(portrait)

Ernest Wilfred Spear

Last updated 23 Feb 2024 in Spear–Johnson Family.

Individual

Born: 2 Nov 1876 in , Guthrie County, Iowa, United States

Died: 18 Dec 1960 in Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, United States

Father: Thomas James "TJ" Spear (1835 – 1923)

Mother: Mary Ann Shafer (1840 – 1887)

Supporting evidence for:
name

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2B (form/penned) or page 23B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 4; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Line 51, dwelling 28

Comment Detail: Source includes name (Earnest W. Spear).

death-loren-spear-1957: Certificate of Death for Loren Spear (1957); Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960, record collection, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 13 Nov 2022) “Death Certificates Olympia-Asotin thru Pierce-Spokane (16251-18000) 1957”; Film 2033738, DGS 004224553, image 1585; citing “Washington Bureau of Vital Statistics; Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 17403, reg. dist. no. M-1, registrar’s no. 290”

Comment Detail: Source includes name (Ernest W. Spear).

family-bible-register-joseph-and-sarah-spear: Family register pages for Joseph and Sarah Spear family bible, unknown location; privately held

Reference Detail: Death, family register pages

Comment Detail: Source includes name (Ernest Wilfred Spear) on both pages.

marker-ernest-spear-1960: Gravestone of Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), memorial ID 58062226, photograph uploaded 5 Sep 2010; citing “Evergreen Cemetery (Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA), Section M Block 6 Lot 45”

Comment Detail: Source includes name (Ernest Wilfred Spear).

obituary-thomas-spear-1923: Obituary for Thomas James Spear (1923); “T.J. Spear Dies Suddenly,” Oberlin Herald (Oberlin Kansas), 16 Aug 1923 (Thursday), page unknown, column unknown

Comment Detail: Source includes name (E.W. [Spear]).

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,
birth

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2B (form/penned) or page 23B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 4; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Line 51, dwelling 28

Comment Detail: Source includes age (53) and location (Iowa). Using his age and the official census date of 1 Apr 1930 gives a birth date range from 2 Apr 1876 to 1 Apr 1877.

family-bible-register-joseph-and-sarah-spear: Family register pages for Joseph and Sarah Spear family bible, unknown location; privately held

Reference Detail: General register page

Comment Detail: Source includes date (Nov 2 - 1876) and location (Guthrie Co., Iowa [, USA]).

marker-ernest-spear-1960: Gravestone of Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), memorial ID 58062226, photograph uploaded 5 Sep 2010; citing “Evergreen Cemetery (Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA), Section M Block 6 Lot 45”

Comment Detail: Source includes date (Nov. 2, 1876).

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source includes date (Nov. 2, 1876) and location (Guthrie County, Iowa).

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,
death

marker-ernest-spear-1960: Gravestone of Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), memorial ID 58062226, photograph uploaded 5 Sep 2010; citing “Evergreen Cemetery (Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA), Section M Block 6 Lot 45”

Comment Detail: Source includes date (Dec. 18, 1960).

obituary-floy-spear-1966: Obituary for Floy Spear (1966); “Last Rites Thursday for Mrs. Floy Spear,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 20 Feb 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1966 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18" page 4; citing “The Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 18 Mar 1966 (Friday), page 4, column 1”

Comment Detail: Source includes date (Dec. 18, 1960).

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source includes date ("Sunday" [for a paper published Saturday, 24 Dec 1960]) and general location ("a local hospital" [for a paper published in Rapid City, South Dakota]).

family-bible-register-joseph-and-sarah-spear: Family register pages for Joseph and Sarah Spear family bible, unknown location; privately held

Reference Detail: Deaths register page

Comment Detail: Source includes date (Dec. 18. 1960) and location (Hot Springs, [Fall River County,] S. Dak. [, USA]).

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,
father

family-bible-register-joseph-and-sarah-spear: Family register pages for Joseph and Sarah Spear family bible, unknown location; privately held

Reference Detail: Deaths and family register pages

Comment Detail: Source identifies Thomas James Spear as the father of Ernest Wilfred Spear on the deaths register page and Ernest Wilfred Spear as a child of Thomas J. [Spear] on the family register page. The source does not provide sufficient evidence to denote the type of parent/child relationship.

obituary-thomas-spear-1923: Obituary for Thomas James Spear (1923); “T.J. Spear Dies Suddenly,” Oberlin Herald (Oberlin Kansas), 16 Aug 1923 (Thursday), page unknown, column unknown

Comment Detail: Source identifies E. W. [Spear] as a son of Thomas James Spear. The source does not provide sufficient evidence to denote the type of parent/child relationship.

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,
mother

family-bible-register-joseph-and-sarah-spear: Family register pages for Joseph and Sarah Spear family bible, unknown location; privately held

Reference Detail: General register page

Comment Detail: Source identifies Ernest Wilfred Spear as a child of Mary A. [Spear]. The source does not provide sufficient evidence to denote the type of parent/child relationship.

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Family

Spouse/Partner: Floy G. Smith (1884 – 1966)

Married: 19 Jul 1903

Supporting evidence for:
marriage

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2B (form/penned) or page 23B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 4; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Lines 51,53, dwelling 28

Comment Detail: Source identifies Floy G. Spear as the wife of Earnest W. Spear.

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source includes date (July 19, 1903) of marriage of Ernest Wilfred Spear and Floy Smith.

obituary-floy-spear-1966: Obituary for Floy Spear (1966); “Last Rites Thursday for Mrs. Floy Spear,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 20 Feb 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1966 ⟩ 03 ⟩ 18" page 4; citing “The Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 18 Mar 1966 (Friday), page 4, column 1”

Comment Detail: Source includes date (July 19, 1903).

