William T. Speer

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SPEER

William Speer was born in Kentucky in 1818. His wife, Jane, was born in Tennessee in 1823. In 1850

this family was living in Panola County, Mississippi in or near Pleasant Mount (now known a Pleasant Grove).

Their children at this time were: James L., 1846; Sarah C., 1848; and John R., 1850. All the children were

born in Mississippi. Elizabeth Smith, born in North Carolina in 1792, was also a member of the household.

In 1860 the Speer family was living in Panola County and by this date five more children had bee added

to the household. The census record is incomplete and these children are listed by their initial only: W.J. (a

son), 1852; L. N. (a son), 1853; M. D. (a daughter), 1854; G.W. (a son), 1857; and W. l. (a son 1857.

In 1880 the Speer family was still in Panola County. William's wife, Jane, had apparently die sometime

between 1860 and 1880. By1880 William had married a woman whose given name was Nancy Hilyer. By

1880 several more children had been added to the household: Eliza Jane,1862; Stephen 1865; Robert

Lee,1857; Henry J., 1870; Joseph E. M.,1872; Stanford B.,1873; and Addie B.,187E

Tradition has it that the Speer family moved to Greene County, Arkansas in about 1882. William Speer

died in 1898 and in 1900 his widow, Nancy H., was living in Spring Grove Township in Green County. Her

daughter, Ella M.(born in Mississippi in 1882), was the only other member of her household Both the 1880

and 1900 census records list the birthplace of Nancy H. Speer as North Carolina.

In 1900 Stephen Speer was living next to his mother in Spring Grove Township. The census record

shows that he was a widower and names his children as Nora, 1891; Hattie, 1893; Alice, 1896; and Mar E.,

1898. All these children were born in Arkansas Greene County marriage records show that Stephen H. Speer

married Mary Cummings on May 29,1886. Mary was seventeen years of age at the time.

Joseph E.M. Speer married Amanda Ramer (Raymer). She was the daughter of William T. an

Elizabeth Ramer (see RAMER, Vol. l). In 1900 Joseph and Amanda were living in Union Township an their

children were: Floyd, 1894; Flora, 1895; Claud, 1896; and Earnest, 1899. After 1900 Joseph and Amanda had

several other children: Henry Loyce, 1901; Cecil, 1903; Estell Earl, 1905; Jewel, 1907; Eula H., 1909;

Granville Edward, 191 1; Archie Woodrow, 1913; Laura, 1916; and Oscar Conley, 1919.

Floyd J. and Henry Loyce Speer are buried at the New Friendship Cemetery north of Paragould.

Earnest (William E.) Speer is buried at Shiloh and his marker bears dates of 1899 and 1967. Woodrow

(Archie W.) and Estell Earl Speer are buried at the Mitchell Cemetery located about one mile west of the town

of Greenway in Clay County, Arkansas. Woodrow died in 1973 and Earl in 1966.

Joseph and Amanda Speer are buried at the Shiloh Cemetery. Joseph died in 1951 and Amanda, in

1963. Robert E. L. Speer, brother of Joseph E. M., is also buried at Shiloh and his marker bears dates of 1867

and 1937.

William and Nancy H. Speer are buried at Fairview Cemetery. William's marker shows dates of 1818

and 1898. The marker for Nancy bears dates of 1841 and 1927.

Cecil Speer, son of Joseph, married Leno Cox, daughter of Price Cox(see COX, Vol. III). Cecil and

Leno now live in the Shiloh CommunityonHighway25 just east of Crowley's Ridge College. At the time of this

writing, they have lived at their present home for fifty-six years. Their children are Cloyce, Frieda, and

Charles Cecil and Leno are members of the Shiloh Methodist Church. Price Cox, Leno's father, was

Superintendent of the Sunday School at Shiloh for many years until his death in 1929.

The writer is indebted to Cecil and Leno Cox Speer for the information which they have provided

regarding the Speer and Cox families