exist.

William Houston Speer³, oldest son of William, Jr., probably served in the Mexican War. Confusion between these two Williams may explain the stories.

Since he was already an experienced postmaster, William, Jr. established a post office on his new homestead^I. Later, on May 6, 1847 the US Postal Service took over authority of the successor of this post office (now on the Giles homestead) and accepted the name 'Monterey'^J. The Monterey US Post Office operated at several different locations in the community. It operated during the Civil War under the authority of the Confederate States Postal System. It is not know when it ceased to operate.

Family stories reveal that William, Jr. probably built at least part of his house at Monterey from boards taken from his father's original house on Carter Island^K (Figure 5-1). Long after William, Jr.'s house passed into the hands of others, numbered timbers were noticed during a renovation. This suggests they came

Figure 5-1
Remodeled House of William Speer, Jr.², Monterey, South Carolina. Originally built in early 1800's. Drawn by Edward Shanon Wood⁷ in 1998 from a photograph.

from an earlier structure, perhaps the Carter Island house.

Esquire William, Jr. became a highly respected man in the community and was often referred to as 'Esquire'. At one time, he served as the Treasurer for Abbeville County^L. He performed various legal services for his neighbors and for a time was a Justice of the Peace (or Probate Judge). The following is an incomplete list of estate documents from the Abbeville County Probate Office that contain William Speer, Jr.'s name in an official capacity^M:

13 Aug 1817 Appraiser of James Pearson Estate.

22 Jul 1818 Witness of John Speer land sale.

21 Oct 1823 Administer of John Haslet Estate.

18 Oct 1825 Administer of Thomas L. Fielding Estate.

26 Apr 1830 Executor of William Speer, Sr. Will.

28 Apr 1830 J.P., Inventory of William Speer, Sr. Estate.

10 Jul 1832 Witness of Milton Paschall Will.

26 Dec 1831 Inventory of Richard Moseley Estate.

21 Nov 1833 Administer of Daniel Anderson Estate.

16 Mar 1846 Administer of Daniel Anderson, minor.

Note that William, Jr. was the Justice of the Peace (or Probate Judge) when William, Sr.’s estate inventory was submitted on April 28, 1830. See Figure 5-2 for William's signatures from this and other documents.

August 13, 1817

July 7, 1825

April 28, 1830

March 16, 1846

Figure 5-2

Tracings of William Speer, Jr.² signatures. Note William dropped the "Jr." after his father died on April 17, 1830.

Census US Census records, which began in 1790, give the following information about the family^N:

1790, 1800 & 1810 no entry

1820 William Speer, Jr., Head of household, Abbeville District

3 males <10

2 males 16-26

1 female <10

1 female 16-26

9 slaves:

6 males <16

1 male >45

1 female <16

1 female 26-45

1830 William Speer, Head of household, Abbeville District

1 male <5

1 male 10-15

2 males 15-20

1 male 40-50

3 females <5

1 female 30-40

1 female 70-80

9 slaves:

1 male <10 1 female 10-24

5 males 10-24 1 female 24-36

1 male 55-100

1840 Wm Spear, Head of household, Abbeville District

2 males <5

1 male 10-15

2 males 20-30

1 male 50-60

3 females 10-15

1 female 40-50

20 slaves:

1 male <10 3 females <10

5 males 10-24 6 females 10-24

1 male 24-36 2 females 24-36

1 male 55-100 1 female 36-55

1850 William Speer, 62, Head of household, Savannah River Regiment, Abbeville District, farmer & Postmaster, $12,400 in real estate, born in SC.

Mary S. Speer, 57, born in SC.

Elijah H. Speer, 21, farmer, born in SC.

Andrew Speer, 16, student, born in SC.

George W. Speer, 15, student, born in SC.

30 Black slaves:

males by age: 55,42,38,31,28,28,28,24,24,12,10, 9,5,4,2.

females by age: 56,50,42,40,28,28,28,27,25,24,

15,13,6,5,2.

1860 William Speer, 73, Head of household, Monterey P.O., Abbeville County, farmer, $10,000 in real estate and $22,049 in personal property, born in SC.

Mary S. Speer, 67, born in SC.

George W. Speer, 25, overseer, born in SC.

22 Black slaves:

males by age: 43,20,20,14,14,12,10,9,4,1/12.

females by age: 70,50,50,40,40,40,41,38,35,16,16,11.

