J. ALFRED SPEER

In noting the history of the family, we find that our subject’s father, John, was born in Northampton County, and was a son of John and Barbara (Seibold) Speer, natives of Germany, who emigrated to this country prior to their marriage. The great-grandfather Seibold was an early settler of Upper Mt. Bethel Township, where he remained until his death. The grandparents reared a large family, of whom nine are now living, viz.: William, a resident of Bangor, Pa.; Rebecca, wife of Jacob Cressman, of Monroe County, Pa.; George, whose home is in Nazareth, Pa.; John, our subject’s father; Lewis, living in Bangor; Harriet, wife of Isaac Root, of Red Oak, Iowa; Christian, of Bangor; Mary, Mrs. Hiram Weaver, of Bangor; and Wilhelmina, wife of Theodore Mann, of Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County.

In the schools of Upper Mt. Bethel Township John Speer gained the elements of his education, though his broad fund of information was mainly acquired by self-culture. For a number of years he taught school during the winter season. Choosing as his wife Miss Catherine Miller, they became the parents of eight children, of whom five are living, namely: Mary A., wife of John Hopple, of Stuckertown, Pa.; John Alfred, the subject of this sketch; George, also a resident of Flicksville; Milton, living in Delabole, Pa.; and Ellen S., wife of Ervin Culp, of Bangor.

Embarking in the mercantile business in 1854, John Speer was engaged in business at Bangor for a short time, and afterward was similarly occupied at Kesslersville, where he held the office of Postmaster. Later he engaged in farming, and also operated a gristmill in Plainfield Township, after which he resumed merchandising. In 1868 he located at Plainfield Church, where he conducted a mercantile business for twelve years. In 1887 he was elected Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he has since served. He is identified with the Lutheran Church, and is officiating as Secretary of the congregation. His first wife died in 1889, and he afterward married Mrs. Sabina Engler, widow of Jackson Engler, of Washington Township, Northampton County, and daughter of the late John and Catherine Bowers. In politics he is a Democrat. He is well and favorably known in the community where he has so long made his home, and is recognized as a man of the highest moral attributes.

In Northampton County our subject was born May 14, 1858. Early in life he began to assist his father in his store, thus gaining a good idea of the business in which he is now engaged. After completing his studies he taught school for a short time, but with that exception his entire time has been devoted to merchandising. He married Miss Emma Bruch, of Pen Argyl, Pa., and they have one child, Jennie C. At present he is serving as School Director of Washington Township. In religious belief he is a Lutheran. Besides his other enterprises, he is also filling the position of station agent for the Bangor & Portland Railroad at Flicksville.