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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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JOHN SPEER, farmer, post office Chartiers, a son of James and Mary Speer, was born on the homestead of his father and grandfather, in Stowe township. His grandfather, James Speer, Sr., came from Scotland about 1750, and located in Maryland, and about 1764 came to what is now Allegheny county, Pa., where he bought the above mentioned farm. He died leaving four sons and three daughters, all living in this county except one son, who settled in Kentucky. James, Jr., son of James, Sr., was born in Maryland in 1854, and came with his parents to this county when about ten years old. He married Mary, daughter of Roly and Nancy Boyd, and by her had thirteen children, only three of whom are now living: Agnes (wife of John Richie), Robert (who married Sarah K. Sampson) and John. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church; the father died in 1847 at the age of eighty-two, and the mother in 1859 at the age of eighty-four. John Speer was married June 9, 1853, to Sarah K., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth McCoy, of this county, and their children are Vianna M. (wife of George Magnes), Elvader K. and Wilson B. Mr. Speer has held positions of trust in Stowe township. He and his family are members and earnest supporters of the Presbyterian Church.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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