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Growing Up Eustace Willhouby³ grew up and attended public school in the progressive community of Culloden. He inherited his father’s famous public speaking abilities, his intellect and his passion for the ministry. Unlike his older brothers, he did not attend college. Beyond his primary education, Eustace was self-taught and excelled at English Literature, the Classics and the Law. His intellectual abilities must have been obvious throughout his early life and soon brought him great respect and recognition.

Lawyer On December 27, 1845, at the age of 19, Eustace Willhouby Speer³ was admitted to the Georgia Bar Association. Like his brother Alexander Middleton³, he too was granted an age exemption to take the exam since he was not the required 21 years old^A. However, Eustace Willhouby’s law career was very short lived (see below).

Marriage Eustace Willhouby³ married Annie Elizabeth King in 1846. Annie Elizabeth was born February 8, 1927 to Reverend Geraldus King and his wife Lavinia (1807-1891). Geraldus was the nephew of William Rufus King, who was an Ex-Vice President of the Unites States. Annie Elizabeth had six younger brothers (Tom, Bill, Mike, Charlie, John and Joe) and three sisters (Carrie, Ella, and Mrs. T. F. Downs). Annie Elizabeth died January 1, 1910 and is buried beside her husband in the Speer family plot in the Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens, Clark County, Georgia (Figure 17-2).

Minister Eustace Willhouby³...

"...was converted at the old Monroe camp ground, and, although he had been admitted to the bar by act of the general assembly, at once devoted his great talents to the service of the Master"^B.

"In 851 he was sent by the annual conference, to the First church in Athens to control the unruly student body in that day mainly composed of sons of wealthy planters. After his appearance and first sermon there was not as before any disturbance of the congregation lawfully assembled for divine service, and the students became his life long and devoted friends. Through his efforts the brick church still standing at Athens was erected. His subsequent appointments embrace all of the principal cities of the state. He was several times presiding elder, but declined the more conspicuous stations of the church. His unobtrusive piety, his gentle courtesy, even to the lowliest and least fortunate, his compact, lucid and fervid sermons enriched by his copious learning, glowing with the vivid charm of his strong and cultured imagination, endeared him to thousands of his contemporaries, and are yet cherished in tender memory by those who knew and loved him. Of another, no man ever heard him speak an ungentle or unkindly word. He adhorred debt and owed no man"^B.

"At Mulberry Street Church in the year of 1853 Eustace Speer was appointed as pastor. He was an exceptionally gifted person, and his talents were dedicated to the ministry. He was unrivaled as a preacher; in many writings he is described as the Melville of Methodism. Extreme modesty made him shrink from any public exercise. His sermons were short and expository and enthralled his congregations with their depth of wisdom and beautiful expressions. He presented an imposing figure; he was six feet two inches tall, heavy-set with broad shoulders and features that gave one the feeling he was gazing on a patriarch of the old days."^E

"At the close of Dr. Speer’s first year at Mulberry, the membership had increased to 534 white members, attesting to the effective ministry of this gifted preacher. Dr. Speer returned to Mulberry in 1864. The minutes of the Quarterly Conference was written in pale ink which reflected the scarcity of not only that commodity but many others. This was a bleak period but the ladies never ceased to strive valiantly. Good attendance and profitable meetings must have helped Dr. Speer and the whole moral of Mulberry"^E.

"He was a great admirer of Daniel Webster, and his oratorical style is said to have strongly resembled that great American. Of him {Eustace Willhouby) Robert Toombs declared that, for choice of language and elegance of diction, he had never known his equal..." "Like his father, Dr. Speer filled most of the important pastorates of the Methodist Church in Georgia. Retiring from the itinerant ministry, he became Professor of Belles Letters and Oratory at the University of Georgia, where he left his impress on the youth of the State as few men have been able to do"^K.

Professor Eustace Willhouby³ retired from active preaching in 1871 and became a Professor of English Literature/Belles-Letters at the University of Georgia in Athens, Clark, County, Georgia. Considering that he did not have a college education, this was quite an accomplishment. He remained at the University until 1879.

Death Eustace Willhouby³ died October 29, 1899 at his home in Athens, Clark County, Georgia. He is buried beside his wife and two daughters in the Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens (Figure 17-2).

Children Three children were born to Eustace Willhouby Speer³ and Annie Elizabeth King:

3) Laura Speer⁴ 26 May 1855 24 May 1920

A Davis, R. S., 1987, p. 304.

B Candler, A. D. and C. A. Evans, 1906, p. 344-5.

C Lawrence, H., 1984a, p. 519.

D Rocker, W. L., 1988, various pages.

E Holler, A. C., ed., 1961, p. 91-2.

F Rice, T. B., Dr., 1961, various pages.

G Tyler, L. G. and W. C. Torrence, eds., p. 109.

I Daughters of the American Revolution, Mary Hammond Washington Chap, Marriage Book H, p. 10.

J Holcomb, B. H., 1979, p. 577.

K Strozier, H. S., ed., 1919, p.102.

L Heyward, A. H., 1991.