[Ancestors] [Descendants]
William Thomas "Billie" Spear
Last updated 1 Mar 2024 in Spear–Johnson Family.
Individual
Born: Jan 1865 in , , Indiana, United States
Died: 23 Nov 1931 in Paxton, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
Father: David Harrison Spear (1840 – 1917)
Mother: Eunice Jane Johnson (abt 1844 – 1877)
census-us-1870-ps-in-huntington-jackson-1: 1870 U.S. Census, population schedule, Indiana, Huntington County, Jackson Township, page 1 (form) or page 106[A] (stamped); 1870 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 12 August 2018) ⟩ "Indiana ⟩ Huntington ⟩ Jackson" image 1; citing “Ninth Census of the United States, 1870, NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 325 (of 1761), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 545824]
Reference Detail: Line 11, family 2
Comment Detail: Source includes none (Thomas Spear).
marriage-spear-holcomb-record-1891: Marriage record report for William T. Spear and Louie D. Holcomb (1891); Colorado, U.S., County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Feb 2024), “⟩ Statewide Marriage Index ⟩ Sp-St ⟩ All”, image 1124; citing “Marriage Records. Colorado Marriages; State Archives, Denver, Colorado”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Spear, WIlliam T.)
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (William T[homas] Spear). It separately notes he was known as (Billie Spear) to his friends. See research notes for this analysis details.
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census-us-1870-ps-in-huntington-jackson-1: 1870 U.S. Census, population schedule, Indiana, Huntington County, Jackson Township, page 1 (form) or page 106[A] (stamped); 1870 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 12 August 2018) ⟩ "Indiana ⟩ Huntington ⟩ Jackson" image 1; citing “Ninth Census of the United States, 1870, NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 325 (of 1761), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 545824]
Reference Detail: Line 11, family 2
Comment Detail: Source includes age (5) and location (Indiana). Using the official census date of 1 June 1870 gives a birth date range from 2 June 1864 to 1 June 1865.
marriage-spear-holcomb-record-1891: Marriage record report for William T. Spear and Louie D. Holcomb (1891); Colorado, U.S., County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Feb 2024), “⟩ Statewide Marriage Index ⟩ Sp-St ⟩ All”, image 1124; citing “Marriage Records. Colorado Marriages; State Archives, Denver, Colorado”
Comment Detail: Source includes age (26). Using his age and the marriage date of 25 May 1891 gives a birth date range from 26 May 1864 to 25 May 1865.
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (January, 1865), age (66), and location (Indiana [, USA]). Using his age and his death date of 23 Nov 1931 gives a birth date range from 24 Nov 1864 to 23 Nov 1865, so the record is internally consistent.
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obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: TBD
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Family
Spouse/Partner: Louie Ellen Holcomb (1872 – 1968)
Married: 25 May 1891 in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, United States
marriage-spear-holcomb-record-1891: Marriage record report for William T. Spear and Louie D. Holcomb (1891); Colorado, U.S., County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Feb 2024), “⟩ Statewide Marriage Index ⟩ Sp-St ⟩ All”, image 1124; citing “Marriage Records. Colorado Marriages; State Archives, Denver, Colorado”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (May 25, 1891) and location (Colo. Spgs., [El Paso County,] Colo. [, USA]).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes year (1891) and location (⟨conflict⟩). See research notes for conflict details.
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Miscellaneous Facts
Events
Burial: at Paxton, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
Moved To Residence: Bef 1879 at , , Nebraska, United States
Moved To Residence: Abt 1894 at Sutherland, Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States
Moved To Residence: Aft 1917 at Keystone, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
Moved To Residence: Aft 1919 at Paxton, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
Organization: I.O.O.F. at Ogallala, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
Church: Keystone Presbyterian Church at Keystone, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
Cemetery: Paxton Cemetery at Paxton, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source notes he was interred in the Paxton cemetery, which is located in ([Paxton, Keith County, NE, USA]).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source notes he moved to Nebraska with his parents when he was in his teens. His parents are known to be in Nebraska in 1880, when William was 15. However, the obituary also notes that he moved afterwards to Rawlins County, KS in 1879, so the move to Nebraska must have been before then.
