My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. SPERA, of Silver Spring township, belongs to one of the representative families of Cumberland county, which doubtless owes its origin to Switzerland, although its early history is not clearly known.

Henry Spera, the father of George W. Spera, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and had three brothers — William and George, deceased; and Esrom, living in Columbia. Henry Spera was a farmer, although he learned the blacksmith’s trade. He married Mary Ann Eichelberger, of Silver Spring township, and eight children were born to them, two of whom died young: Lusetta married Henry Staub, of Monroe township, and had five children — Mary married John Fail, of York county; Harry married and has one child, but his wife is deceased; Annie married William Ryder, of Cumberland county; Fanny married Levi Kalbach, of Lancaster county; Carrie married William Singiser, of Mechanicsburg. Katherine married Charles Whitcomb, of Cumberland county, and had five children — Harry married Mary Cornman, of Monroe township, and has had two children; Ellen married a Mr. Richter, of Boiling Springs; Annie married and lives in Steelton; Albert and James are unmarried and at home. William married Katherine Shumacher, of Cumberland county, and they had four children — John, Minnie (Mrs. Weaver, of Macon county, Ill.); Lily (living in Macon county, Ill.); William (living in Macon county, Ill). Emanuel married Sophia Eidelblute, of York county, and has four children living. George W. is our subject. Henry married Miss Minnie Enck, of Cumberland county, and has one child, Nellie, a teacher, living at home.

After the death of his first wife Henry Spera married Sarah Jane Messenger, daughter of David Messenger, of Hampden township, and they had four children: Ezra D., living in North Dakota, married Kate Weigel, of Shiremanstown. James B. married and is living in York county. Alberta married Mr. Christ and lives in Monroe township. Charles married and is living in York county.

George W. Spera was born March 1, 1851, on the old Spera homestead, in Silver Spring township, and was there educated in the public schools. He attended school until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to work on the homestead, and thus continued until he was thirty-four years of age. Two years later he married Miss Anna Mary Williams, daughter of William and Sarah (Orris) Williams, of the same county, and one child was born to them, George Glenn, who resides at home. After their marriage the young couple settled on the place they now occupy, a farm of 150 acres, which Mr. Spera cultivates and has in excellent condition, being numbered among the representative farmers of his township.

Although he is not affiliated with any religious denomination, his sympathies are with the Lutheran Church, and he gives liberally toward its support. All of his life he has been a Democrat, and he has twice been appointed and once elected tax collector of Silver Spring township, and has also served eleven years as school director, finally refusing to accept further nomination. Few men stand higher in public esteem than Mr. Spera, for he is not only a successful farmer, but a kind-hearted, broad-minded, upright gentleman, and one who holds the entire confidence of the community.