Born February 25, 1828, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John C. and Nancy (Patterson) Speer. Robert passed from the common schools to Allegheny College at Meadville, and subsequently spent two years in preparation for the bar. When he came to Waterloo, Iowa, it was with the intention of completing his legal education, settling down to practice and growing up with the country. He soon realized, however, what a long and difficult task he had set for himself. Clients were few and money was scarce, so that, ere long, the embryo lawyer turned his attention to surveying and dealing in land-work that was more in demand at the time. In the spring of 1866 he purchased his present farm, where he carried on an extensive nursery business until 1898. During that period he conducted a general nursery and greenhouse business on his place and for many years served as a director, and two years as president, of the Iowa State Horticultural Society. In 1884 he was appointed a trustee of the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames and served as such four years. At the expiration of this period (in 1888) he was elected director of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, of which he had charge for three years. He also served two years as a trustee of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Davenport. In 1855 Captain Speer married Miranda J. Seavey, who was born in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Captain Speer served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was captain of Company B, 31st Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., from August 7, 1862, to September 17, 1864. His regiment was in the First Division, 15th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, under General Grant. Politically, Captain Spear is a Republican and, as such, was elected a member of the 15th General Assembly of Iowa. In religious belief, he is a Unitarian.
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