1870 no entry

Note the 'Spear' spelling in 1840. Also note the lack of "Jr." after William, Sr. died in 1830.

William's plantation at Monterey consisted of about 1,000 acres, most of which was probably planted in cotton. Like similar planters in the South, William employed slaves on his plantation. The above Census records indicate that the plantation was most active during the 1840's and 50's. By 1860, the number of slaves, particularly male field hands, was decreasing. William was now 72 years old and probably was curtailing his farm work.

During the Civil War (1861-65), the plantation probably provided an adequate livelihood, but could not rival its former days. During the Reconstruction Period following the war, William became heavily involved in debt and lost the plantation. The circumstances are unknown.

Reconstruction Period Financial Problems Incomplete court records suggest that by 1873 William was having financial problems^O. On April 29 of that year, he was in court defending his property against debts of $4,280.38. On October 26, 1875 the court forced the sale of the estate to a Mr. Bannister Allen. William unsuccessfully pursued a legal provision of the recently-enacted Homestead Act to try and save a portion of his estate. The tactic delayed his estate sale by two and a half years, but failed to protect his house. South Carolina passed the Homestead Act to provide some relief for land owners, like William, who were losing their estates during

Reconstruction. The Act allowed bankrupt land owners to keep a small homestead for their personal residence. The Abbeville County Probate records show the following sequence of events^O:

5 Jan 1873 Probate Court filing against William Speer, Jr. for debts of $4,280.38.

1873 Homestead Act enacted by South Carolina General Assembly.

29 Apr 1873 William files Petition for Homestead.

29 Apr 1873 Probate Judge C. William Guffin orders a 30-day notice to be published in the Press & Banner newspaper. It is published the same day.

31 May 1873 Judge Guffin assigns three men to appraise & survey a piece of the estate with $500 of personal property as homestead for Wm, Jr. He also issues another order for a homestead of $1,000 in real estate and $500 in personal property.

2 Jun 1873 B. Allen, through his lawyer Thomas Thomson, objects to the homestead in a letter to Judge Guffin.

26 Oct 1875 William Speer, Jr. estate sold by the County Sheriff to Bannister Allen.

Petition For Homestead William's Petition for Homestead contains some insights into the family's life. The original, signed by William Speer² with an infirm hand, appears to be hand-written by his youngest son George Washington Speer³ who signed as witness. It is transcribed below with only minor editorial changes^O:

The State of South Carolina

County of Abbeville

April 29, 1873

To William C. Guffin, Esq. Probate Judge

The petition of William Speer, herewith, that he is a resident of the County and State aforesaid: that he is in the eighty fifth year of his age, and is the head of a family, having wife in the eighty first year of her age.

That his personal estate is of small value. That he is ????? and possessed of a tract of land, situate in the State and County aforesaid, on waters of Kerr's Creek, a tributary of Little River, adjoining lands of Thomas J. Lanier, George W. Speer, Joseph Kennedy and others, containing three hundred and fifty acres, more or less, on which is his residence, and family homestead, in which he has resided with his family, consisting of his wife and children, the last fifteen years.

That two judgments in which Bannister Allen is plaintiff and your petitioner is defendant: one for the sum of three thousand, three hundred and seventy seven dollars, and eighty one cents; and the other for the sum of nine hundred and two dollars and forty seven cents were docketed in the office of the Clerk of the Court, in the said County, on the fifth day of January, Ammo Domino, one thousand eight hundred and seventy three.

That no process has been lodged with any officer of the said County of Abbeville, or of any court of the said State, against the Homestead, above described, or against your petitioner.

Wherefore your petitioner prays that the Homestead and the personal property, allowed to the head of a family, and exempt from attachment, levy and sale, by the Constitution and laws of this State, in the tract of land herein above described, and in his personal property, may be appraised and set off to him, of the amount and value, and in the manner, and mode provided by the Constitution and laws of this State.

William Speer

Witness: Geo. W. Speer

Considering his vast legal experience, it's safe to assume that William would have made a will to assure his estate passed to his children. However, no will has been found and if one did exist, William probably destroyed it after losing the estate. As mentioned earlier, William's remodeled house still exists on Monterey Road (Figure 5-1). Before his financial problems, William sold 100 acres of his plantation to his youngest son George Washington Speer³, whose remolded house also still stands to the north of William's. Today this house is occupied by the family of Robert Mark Speer⁶ (William¹, William², George³, Arthur⁴, William⁵).

