JOHN SPEER
John Speer has a huge impact in Kansas during the turbulent "Bleeding Kansas" era as a fiery anti-slavery newspaper editor. He, his family, and his paper, the Lawrence Republican, were special targets for William Quantrill and his raiders on 21 Aug 1863.
Some AMAZING first-hand history of Quantrill's Raid in Lawrence and and the cost to the Speer family (too long to be fully reproduced here) can be found at this free genealogy website: (
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Speer served in the first free-state Kansas Territorial Legislature. He would eventually serve terms in both houses of the KS Legislature. Speer died in Denver CO in 1906.
From one of many of his obituaries:(This obituary, probably from the Lawrence World, December 23, 1906, was transcribed from a photo-copy of microfilm by Mark Kaplan, January, 1999) Kansas Collection/Spencer Library/University of Kansas. RH MF 155 v.1.2 pg 3
FAMOUS OLD ABOLITIONIST ENDS LONG STRENUOUS LIFE
After a life long battle, waged for the principles in which he believed, and for which he never hesitated to wield the pen and sword, Gen. John Speer, the leader of the Kansas Abolitionists and editor of the Lawrence Tribune for 16 years, died in Denver yesterday morning.
Gen. Speer had been living recently at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bradford Dubois, 1386 Corona Street. He would have been 89 years old Dec. 27 and death was due to old age. The body will be sent to Lawrence, Kan., this afternoon at 1:30 and the funeral will be held there under the direction of the I.O.O.F.
As an Abolitionist John Speer was the peer of Gen. James Lane and John Brown. He was one of the participants in the series of bloody skirmishes just preceding the civil war which gave to his territory the title "Bleeding Kansas." He was born in Pennsylvania in 1817, became a printer in Ohio and in 1854, then removed to Lawrence, Kan., starting the Kansas Pioneer. He immediately became interested in the question of the admission of Kansas to the Union and did his best to prevent the pro-slavery party from gaining the ascendancy in the territory. He became such a leader among the Abolitionists that even John Brown of Osawattomie was overshadowed by him. During the Quantrill raid Speer's house and newspaper plant was burned, two of his sons were murdered and Speer himself escaped death by a chance. Gen. Speer held office frequently after the war, as United States collector of Internal Revenue and as a member of the state legislature. The two children that survive are Mrs. Dubois and Hardin Speer, both living in Denver. — from The Denver Republican, December 16th, 1906" [end]
ELIZABETH SPEER
From her obituary in the Weekly Commonwealth, Topeka, Kansas, April 13, 1876: (
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The death of Mrs. Elizabeth D. Speer, wife of John Speer
The death of Mrs. Elizabeth D. Speer, wife of John Speer of Lawrence, the editor of the Kansas Tribune,...took place on last Sunday morning. The writer of this has known Mrs. Speer since 1858....As the mother of an honored family, and the wife of one of the ablest and best of the old Free State leaders, and as an active participant in every good cause, her life has been a part of the history of Kansas, and her death will carry a feeling of sorrow in many hearts. The hearty sympathy tendered to the often bereaved family by the people of Lawrence, at the funeral Monday afternoon, fully attested the public feeling....
Mrs. Speer was born at Corydon, Ind.,...and was the daughter of John McMahon, a prominent citizen and one of the early settlers of the state. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his brother was a lieutenant in the sanguinary Indian battle of Tippacanoe....On her mother's side she was descended from one of the old colonial governors of Virginia....
On the 18th of May, 1855, Mrs. Speer emigrated to Kansas, her husband having resided here during the winter of 1854. She was a cultivated and intelligent lady, of excellent taste in the adornments of her home....Among the pictures of that beautiful home are those of the mother and her three sons: Jno. M. Speer, one of the noblest young men of Kansas, brutally murdered in the Lawrence massacre; Robert Speer, supposed to have been killed in the massacre but his body never found; and Joseph Speer, accidentally killed August 5th, 1865....
She was well educated at the school of the Sisters of Bethany near Bardstown, Ky. She was familiar with all the privations of Kansas life, heroic in suffering and in danger, and in the hours of darkness and gloom never faltering in her devotion to the Free State cause....
The mortal remains of Mrs. Speer were followed to the grave by many of the oldest and most respected citizens of Kansas....She leaves behind her five children. William, the eldest son, resides in Texas; Mary (Mrs. Neff) resides in Lawrence; and Eva, a young lady, and Hardin, aged 14 years, and Rosa, aged 12 years, remain at home...." [end]
JOSEPH 'Little Joe" SPEER
Young son of John and Elizabeth Speer, "Our Little Joe" was accidentally shot and killed in 1865.
