Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-09-08
MAJ. JOHN B. SPEERs DEAD.
One Of Pine Bluffs weaithiest Citizens Dies In Little Roek-A Biography
 of the Deceased Man.

At an early hour Saturday morn ing our people were shocked by the the announcement of the death of Maj John B. Speers, one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Pine Bluff.
 Maj. Speers had been in i'll health for the past wear, and some months ago, accompanied by his wife, daughter and son-in-law, Mir. W. Fl. Langford, left for the summer resorts of the North and West, in hope that the trip would benefit him. He was taken ill at Gettysburg, Pa, and as his condition grew somewhat better he was carried from that place to Philadelphia and on arriving there it was believed that he was strong enough to stand the trip home. After leaving St. Louis his condition grew much worse, and then for tie first time grave fears of his recovery were entertained. He arrived at Little Rock in u very critical con- dition and was carried to the home of Mir. W. H. Langford, on Scott street, between Thirteenth and Four teenth avenues, where he died Satur- day morning at 1:30 o'clock, sur rounded b. his family and a number of friends.
 In Maj. Speers Pine Blufflooses one of it's most progressive, charitable and noble men, and his place will, perhaps, never be refilled. He was a loving husband. a tender and kind father and a true friend, with q hand that was ever extended to those who needed help. Truly our people have cause to mourn the loss of this good nan.
 The following, from the Little Rock Democrat of September 7th, is an excellent biography of Maj. Speers:
 Mai. J. B. Speefs was born in Ballymonie. Ireland, about 1880, of typical Seotch=lrish stock. He emi- grated to America, through New Orleans, and came to Calhoun County, Arkansas, in about 1s5o. He had only fair education, and the great successes of his after life were due to that indomitable will for which people of his race are noted the world over. He engaged in such manual labor as offered it. self and soon after his arrival fell in with the father of Chief ustice Bum, and at the hospitable home of this
 worthy old citizen of Arkansas found d boarding place. He soon after wards engaged in teaching country school, one of his pupils being the present Chief Justice. Not long. afterwards the war came OH and like all other Irishmen in the South, he enlisted in the Confederate army. He fought the war through from start to finish. and won q high repu- tation as d soldier He was in the Third Arkansas. Longstreet's Di- vision. and did all his service in the Virginia campaign. When he came home from the W IT he found himself peaniless, but lie secured employment at Fl Dorado, where his superior business talent soon brought him I 0 the front. and in the course of fifteen years he became the leading mer- chant of that city. It was at Fl Do- rado that he married Miss Mary Byrd, an estimable lady, who sur wives her husband. About 1879 he removed with his family to Pine Bluff, where he opened up a whole sale grocery business, the first of the kind In that enterprising town, and his business sagaeity increased the fortune he had already acquired. In 1886, in contection with Maj. J. T. W. Tillar and others, he organized the Citizens Bank at Pine Bluff, and after year or two succeeded Maj. Tillar as it's president. He soon made this one of the most solid financial institutions in the state. He was an active organizer Of the Compress company, the Mill and Elevator company and other institu- tions at Pine Bluff, and had become one of the most successful business men of that city. For many years he had been a member of the Presby- terian Church, and it was largely through his efforts that their present house of worship was erected. He was ever staunch, progf essiye and liberal in all public enterprises and had host of friends all over the state During his career, which was marked with unusual success, he amassed fortune of about S300, 900, some of which consists of Little Rock real estate.
 For some time he had been in failing health. About a month ago he went to Gettysburg, Pa. where he expected to recuperate his failing strength While on the battle field he developed a severe case of Bright's He was probably mole familiar with the Gettysburg battle field than any one else who partici- pated in the memorable combat. This was about two weeks ago. He was afterwards taken to PhiladGl- phia, and yesterday morning he ar