In 1876, William, Jr.² and Mary Sue moved into the Elvira Prather house in Lowndesville^P. The house was purchased in Mary Sue's name, reflecting William's continuing financial problems. Today this house, known as the Eva Phillips house, is a prized historical landmark of Lowndesville.

Death William Speer, Jr.² died at the age of 88 on January 10, 1877. Mary Sue died at the age of 86 on September 4, 1879. They are buried beside each other in the Old Rocky River Cemetery, just east of their Monterey plantation (Figure 5-3).

WILLIAM SPEER, JR. MARY S. SPEER

Died Died

January 10, 1877 Sept. 4, 1879

aged 88 years 8 months aged 86 years 6 months

& 1 day & 4 days

_______ _______

Figure 5-3
Tombstones of William Speer, Jr.² (1788-1877) and Mary Sue Gill Speer (1793-1879). Old Rocky River Cemetery, Abbeville County, South Carolina.

William Speer, Jr. Family Bible (1788-1910) The William Speer, Jr.² family Bible has been passed down and today is owned by great-great-grandson William Arthur Speer, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia. The following is a transcript of the family data in the bible^Q. Original spelling and punctuation are maintained.

BIRTHS: William Speer, Jr. Born May 9th 1788.

Mary S. Speer Born Febry. 28th 1793.

William Houston Speer Born the 9th Oct. 1812.

John Alexander Speer was born April 27th 1814.

James Harvey Speer was Born Janry. 3rd 1816.

Sarah Elenor Speer was born Augt. 24th 1817.

James Milton Speer was born April 19th 1819.

Henry Barr Speer born Febry. 15th 1821.

Mary Elizabeth Speer Born 2nd day Dec. 1823.

Margaret Eliza Speer Born 8th December 1825.

Elijah Hunt & Mary Ealeanor Speer Twins born the 14th day of March 1828.

Frances Caroline Speer born the 12th April 1830.

Andrew Jackson Speer was born December the 1st 1833.

George Washington Speer, born the 12th December 1835.

MARRIAGES: Married on the 2nd day of December 1811 William Speer, Junr. and Mary S. Gill.

Marred on the 15th December 1836 William Houston Speer to Francis Williams.

Married on the 4th day of November 1841 John Alex. Speer to Sarah Speed.

James M Speer & Mary Speed married 24th Dec 1844.

25 March 1847 Mary Speer and A A McCord was married.

Feb. 1848 M E Speer and Lawson M Summit married.

Elijah Speer and Sarah Robinson married Feb 13 1853.

A J Speer and Sophia Verdel married Marc 25, 1858.

G W Speer and M S Giles was married 20th Jun 1872.

DEATHS:

Departed this life on the 20th of October 1795 Eleanor Speer first consort of William Speer, Sen. aged about 46 years.

Departed this life on the 17th April 1830 William Speer Senior, aged about Eighty three years.

Departed this life on the 6th day of May 1834 Martha Speer relic(?) of William Speer Sen. aged about 82 years.

Departed this life on the 26th April 1856 Alexander son of William and Eleanor Speer, aged 65 years 8 months and 3 days.

Departed this life on the 6th day of September 1864 Margaret Rucker, daughter of William and Eleanor Speer, aged 71 years 9 months and 3 days.

Departed this life on the 20th day of April 1866 John, son of William and Ealenor Speer, aged 81 years 5 months and 15 days.

Departed this life on the 10th day of January 1877 William Speer, Jr., son of William and Elenor Speer, aged 88 years.

Departed this life on the first day of November 1817 between two and three oclock James Harvey Speer aged one year nine months and twenty nine days.

Departed this life on the 11th day Sept. 1826. between 10 & 11 O Clock A.M. Mary Elizabeth Speer aged two years nine months and nine days.

Departed this life on the 12th day of October 1826 between 9 & 10 O Clock A.M. Sarah Eleanor Speer aged nine years one month and 18 days.

Departed this life on the 15th of November 1829 about 5 P.M. O Clock Henry Barr Speer aged 8 years 9 months & 1 day.

Departed this life on the 17th October 1847 after an (illness?) of twenty one days at ??? ??? after 6 O Clock P.M. Frances Caroline Speer aged 17 years six months and five days.

