Re: Spear/Speer/Speir Book
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In reply to:
Spear/Speer/Speir Book
2/24/01
My James Henderson "Henry" Spier married to Mary Frances (nee Whatley) Spier. Her headstone in Dadeville, Alabama says, "Spear." His in GA is "Spier."Step-bro. in same cemetary as Jas. spelled "Speir."Jas. step-mother is there, too.Since Jas. father married two sisters (one after other died), use of Speir by 2nd set of children vs. Spier may have been way to differentiate.There were many similar 1st & Middle names in the two sets of children.
Jas. H. may have left his 1st set of children w/Mary's parents to raise after she died.Since her parents spelled Spear on her headstone, they may not have realized Jas. Henderson's last name was spelled Spier and may have spelled his children's last name Spear persisting down through the next generations.
If that's what happened, then the information I posted going back several generations from James Henderson Spier would be helpful to some Spears as well if they descend from Jas. H. & Mary Frances.Their children:Martha Elisabeth Spier, b May 19, 1866 in Flat Rock, Putnam Co. GA m. Jas. Madison Coleman Vaughan d. Mar 28, 1949 in Graysville, Catoosa Co. GA, 4:15 a.m.; Henry W. Spier, born Abt. 1870 in Tallapoosa Co., Ala.; John E. Spier, born Abt. 1874 in Tallapoosa Co., Ala.; Wilson Spier, born Bef. 1878 in Tallapoosa Co., Ala. & m. Minnie Lee Stephenson Sep 5, 1891 in Tallapoosa County, Ala. She was born Bef. 1878 in AL.
Jas. Henderson m. 2nd Susan Hiedle had 2 sons (not my line, but have the info).
Jas. Henderson Spier served in Civil War from state of Arkansas. He is buried in Fairburn, Fayetteville Co, GA.
I have some will information and pictures of James' and Mary's headstones which I can share - [email protected]