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Child: Mildred Ruth Spear (1904 – bef 2012)

Child: Loren Spear (1906 – 1957)

Child: Hannah Louise Spear (1910 – 2002)

Miscellaneous Facts

Events

Burial: Bef 24 Dec 1960 at Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, United States

Moved To Residence: 1885 at , Rawlins County, Kansas, United States

Moved To Residence: 1903 at , , South Dakota, United States

Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery at Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, United States

Supporting evidence for:
events

marker-ernest-spear-1960: Gravestone of Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), memorial ID 58062226, photograph uploaded 5 Sep 2010; citing “Evergreen Cemetery (Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA), Section M Block 6 Lot 45”

Comment Detail: Source implicitly identifies location (Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA).

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source notes the burial was completed before the publication of the paper on 24 Dec 1960.

obituary-belle-border-1965: Obituary for Belle Spear Border (1964); “Obituaries / Mrs. Belle Spear Border,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 28 Nov 2022), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1965 ⟩ October ⟩ Oct 14 1965, Thu ⟩ Page 13”, column 1; citing “The Citizen-Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 14 Oct 1965 (Thursday), page five, column 1”

Comment Detail: Source includes year (1885) and destination location (Rawlins County Kansas).

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source includes year (1903) and location (South Dakota).

marker-ernest-spear-1960: Gravestone of Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), memorial ID 58062226, photograph uploaded 5 Sep 2010; citing “Evergreen Cemetery (Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA), Section M Block 6 Lot 45”

Comment Detail: Source is located in cemetery (Evergreen Cemetery, Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA).

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source includes name (Evergreen Cemetery).

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Attributes

Residence: at , Rawlins County, Kansas, United States

Residence: at , , Iowa, United States

Residence: at Wessington Springs, Jerauld County, South Dakota, United States

Occupation: farmer

Residence: at Pringle Township, Custer County, South Dakota, United States

Residence: at Pringle, Custer County, South Dakota, United States

Supporting evidence for:
attributes

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source includes location (Rawlins County, Kan.) where he lived as a child.

obituary-ernest-spear-1960: Obituary for Ernest Wilfred Spear (1960); “Ernest Spear Rites Conducted Tuesday,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 13 Nov 2022), image “United States ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1960 ⟩ 12 ⟩ 24” page 3; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 24 Dec 1960 (Saturday), page 3, column 2”

Comment Detail: Source includes location (Iowa) where he lived after moving from Rawlins County, Kansas.

obituary-thomas-spear-1923: Obituary for Thomas James Spear (1923); “T.J. Spear Dies Suddenly,” Oberlin Herald (Oberlin Kansas), 16 Aug 1923 (Thursday), page unknown, column unknown

Comment Detail: Source includes location (Wessington Springs, South Dakota), and implied date (12 Aug 1923).

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2B (form/penned) or page 23B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 4; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Line 51, dwelling 28

Comment Detail: Source includes census date (1 Apr 1930) and occupation (Farmer).

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2B (form/penned) or page 23B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 4; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Line 51, dwelling 28

Comment Detail: Source includes census date (1 Apr 1930) and location (Pringle Township, County: Custer, State: South Dakota).

obituary-david-spear-1940: Obituary for David C. Spear (1940); “Hill City Man Dies In Local Hospital,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 May 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1940 ⟩ 04 ⟩ 13" page 5; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 13 Apr 1940 (Saturday), page 5, column 4”

Comment Detail: Source includes date (13 Apr 1940) and location (Pringle [, South Dakota]).

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General Notes and Anecdotes

In 1930, Ernest and Floy Spear, along with their daughter Hannah, were living with their son-in-law Asa and Mildred Nicolls' family. [census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2a, census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b]

Supporting evidence for:
general notes

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2a: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2A (form/penned) or page 23A (stamped); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 3; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Lines 45-49, dwelling 28

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2B (form/penned) or page 23B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 4; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Line 51-53, dwelling 28

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Research Notes (Conflicts/Spelling/Followup)

FOLLOWUP

Earnest went by the nickname Fred (shortened from Wilfred, presumably). [research-a-spear-family-history]

Not-yet-included sources that use the Fred nickname:

1. The 1940 U.S. Census (E.D. 17-6, Pringle, Custer County, South Dakota, p.6).

2. The FamilySearch "South Dakota, School Records, 1879-1970" for all three children.

3. The 1895 Kansas State Census (Rawlins ⟩ Union Township, page 5?, image 8, line 17+).

Ernest Spear and Floy Smith may have married in Linden, Dallas County, Iowa. [research-a-spear-family-history]

Supporting evidence for:
research notes

census-us-1930-ps-sd-custer-8-2b: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Custer County, Pringle Township (T5R4), enumeration district 17-8, sheet 2B (form/penned) or page 23B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Custer ⟩ Pringle ⟩ District 0008" image 4; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2221 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341955]

Reference Detail: Line 51, dwelling 28

obituary-david-spear-1940: Obituary for David C. Spear (1940); “Hill City Man Dies In Local Hospital,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 6 May 2021), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 1940 ⟩ 04 ⟩ 13" page 5; citing “The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 13 Apr 1940 (Saturday), page 5, column 4”

(no additional information)

research-a-spear-family-history: {private} Engelmann, A Spear Family History, privately printed 1988, updated 2002, 2005; privately held

(no additional information)

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Sources

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