{A clipping of a printed obituary is attached beside the last entry. It is signed 'W. S.', presumably William Speer, Jr. It is transcribed below.}

Departed this life, at Cherokee Heights, S. C., Oct. 17, Frances Caroline, youngest daughter of W. and M. Speer, aged 17, after an illness of 21 days, which she bore with great meekness and patience. Five weeks before her death an older brother joined the Church: some of her friends advised her to do so: she said it was her intention to join at the approaching camp-meeting, but her sickness intervened. The case was not alarming until about a week before her death. About one hour before she died, when speech and reason had appeared to fail her, while prayer was being make for her, her speech and reason returned, and in an ecstasy of love and praise to her Redeemer, she bade her friends farewell, and fell asleep in Jesus.

W. S.

Departed this life Sept 4 1879 Mary S. Speer wife of Wm. Speer Jr. age 86 yrs, 6 mo. 4 days.

Departed this life July the 1st 1890 James Milton Speer, age 71 yrs, 2 mo 12 days.

Departed this life November 1878 William Houston Speer.

Died 30 Sept 1894 M. E. Summit age 69 years 2 months, 8 days.

Departed this life February 12, 1908 E H Speer age 79 years 11 mos.

Departed this life January the 10, 1910 John Alexander Speer age 95 years 8 months & 13 days.

Children William Speer, Jr.² and Mary Sue had twelve children:

Born Died

1) William Houston Speer³ 9 Oct 1812 2 Nov 1878

2) John Alexander Speer³ 27 Apr 1814 10 Jan 1910

3) James Harvey Speer³ 3 Jan 1816 1 Nov 1817

4) Sarah Eleanor Speer³ 24 Aug 1817 12 Oct 1826

5) James Milton Speer³ 19 Apr 1819 1 Jul 1890

6) Henry Barr Speer³ 15 Feb 1821 15 Nov 1829

7) Mary Elizabeth Speer³ 2 Dec 1823 11 Sep 1826

8) Elijah Hunt Speer³ 14 Mar 1828 12 Feb 1908

9) Mary Ealeanor Speer³ 14 Mar 1828 30 Sep 1894

10) Francis Caroline Speer³ 12 Apr 1830 17 Oct 1847

11) Andrew Jackson Speer³ 1 Dec 1833 24 Jan 1918

12) George Washington Speer³ 12 Dec 1835 31 Jan 1915

1) William Houston Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born October 9, 1812 in Abbeville District, South Carolina. He married Frances E. Williams (1817-dec) on December 15, 1836. William³ is listed as ‘Head of Household’ in Abbeville County, South Carolina in the 1840 Census. He probably served in the Mexican War (1846-1848); however, no official records are known, perhaps because his service might have been in the South Carolina State Militia. His service is suggested by: a) his age; b) family stories of a 'William Speer' who was wounded in the war; and c) his father choosing the name Monterey for his homestead. Some records suggest that William Houston served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate States Army; however this may be confusion with another Speer man from North Carolina (CHAPTER 19).

William Houston is ‘Head of Household’ in Anderson County (formerly Abbeville County), South Carolina in the 1850 Census. In 1857 he moved his family to Wetumpka, Coosa County, Alabama where he apparently acquired sizable land holdings^S. He appears in the June 1, 1860 Coosa County Census as ‘Head of Household’ on a farm with eight slaves. At that time he owned 320 acres, of which 120 were improved. The land was valued at $2,100. He also owned 5 horses, 4 milk cows, 4 working oxen, 7 other cattle, 40 swine, 76 bushels of wheat, 600 bushes of Indian corn, and 100 bushes of oats.

On May 8, 1861 William Houston married Mariah Jane Ellis. Mariah Jane was born February 19, 1839 in Millegeville, Baldwin County, Georgia and died January 20, 1934 in Coosa County. William Houston died at the age of 66 on November 2, 1878 in Coosa County and is buried there in the Concord Baptist Church Cemetery.