ROSE SPEER
From Rootsweb: (
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•Birth: 1864 in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 1 Jun 1865 Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 8 Jul 1870 Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 1 Mar 1875 Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 18 Jun 1880 Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 1 Mar 1885 Sherlock, Finney, Kansas, USA
•Note: Teacher. First school in North Star district was at her father's, John Speer, home. Rosa was the teacher.
Listed in Wakasusa, Lawrence P.O. as Rose age 1, with parents John (47) & Elizabeth D. (42), siblings William (17), Mary E. (14), Eva (9), Joe (6), Hardin (4). Born KS. Also in home, Bill Refugee (16, b. Ark) - farm laborer, can't read/write. Dwelling 226, Family 225.
Listed in Wakarusa, Lawrence P.O. as age 6, with parents John (52) & Elizabeth (47), siblings William (22), Mary E. (19), Eva (14), Hardin (8). At home, attended school. Born Kansas. Also in house, Lloyd McMahon (19, Farmer, born Indiana - Elizabeth's nephew?) Pg. 1, Dwelling 209, Family 211.
Listed in Wakarusa, Lawrence P.O. as age 11, with parents John (57) & E.D. (53), siblings Eva (18), Hardin (13). Born Kans. Dwelling 384, Family 413." [end]
ROBERT & JOHN M. SPEER
A first-person news account tells this tragic tale: (
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"LAWRENCE, KANSAS MASSACRE OF AUGUST 21, 1863 BY QUANTRILL'S RAIDERS
Horrible Massacre At Lawrence, Kansas as told by the "Washington Reporter" Washington, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, September 2, 1863
An account of the guerilla chief Quantrill, upon the city of Lawrence, Kansas, on the 20th ult, which we had intended for last week's issue was crowded out, and even now we are compelled to content ourselves with a mere synopsis of the heart sickening details.
On the 20th, as above stated, this desparado with his band of cut-throats, consisting of about 300 crossed the river from Missouri and marched upon Lawrence, and set fire to the town, at the same time shooting many of its unarmed and defenceless citizens. In short, all the accounts of brutal outrages perpetrated since the commencement of this war appear to have been thrown utterly in the shade by this raid from Missouri upon Lawrence. By way of giving our readers an idea of the enormities perpetrated on this terrible occasion we copy the following special dispatch from Leavenworth to the Chicago Tribune, dated four days after the deed of murder and rapine took place:
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, August 24
The CONSERVATIVE publishes the following account of the Lawrence massacre from one of its editors, just returned from the ruins:
We arrived in Lawrence at seven o'clock. Flying rumors had painted a terrible picture, but the reality exceeded the report. We found Massachusetts Street one mass of smoldering ruins and crumbling walls, the light from which cast a sickening glare upon the crowds of excited men and distracted women gazing upon the ruins of their once happy homes and prosperous business.
Only two business houses were left upon this street, one known as the Armory, and the other the Old Mill block. About twenty-five houses in all were burned, and only one or two escaped being ransacked and everything of value carried away or destroyed.
. . . .
The offices of the JOURNAL, TRIBUNE, AND REPUBLICAN were of course leveled to the ground. JNO SPEER, JR, of the Tribune, started for his home from the office after the rebels came in. Mr. Murdock, a printer in the office, tried to induce him to accompany him into a well near by, for safety; but he would do nothing but go home to defend the house; which he did, and was killed. Murdock went into the well and was saved.
A younger son of JOHN SPEER, SR (WILLIAM WHO WAS 15 YEARS OLD), killed a rebel and left. The guests at the Eldridge House were ordered out, their rooms pillaged, and some of the people shot. Two men from Ohio were wounded there and are now in this city. Only the presence and preremptory orders of Quantrill prevented the massacre of the occupants.
After they had been marched about on the streets, the rebels were told there was a negro baby in the house. They said: "We will burn the G-- d--d little brat up." And they did. We saw the charred remains, burned as black as the hearts of its murderers.
. . . .
The number of bodies, up to the time we left, was 113, of which about twenty were so badly burnt as to render recognition impossible. (ONE OF WHICH WAS ROBERT SPEER WHOSE BODY WAS NEVER FOUND) There were a number of strangers in town, and when the entire loss is ascertained, we think it will reach 150 killed. Many were doubtless killed by the rebel pickets in the bush.
