My Genealogy Hound

SPENCER SPEARS, Jr., tobacco dealer, Ripley, is a native of Floyd County, Ky., where he was born September 13, 1816. When one year of age, his parents, Spencer and Tabatha (Chaffin) Spears, sold their farm in Kentucky, and, while on the journey to Clermont County, Ohio, he, Spencer, died. The widow, after a residence of three years in Cincinnati, Ohio, moved to Clermont County, and at the time of her death, in 1852, was living with her son in this county. She was a native Virginian and had a thorough knowledge of tobacco-raising, which she instilled in the mind of her son, and has proved the foundation stone of his success. The subject of this sketch came to this county in 1827 and made his home with William Beasley, under whose roof he was married in November, 1836, to Miss Harriet A., daughter of Francis Coburn, of this county. The same year he planted and raised the first crop of tobacco raised in Brown County, and he may well be termed the pioneer tobacco-raiser. From his store house near Ripley he is constantly making large shipments amounting on an aggregate to about 200,000 pounds per year. He has also a farm in Huntington Township of 231 acres, and is extensively engaged in the raising and sale of tobacco. His living children are — Elizabeth T., Francis M., Sarah, Oliver B., Spencer W., Thomas, Wiley, Charles, and John. Politically, Mr. Spear is a descendant of the Old-Line Whig party. At this time a stanch and reliable Republican.