William Houston³ had six children with Frances E. and one child with Mariah Jane:

Born Died

1-A) William Starling Speer⁴ c1839 unknown

1-B) John H. Speer⁴ c1840 3 Jul 1863

1-C) Benjamin T. Speer⁴ c1842 unknown

1-D) Josenah E. Speer⁴ c1844 unknown

1-E) James A. Speer⁴ c1846 29 May 1865

1-F) Samuel H. Speer⁴ c1848 unknown

1-G) Callie Lee Speer⁴ 6 Aug 1864 13 Jan 1939

1-A) William Starling Speer⁴ (William¹, William², William³) was a Baptist Minister and was ordained at the Concord Baptist Church in Coosa County, Alabama where he was also a popular preacher. William Starling and his brother James A. Speer⁴ enlisted in Company D, Alabama Infantry in 1864 and served during the Civil War. William Starling was captured near Marietta, Georgia on July 4, 1864 and spent the next year as a POW. He was released from prison at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois on June 16, 1865 at the end of the war (CHAPTER 19). Apparently he was preaching at the Concord Baptist Church when he died. Several references refer to him dying in the prime of life; unfortunately the date and circumstances are not known.

1-B) John H. Speer⁴ (William¹, William², William³) joined Company C, 13th Alabama Infantry on July 13, 1861 at Wetumpka, Coosa County (now Elmore County), Alabama. He served during the Civil War and was a Sergeant when killed on July 3, 1863 during the famous Pickett’s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg (CHAPTER 19).

1-E) James A. Speer⁴ (William¹, William², William³) enlisted with his brother William Starling Speer⁴ in Company D, Alabama Infantry in 1864 and served in the Civil War. He was captured at Franklin, Tennessee; apparently during that famous battle on December 17, 1864. James A. died while a POW at Camp Chase, Ohio on May 29, 1865 (CHAPTER 19).

1-G) Callie Lee Speer⁴ (William¹, William², William³) was born in Coosa County, Alabama. On June 2, 1892 she married Barney Bass Russell. Barney Bass was born November 18, 1870 in Harpersville, Shelby County, Alabama and died January 20, 1940 in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Callie Lee and Barney Bass had one daughter Willie Mae Russell⁵ (William¹, William², William³, Callie⁴). Willie Mae was born May 13, 1899 and married Joseph Unruh on March 11, 1925. Joseph was born November 7, 1884 in Barton County, Kansas and died September 9, 1963 in Copeland, Kansas. Willie Mae died October 1, 1978 in Satanta, Kansas. Willie Mae and Joseph had one daughter Dixie Lee Unruh⁶ (William¹, William², William³, Callie⁴, Willie⁵) who was born October 26, 1932 in Kontezuma, Kansas. Dixie Lee married Frazier Elmer Wynn on June 4, 1960.

Frazier Elmer was born April 21, 1927 in Inglewood, California.

2) John Alexander Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born April 27, 1814 and is covered in detail in CHAPTER 11.

3) James Harvey Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born January 3, 1816 and died November 1, 1817.

4) Sarah Eleanor Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born August 24, 1817 and died October 12, 1826.

5) James Milton Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born April 19, 1819 and married Mary America Speed (1826-dec) on December 24, 1844. Mary America was the sister of Sarah Eleanor Speed, who was the wife of James's

brother John Alexander Speer³. The sisters were the daughters of Michael (?-1851) and Eleanor Speed. James Milton was ‘Head of Household’ and a farmer with eight slaves in Abbeville County in the 1850 Census. He moved with his brothers William Houston³ and John Alexander³ Speer to Wetumpka, Coosa County, Alabama in 1857. James Milton appears here as ‘Head of Household’ on a farm with eight slaves in the 1860 Census. He owned 320 acres, of which 125 were improved. The land was valued at $2,500. James Milton also owned 4 horses, 1 mule, 5 milk cows, 2 working oxen, 5 other cattle, 30 swine, 65 bushels of wheat, and 600 bushels of Indian corn.

During the Civil War, James Milton served as a Major in the 68th Regiment, 7th Alabama Infantry (CHAPTER 19). He died July 1, 1890 in Winnsboro, Wood County, Texas.

James Milton³ and Mary America had four children:

Born Died

5-A) James Milton Speer, Jr.⁴ unknown unknown

5-B) Maria Lou Speer⁴ c1845 unknown

5-C) Margaret Ellyn Speer⁴ c1847 unknown

5-D) Mary Floride Speer⁴ c1849 unknown

5-B) Maria Lou Speer⁴ (William¹, William², James³) married Franklin Sims and they had seven children:

Born Died

5-B-1) Dorman Sims⁵ unknown unknown

5-B-2) Jennie Lee Sims⁵ unknown unknown

5-B-3) Franklin Sims⁵ unknown unknown

5-B-4) George Sims⁵ unknown unknown

5-B-5) Reedy Sims⁵ unknown unknown

5-B-6) Ellen Sims⁵ unknown unknown

5-B-7) Mitt Sims⁵ 1882 1957

5-B-7) Mitt Sims⁵ (William¹, William², James³, Maria⁴) died in 1957 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona.

