Spear Family Papers, 1839-1997
Description
David Osborn Spear (1816-1874), John Nelson Spear (1818-1856), Willis Bradford Spear (1824-1912), Moses Spear (1834-1923), and Hannah Ely Spear (1829-1905) were among the twelve children born to John and Polly Osborn Spear. Born in Chautauqua County, New York, Dr. David Spear settled in Texas by 1860. One of the founders of Weatherford, Texas, he helped lay out the town square and was the first County Recorder. He also served as a registrar of residents in Palo Pinto County during Reconstruction.
The collection contains correspondence, legal documents, financial records, family records, printed material, genealogical material, and photographs produced and gathered by several members of the Spear family. The bulk of the papers consists of letters dating from 1843-1954.