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes approximate year ("After his marriage ... several year" [from 1891, "several" is taken to mean 4]) and destination (Sutherland, Nebraska).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes approximate date ("later" [he was living in Sutherland in 1917, this database presumes his subsequent move was at least the next year]) and destination (Keystone, [Keith County,] Nebraska [, USA]).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes approximate date ("and finally" [this database assumes at least a year after his move to Keystone (which was after 1917, or sometime in 1918 or later), giving a move to Paxton after 1919]) and location (Paxton, [Keith County,] Nebraska [, USA]).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes organization name (I.O.O.F. [International Order of Odd Fellows]) and the lodge location (Ogalla[Ogallala], [Keith County,] Nebraska [, USA]).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source notes that William T. Spear was a member of the "Presbyterian Church" and that his funeral service was conducted by the pastor of the church in Keystone, Nebraska. This implies William was a member of the church name (Keystone Presbyterian Church) located in (Keystone, [Keith County], Nebraska [, USA]).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes cemetery name (Paxt[o]n cemetery) which implies its location ([Paxton, Keith County, NE, USA]).
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Attributes
Residence: at Jackson Township, Huntington County, Indiana, United States
Residence: at , Rawlins County, Kansas, United States
Residence: at Sutherland, Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States
Residence: at Paxton, Keith County, Nebraska, United States
census-us-1870-ps-in-huntington-jackson-1: 1870 U.S. Census, population schedule, Indiana, Huntington County, Jackson Township, page 1 (form) or page 106[A] (stamped); 1870 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 12 August 2018) ⟩ "Indiana ⟩ Huntington ⟩ Jackson" image 1; citing “Ninth Census of the United States, 1870, NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 325 (of 1761), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 545824]
Reference Detail: Line 11, family 2
Comment Detail: Source includes census date (1 Jun 1870) and location (Jackson Township, in the County of Huntington, State of Indiana).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes year (1879) and location (Rawlins county [, NE, USA]).
obituary-david-spear-1917: Obituary for David H. Spear (1917); “Obituary,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 4 Jan 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Square Deal ⟩ 1917 ⟩ November ⟩ Nov 29 1917, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 1; citing “The Square Deal (Atwood, Kansas), 29 Nov 1917 (Thursday), page 1, column 1” [This source replaces an identical obituary found in The Citizen-Patriot, Atwood, Kansas, 29 Nov 1917, p.1, c.1, originally accessed from Newspapers.com on 30 Apr 2021, but which has some apparent typographical errors.]
Comment Detail: Source includes event date (November 20, 1917) and residence location (⟨spelling⟩, [Lincoln County,] Nebraska [, USA]).
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes event date (November 23, 1931) and implied residence location (Paxton, [Keith County,] Nebraska [, USA]).
