John Speer (1857 - 1896)

Born 1 Sep 1857 in Lawrence County, Alabama

Ancestors

Son of Robert Andrew Speer and Nancy Anne (Morris) Speer

Husband of Sarah Ann (Bracken) Speer — married 21 May 1876 in Lawrence County, Alabama, USA

Descendants

Died 22 Jul 1896 at age 38 in Trinity, Morgan, Decatur, Alabama, USA

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Biography

Biographical Sketch

"Who is one of the young ministers of the association, was born in that part of Franklin county, now called Colbert, September 1, 1857. While yet a child, his father was reduced to poverty by the calamities of the Civil War, he did not recover from it, and died soon after the war. The death of his father cast a great shadow upon his young life. He was devoted to him. At the age of seventeen he joined Okalona Church in Lawrence county, Alabama. His greatest desire now was to glorify God, in doing His will, whatever that might be. He felt it to be his duty to preach the gospel, though ill prepared in the way of an education, as he had scarcely any. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in Okolona Church, August 15, 1881, by a presbytery consisting of J.J. Stamps, W.C. Summers, Isaac Bradford,and J.R. Nesmith, and was called to the pastorate of that church. Being called upon to teach others, he felt the importance of acquiring at least a common school education, for he did not have even that. Here was a crisis in his life: to attend school, and at the same time provide for a young wife and a widowed mother, was a question not easily decided, in his circumstances. At this time the Muscle Shoals Association was aiding worthy young men, who were trying to prepare themselves for the ministry. Brother Speer was aided by the Board of Ministerial Education of the Association to attend school. He entered Mountain View High Scool, near Trinity, Alabama, taught by Elder Josephys Shackelford, in January,1883, and continue there until May 30, 1884, fourteen and a half months. He again entered that school as a beneficiary of the oat in 1887 and remained for four months. During the time he was attending school he did some pastoral work and in vacations, worked for the association as a missionary, thus he was enabled, by practicing strict economy and self-denial to support himself and his family. After quitting school he became pastor of Mr. Psgah Church, and afterwards of Macedonia and East Decatur Churches. He is now employed as a missionary, and is reaching to Liberty, Mission Grove and Mr. Stanley Churches. Elder Speer is an earnest and zealous preacher, and is trying by closely applying himself to the Bible and such books as he can procure, to better prepare himself for usefulness as a preacher. He has improved very much within the last five years, both in the manner of his delivery and in the preparation of his sermons. His voice is not very strong, and is rather shrill. His great fault in delivery is, that he permits himself to become too much excited, and his voice is raised to such a pitch, that its sharpness is annoying to his hearers. He can overcome this by constant effort to suppress undue excitement. He has in these latter years improved some in this direction. Elder Speer was married at the age of nineteen to Miss Bracken, daughter of Wm. Bracken, and now has four children. He is living near Trinity, Morgan county, Alabama."

Obituary

Elder John SPEER was born in that part of Franklin county, now called Colbert, September 1, 1857. He joined the Okalona church, Lawrence county, Alabama, at the age of 17. He was ordained to the gospel ministry, at Okalona, August 15, 1881. Elder SPEER was married at the age of 19 to Miss BRACKEN, daughter of William BRACKEN, and now has four children. Brother SPEER died [of consumption] at his home on Trinity Mountain, July 22, 1896. He was buried with Masonic honors.

Sources

• Rollo Clayton Speer, "The family of Dr. Robert E. Speer, D.D. : many noted scions from Scotland, Ireland, Pennsylvania and west : several family groups combined for the first time", Pocatello, Idaho : [s.n.], 1942.

• "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHDL-8XR : accessed 08 Jan 2014), John Spear in household of Robert Spear, The Eastern Subdivision, Franklin, Alabama, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. , family , NARA microfilm publication ; FHL microfilm 803010.

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHV1-VDD : accessed 9 April 2016), John Sheen in household of Robert Sheen, Alabama, United States; citing p. 9, family 70, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,509.

• "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5ZQ-3FG : accessed 20 May 2015), John Speer and Sarah A. Bracken, 21 May 1876; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1,031,091.

• "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4J5-J62 : accessed 08 Jan 2014), John Speer, Mount Hope, Lawrence, Alabama, United States; citing sheet 386A, family 0, NARA microfilm publication T9-0018

• Biographical Sketch from History of the Muscle Shoals Baptist Association from 1820 to 1890, a Period of 70 Years: With a History of the Churches of the Same and a Biographical Sketch of Its Ministers by Josephus Shackleford in 1891

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53970762

DNA Information

• Paternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group on GEDmatch who share a 14.9 cM segment on chromosome 11, consisting of Sandra (Speer) Robinson, GEDmatch kit # YD7943858, and Randy Braidfoot, her 4th cousin, GEDmatch kit # A075291, and W. B. Smith, her 4th cousin, GEDmatch kit # A602003. (Randy and W. B. are 4th cousins.) Their most-recent common ancestors are Moses Speer and Elizabeth Martin, the 3x great grandparents of both Sandra (Speer) Robinson and Randy Braidfoot and the 3x great grandparents of W. B. Smith. DNA test taker Sandra (Speer) Robinson is the great granddaughter of John Speer, the son of Robert Speer, the son of the common ancestors Moses Speer & Elizabeth Martin.

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Mitch Harden for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Mitch and others.