5-D) Mary Floride Speer⁴ (William¹, William², James³) married George Wimberly Milner and they had one daughter Ocie Kyle Milner⁵ (William¹, William², James³, Mary⁴)

6) Henry Barr Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born February 15, 1821 and died November 15, 1829.

7) Mary Elizabeth Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born December 2, 1823 and died September 11, 1826.

8) Elijah Hunt Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born March 14, 1828 and was a twin to Mary Ealeanor³. Elijah is covered in detail in CHAPTER 12.

9) Mary Ealeanor Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born March 14, 1828 and was a twin to Elijah Hunt³. She married A. A. McCord on March 25, 1847 and moved to Fayette County, Alabama. She married Lawson M. Sumit in February 1848. It is not known if she had any children. She died on September 30, 1894.

10) Francis Caroline Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born on April 12, 1830 and died October 17, 1847 at Cherokee Heights, after a twenty-one-day illness.

11) Andrew Jackson Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born December 1, 1833 and is covered in detail in CHAPTER 13.

12) George Washington Speer³ (William¹, William²) was born December 12, 1835 and is covered in detail in CHAPTER 14.

NOTES FOR CHAPTER 5

A Several incorrect dates are found in various records. The date 9 May 1788 seems certain since it is found in three convincing sources: 1) the William Speer, Jr. letter of 9 Dec 1869, 2) his family Bible, and 3) this is the date calculated from the age given on his tombstone. Perhaps the incorrect dates come from William's 1874 manuscript where his birth date is easily mistaken to be 23 Aug 1790. Apparently transcription difficulties with this hand-written manuscript transposed the dates of William and his two brothers. See APPENDIX A for the 1869 letter and the 1874 manuscript.

B William Speer, Jr. letter of 9 Dec 1869 to his nephew John Andrew Speer (APPENDIX A).

C Mill's Atlas, 1825.

D Carroll, ed., 1979, "Speer" by Samuella Speer Brown, p. 174; and Wallace, 1934, p. 287.

E Teal and Stets, p. 51.

F Rocky River Presbyterian Church, 1818. The meeting took place March tenth at Church Hill, Abbeville Co, SC. Today only the non-maintained cemetery survives.

G Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1861-1865; General Topographic Map, Sheet VIII, Plate CXLIII. This map shows a cluster of three buildings at the intersection at Cherokee Heights. On several visits in 1995, I found the ruins of three additional home sites within a few thousand feet of the intersection. Apparently a small community developed around the intersection where William Speer, Sr.'s general store was located.

H Speer, Arthur Jackson, 1957, p. 43; and 1979, p. 8-10.

I Wallace, 1935, p. 287.

J Teal and Stets, p. 53;

K Velasquez, 1986, Evans House.

L Perrin, 1933.

M Abbeville County Probate Office Estate Files; Wooley, 1981,

p. 280; and Young, p. 13, 108, 142, 209, 252, and 309.

N US Census Records; National Archives Microfilm, Charlotte- Mecklenburg Public Library, Charlotte, NC:

1820 M-33 Reel 118 p. 11B

1830 M-19 Reel 169 p. 61

1840 M-704 Reel 507 p. 21

1850 M-432 Reel 848 p. 68B; & Reel 861 Nov 20 1850

1860 M-653 Reel 1212 p. 120; & Reel 1229, p. 124

O Abbeville County Probate Office, Estate File Box 196 Pack 5193, William Speer, Jr.

P Carlisle, 1987, p. 16.

Q The HOLY BIBLE Containing The Old and New Testaments, with Original Notes, Practical Observation, and Chronological Tables. In Three Volumes, by Thomas Scott, DD Volume I, The Fourth American Quarto Edition, on a New and Cheap Plan: Arranged in a Different Manner from any Former Edition, by William W. Woodward; Philadelphia, PA: Published by W. W. Woodward, 1816. Family information entries in the bible apparently began in 1817 and continued until 1910. William also entered pre-1817 family data.

R Sifakis, 1992, p. 125.

S Pitts, 12 Jan 1995, Letter.