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General Notes and Anecdotes
William is known to have a "cheerful disposition, always having a smile and a word of cheer for everyone." He is also identified as a "typical cowboy of the early eighties having rode the range here [Rawlins County, KS] long before the railroad and before the present townsite of Atwood was established." [obituary-william-spear-1931]
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
(no additional information)
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Research Notes (Conflicts/Spelling/Followup)
CONFLICTS
Marriage Location (Louie): This database uses Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO, USA. His obituary gives the location as Denver, CO. [obituary-william-spear-1931]
SPELLING
Residence (1917): This database uses Sutherland, NE. The obituary for his father uses the spelling Sontherland, Nebraska. [obituary-david-spear-1917]
ANALYSIS
Association of middle initial 'T' with Thomas: The obituary of Thomas's father David, notes his son William, but does not mention his son Thomas. Other records (such as the 1870 US Census) note his son Thomas, but don't mention his son William. William's obituary gives his name as William T. Spear, and provides several residence changes that mirror those of his father, David, suggesting William is David H. Spear's son, William. Because of the seeming overlay of William and Thomas, this database presumes the T given as his middle initial in his obituary is for Thomas. [obituary-david-spear-1917, census-us-1870-ps-in-huntington-jackson-1, obituary-william-spear-1931]
FOLLOWUP
William Thomas Spear has a Find A Grave memorial (memorial #47354925). However, there is no gravestone image. In addition, the text is unsourced, and may mostly come from the obituary, making it duplicated information. [obituary-william-spear-1931]
William's parents were known to still be in Nebraska in Jun 1880 and to have moved to Rawlins County, KS, USA by 1881. However, his obituary notes William moved to Rawlins County, KS, USA in 1879. Is the obituary in error, or did he move there ahead of his parents? [census-us-1880-ps-ne-thayer-297-6, obituary-david-spear-1917, obituary-william-spear-1931]
In 1880, a William Spear (15) is living on the Fayette[?] Kingsley farm as a farm laborer. This was in Hebron, Thayer County, NB, USA, per the 1880 US Census for that location (ED 297, page 1). Note that David H Spear (his father as listed here) and Anna were also in Hebron, and can be found on page 6 of the census record for that location, but without William, or any other children.
According to his obituary, William is "believed" to have died of a "stroke of paralysis" (but note that almost all strokes result in some level of paralysis).
William is survived by 8 of 9 children born to him and Louie. Charley died in infancy. The others are Elmer Spear (Laramie, WY), David Spear (Laramie, WY), Mrs. Ray Widner (Paxton, NE), Elsie Tillman (Paxton, NE), Theodore Spear (Ogallah[Ogallala], NE), Edwin Keneth[Kenneth] Spear (Ogallah[Ogallala], NE), Mrs. Ruby Buchannan (Paxton, NE). [obituary-william-spear-1931]
census-us-1870-ps-in-huntington-jackson-1: 1870 U.S. Census, population schedule, Indiana, Huntington County, Jackson Township, page 1 (form) or page 106[A] (stamped); 1870 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 12 August 2018) ⟩ "Indiana ⟩ Huntington ⟩ Jackson" image 1; citing “Ninth Census of the United States, 1870, NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 325 (of 1761), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 545824]
Reference Detail: Line 11, family 2
census-us-1880-ps-ne-thayer-297-6: 1880 U.S. Census, population schedule, Nebraska, Thayer County, Hebron, enumeration district 1-297, page 6 (form/penned) or 114B (stamp sequence, not visible on page); 1880 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 14 Nov 2023), “⟩ Nebraska ⟩ Thayer ⟩ Hebron ⟩ 297”, image 6; citing “Tenth Census of the United States, 1880, NARA microfilm publication T9 (1454 rolls), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [Although the pages are marked with A, B, C, and D, this is not used by the page numbers, either form or stamped.]
Reference Detail: Lines 34-35, dwelling 56
obituary-david-spear-1917: Obituary for David H. Spear (1917); “Obituary,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 4 Jan 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Square Deal ⟩ 1917 ⟩ November ⟩ Nov 29 1917, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 1; citing “The Square Deal (Atwood, Kansas), 29 Nov 1917 (Thursday), page 1, column 1” [This source replaces an identical obituary found in The Citizen-Patriot, Atwood, Kansas, 29 Nov 1917, p.1, c.1, originally accessed from Newspapers.com on 30 Apr 2021, but which has some apparent typographical errors.]
(no additional information)
obituary-william-spear-1931: Obituary for William T. Spear (1931); “Deaths,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 15 Feb 2024), “⟩ United States ⟩ Kansas ⟩ Atwood ⟩ The Citizen-Patriot ⟩ 1931 ⟩ December ⟩ Dec 03 1931, Thu ⟩ Page 1”, column 2; citing “The Citizen Patriot (Atwood, Rawlins County, Kansas), 3 Dec 1931 (Thursday), page One, column 2”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (November 23, 1931) and location (Paxton, [Keith County,] Nebraska [, USA]).
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Sources
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