This gentleman owns a splendid farm of 225 acres, with beautiful residence, fine outbuildings, and everything that denotes the enterprising, progressive, and thrifty farmer. His fine farm, which is located on section 5, Hanover Township, is said to be one of the most complete in the county. He was born in the County Monaghan, Ireland, about the year 1840. and is a son of John and Sarah Speer, both natives of Ireland. He attended the common schools in his native land, but his opportunities were limited and he is mainly self-educated. A constant reader, however, he became well-informed, especially on the topics of the day, in which he is thoroughly posted. His father was a farmer in the Old Country, and young Speer determined to make that his life-long occupation. The father, however, died when our subject was but four years of age, and thereafter he lived with his mother until the spring of 1857. when he determined to better his fortunes by coming to the land of freedom. Taking passage on March 12, of that year, on a sailing-vessel called the 11 Richard Robinson at the port of Liverpool, after a voyage of twenty-one days he landed at the city of New York. He remained in the great city but a few days, however, and then came direct to Galena, IL., where he had some friends living. For a number of years he worked as a farm-hand in Jo Daviess County, and for ten rears after his marriage he was a resident of Carroll County, this State, but he made his final settlement on the farm which has been for some years his home.

March 12, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Letitia Ritchie, a native of Jo Daviess County and a daughter of Adam and Martha Ritchie, early settlers of this county, the father having been the first settler on the farm which our subject now owns. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sneer has been graced by the birth of six children: Martha J., Sarah E., Hugh B., Adam R., James N., and John N. Mr. Speer is emphatically a self-made man, coming here as a poor immigrant boy, but a life of perseverance, industry, and good management, supplemented by honesty and correct habits, has borne its legitimate fruit, and the splendid estate which he possesses to-day is its just reward. A public-spirited citizen; he is in favor of everything which tends to develop the County or add to the well-being of its people. He has frequently been solicited to become a candidate for public office, but prefers to devote his time to the management of his own affairs, and he prizes the happiness of his own fireside beyond the allurements of public life. Our subject and his wife are both active members of the United Presbyterian Church, and is at present serving as Trustee. Yet in the prime of life, they have before them apparently many years of happiness and usefulness, and in the possession of an ample competence they arc enabled to gratify every laudable ambition, and to give to their children the advantages which were denied to themselves in their youth.

Mrs. Sneer's father died April 22, 1859. leaving his wife with three children. She continued to live in the home, now owned by our subject, and now makes her home with him.

Transcribed by Christine Walters -- Portraits and Biographical 1889