The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-19

]
in this city to-day at 10 o'clock after pro
tracted illness reaching year back.
Mai Speer, says the Constitution, was Of
Scotch-Irish descent and was born in Troup
county, Georgia, near the present town Of
LaC5ranRe on June 6, 1886. His family was
one of the most influential in that section,
aud its representatives were all enter
prising and thrifty citizens.
The immediate ancestors OF Nal Speer
came from South Carolina. where the
founder Of the family IN America settled
during the early days Of our colonial his-
tory, aud from which point several MEM
bers of the family entered the American
revolution.
The boyhood of Maj. Speer was spent in
IrOup county, where be derived his COM
mon school education. At very early age
he entered Oglethorpe College, which was
located near the town OF Milledgeviile, and
was one of the leading Presbyterian colleges
of the country. 1t was destroyed by Gen.
Sherman during the war, and was AFTER
ward re-estabiished in Atlanta. Its career
was short, however. and after few years
passed away.
Maj. Speer was fond OF this institution
and was leading spirit in the organization
of alumni members, which was recently
formed in Atlanta. His memory was very
retentive and he was enabled to recall many
the recollection Of the other students. In
this respect his mind was a perfect store
house. and the members of the organization
made frequent use OF it in the absence of
any records. He grad uated from this in
stitution in 1853
In 1860 Maj. Speer was united in mar
rage to Miss Amelia r. Moreland the
daughter of DR.. John F. Moreand, enc of
the leading practitioners of this state.
When the war broke out in 1861 Maj.
Speer enlisted in the confederate service as
captain. During the years 1861 '62 he served
as a major on the staff Of that gallant Of
fcer, Gen. John b. Gordon. For the re-
mainder of the struggle he served as lieu
tenant lionel on the staff of Gen. s. B.
Buckner OF the trans Mississippi depart
ment He was a brave and devoted officer
and as such was frequently the recipient OF
marked praise from his superiors in COM
mand.
After the war Maj Speer begun the prac-
tice of law IN LaGrange under the firm
name of Speer & Speer. He remained in
the practice until 1880, and was recognized
as one of the most prominent lawyers Of
the section. At that time he had accumu-
lated large amount OF money aud was re-
puted to be worth as much as 100000.
The citizens of Troup county in 1880 pre-
sented the name of Maj. Speer as a candi-
date for the office of state treasurer to sue
convention met in August he was the choice
of that body. The voice of the people of
Troup was such a unit that the whole state
was convinced that man who Twas not
without honor among his own people" was
certainly entitled to the consideration of his
fellow cOuntrymen.
When the election came off in the fall of
the year Maj. Speer, although Mr.. Renfroe
was an independent candidate, received a
majority of $4,000 votes his over opponent
and he was declared elected.
While treasurer of the state he discharged
the duties of that office with marked ability
and success. By Withdrawing the funds of
the state from the Citizens Bank he saved
over $780, 600 for the people Of Georgia
After vacating the Office of treasurer be
was elected the president of the Exposition
cotton mills, which has occupied the greater
portion of his time. He has also held num-
erous directorskips in the banking establish
ments of the city and also OF Newman,
Monroe, Carrollton and La9range He ac-
cumulated large amount Of property after
coming to Atlanta and has long been re-
garded as one of the wealthiest men in the
1iN