[p. 889] a successful agriculturist and leading citizen of Hickory Township, residing on his valuable farm of 130 acres, which is situated about three and one-half miles from New Castle, on the north side of the Harlansburg road, was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1827. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Shiels) Speer, and a grandson of John and Hannah (Gormley) Speer, who were very early settlers in this part of Lawrence County. The Speers have always been worthy and reliable people, and have been closely identified with the agencies that have made this a progressive and prosperous community.
Robert Speer attended the early schools and later taught school for several terms, but has mainly devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. On December 3, 1852, he was, married, first, to Rachel Wilson, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Wilson, of Slippery Rock Township, and they had four children, namely: Margaret Sarah, now deceased; Mary Marilla; Thomas John, who married Laura Love, of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and had three children, Mary, Helen and Clara; and James Renwick. The last mentioned married Matilda Kelso, of Syracuse, N.Y., who died in March, 1895, and in 1900 he married, for his second wife, Hannah Baker, of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The children of James Renwick by his first marriage are: Robert Wendell; Mary Rachel, who married Ralph Orr, of New Castle, Pa.; William Renwick; and John Cargill. Robert Speer was married, second, to Mary Jane Doutheet, of Butler County, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Mary Doutheet, and of this union there were two children, Martha Lois and Mary Jane. The former married William E. McGrew and has four children, William Renwick, Mary Jane, Anna Eva and Margaret. Margaret Sarah married George Gibson, of West Hebron, N.Y., and is now deceased. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Speer was again married, his third wife being in maidenhood Nancy Ann Gray, a daughter of James Gray, who was a farmer and carriage manufacturer residing near Bellefontaine, Ohio. Three children were born of this union, Hugh, Mary Elen and Robert Edwin. The elder son, a promising youth, died while a student. Mary Elen married D. W. Marshall, of Ellwood City, Pa., and has two children, Lucille Gray and Marvin. Robert Edwin married Naoma Myers and they have had four children, namely: Marie, now deceased; Leona Edith, Ralph Edwin, and Bessie Mildred. The Speer family home is very attractive, being a commodious country residence, with substantial barns and outbuildings, indicating thrift, good management and plenteous harvests. Mr. Speer is one of the leading members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church; for forty-three years he has filled the office of church recorder, and for many years has been an elder.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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