My Genealogy Hound

Wilborn Augustus Speir was born August 16, 1860, and is a son of John and Sarah A. (McWharton) Speir. The father was born in Tennessee, and when young went to Alabama and then to Georgia, and before leaving that State assisted in gathering the Cherokee Indians into one section, prior to their removal to the Indian Territory. He was married in Georgia, where his common-school education was acquired, and in 1869 came to Arkansas. The mother was born, reared and married in Georgia, and to her and Mr. Spier twelve children were born, all save two now living: William L. S., Elenore S., Seaborns S., Wilborn A., John L. S., Sarah M., Temerus Y. and Thomas U. (twins), Mary C. and Charles W. Those deceased are Melvin C. and Franklin D. Our subject, Wilborn Spier, was born in Walker County, Ga., and since the death of his father, in 1883, has cared for his mother and sisters. He received but a limited education during his youth, and until nineteen years of age worked upon the home farm with father, then working on the farm for himself three years. He then went to Uniontown, and in partnership with two brothers, operated a grist-mill and cotton-gin for three years, when the mill was destroyed by fire. In 1885 he returned and purchased his present mill. He now owns 120 acres of land, forty-five of which he cultivates, and in connection with his milling has a blacksmith shop, and is engaged in the mercantile business with his brother. Politically Mr. Speir sympathizes with the Democrats, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.