. . . .
We have seen battle-fields and scenes of carnage and bloodshed, but have never witnessed a spectacle so horrifying as that scene among the smoldering ruins at Lawrence. No fighting, no resistance, but cold blooded murder was there.
. . . .
We were promised security to our lives and property. Our people have been murdered and our property destroyed.
Will the Government protect us, or permit us to protect ourselves?
The telegraph dispatches to the Associated Press have been mutilated, and the military authorities dare not let the truth be told.
Our citizens have sent to Lawrence a long train, taking provisions and clothing. $20,000 has been subscribed by our people for the immediate relief of the sufferers who were left without clothing or food.
Persons just from Lawrence report that the number of dead will reach one hundred and seventy, perhaps two hundred, as bodies are constantly being found.
Robert Speer, 17 years of age, who was sleeping in the Republican office building, and not the slightest trace of him has ever been found. His poor mother would set the table in hopes that he would show up, but he never returned. A memorial stone is in the cemetery in his memory. . . . “[end]
ELWOOD W. NEFF
Elwood W. Neff married John Speer's daughter Mary between 1870-1874 in in lawrence KS. He was accidentally shot in 1876. (
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MARY (SPEER) NEFF
After the death of her husband, mary and her two children lived with her parents in Lawrence KS. She died in 1886.
From Rootsweb:http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=malise&id=I15908
•Name: Mary Elizabeth Speer
•Birth: 1851 in , , Ohio, USA
•Death: 1886 in , , Kansas, USA
•Census: 14 Aug 1860 Kanwaka, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 1 Jun 1865 Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 8 Jul 1870 Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 18 Jun 1880 Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, USA
•Census: 1 Mar 1885 Sherlock, Finney, Kansas, USA
Listed as age 9, with parents John (42) & Elizabeth (38), siblings John M (17), Robt (15), Wm (12), Eva (4), Joseph (2). Born Ohio. Pg. 199, Dwelling 1658, Family 1480.
Listed in Wakasusa, Lawrence P.O. as age 14, with parents John (47) & Elizabeth D. (42), siblings William (17), Eva (9), Joe (6), Hardin (4), Rose (1). At school. Born Ohio. Also in home, Bill Refugee (16, b. Ark) - farm laborer, can't read/write. Dwelling 226, Family 225.
Listed in Wakarusa, Lawrence P.O. as age 19, with parents John (52) & Elizabeth (47), siblings William (22), Eva (14), Hardin (8), Rose (6). At home, attended school. Born Ohio. Also in house, Lloyd McMahon (19, Farmer, born Indiana - Elizabeth's nephew?) Pg. 1, Dwelling 209, Family 211.
Listed in Wakarusa, Lawrence P.O. as age 28 (widowed), with father John (60), siblings Eva (22), Hardin (18), Rose (16), and Mary's children William (5) and Elwood (3). Keeping house. Born Ohio, parents born Penn/Indiana. Pg. 23, E.D. 74.
Listed as Mary Neff, age 34, widowed, with father John (67), siblings Hardin (24) and Rose Speer (21), and sons WIlliam (10) and Elwood (8) Neff. Clerk for Sec. of State. Born Ohio, from Ohio. In Rooming house? with 19."[end]
We were not able to find out anything more about her or her husband.
There is a lot of text on this AMAZING marker. It reads as follows:
[Side 1]
JOHN SPEER
Born in Kittanning PA
Dec 27, 1817
Died in Denver
Dec 15, 1906
ELIZABETH D. SPEER
Wife of John Speer
Died
Apr 19, 1876
Aged 56 years
[side 2]
JOHN M.
Aged 19 yrs 10 mo. 21 ds.
ROBERT
Aged 18 years
These boys were killed in the Lawrence Massacre Aug. 21, 1863 -- the elder found murdered in the streets, the younger supposedly to have been burned in ruins, his body never found.
[side 3]
OUR LITTLE JOE
Aged
6 yrs 10 mos. 2 dys
Accidentally shot
Aug 4, 1865
ROSE SPEER
Born Feb 29, 1864
Died in Denver
Apr 25, 1889
[side 4]
ELWOOD W. NEFF
Accidentally killed
October 22, 1876
Aged 26 yrs, 5 mos
MARY E.
His wife
Born Oct 7, 1850
Died Dec 6, 1886