HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
pp. 1196-97.   [Franklin County]

GEORGE GROVE SPEER, vice president of the People's State Bank at Frankfort,
is a recognized authority on banking and finance and the vigorous exponent
of sound commercial principles.  He was one of the organizers of the bank
which, although it was incorporated no earlier than January 28, 1909, and
began business June 23 of that year, already enjoys the reputation of
being a substantial and conservative institution and has met with really
remarkable success.  The People's State Bank has a capital of $50,000,
engages in general banking, and its officers are: O. H. Skiles, president;
G. G. Speer, vice-president; and George Halmhuber, cashier.
     George Grove Speer is a native of the Blue Grass state, having been
born in Anderson county, March 12, 1869.  He is the son of Dr. James
William and Susan Mary (Mountjoy) Speer.  His father was born in Oldham
county, Kentucky, March 1, 1836, and is the son of James G. Speer, who was
born in Virginia February 12, 1809, and died in May, 1909, at Alton,
Anderson county, Kentucky, the home of his son, being at the time of his
demise over a hundred years of age.  He was of Scotch-Irish parentage and
followed the calling of a physician.  He was the great friend and associate
of Abraham Lincoln, both of them sharing the same tastes and even the same
birth year.  At one time in Springfield Mr. Lincoln and James G. Speer
shared the same office, the lawyer and physician preparing side by side for
the fray of their respective professions.  Dr. Speer prescribed, when the
need arose, for the members of Mr. Lincoln's family.  In course of time he
returned from Illinois to the south and located in Oldham county, where
he practice for many years and became a prominent figure in the affairs of
that section of the state.
     In Oldham county Dr. James William Speer was born, reared and
educated.  In the question of life work he followed in the parental
footsteps, preparing in the Miami Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, from
which he received his degree.  In the Civil war he served in the Army of
the Confederacy as a member of the famous "Orphan Brigade" and was a brave
and gallant soldier. Upon first engaging in the practice of his profession
he located in Alton, Anderson county, Kentucky, where ever since he has
continued to reside and to minister to the ills of suffering humanity,
meeting with eminent success.  He is a loyal and unwavering Democrat, but
has never been lured to office-seeking by the glamour of honor and
emolument.  His wife is a native of Alton and the daughter of George W.
Mountjoy, and is a member of an old and numerous Anderson county family,
distinguished by wealth and the possession of great tracts of land.  This
family, the Mountjoys, was originally of the "Old Dominion."
     George Grove Speer is the only child of his parents.  He was
principally educated in the Kentucky Military Institute, from which he was
graduated in 1886.  He was naturally inclined to the legal profession and
began the study of law at Lawrenceburg under Major L. W. McKee, being
ultimately admitted to the bar.  In 1892 he began his practice at
Lawrenceburg and continued until 1898, when on account of failing health
he was forced to abandon his profession.  He thenceforth devoted his whole
time and energy to farming and to the breeding of saddle horses.  He
stood high in the confidence and esteem of the community and for twelve
years held the office of master commissioner--from 1892 until 1904.  In
the latter year he entered the state auditor's office, having charge of
the claim department, and holding this position for four years.  The
assumption of the above-mentioned position necessarily took him to the
capital city, and he has ever since resided within the pleasant limits of
Frankfort.  Mr. Speer has been interested in a number of large business
concerns of the city, probably the most important of these being his share
in the organization of the thriving People's State Bank.  He is a stanch
adherent of Democratic principles and policies and takes a decided
interest in public affairs generally.  He is a member of the Christian
church.  Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks.
     Mr. Speer assumed marital relations April 18, 1894, when he was
united in marriage to Miss Hallie B. Hanks, daughter of Joseph and Harriet
H. (Taylor) Hanks, of Lawrenceburg, Anderson county.  They have one child,
a son named William Carrol Speer.

Speer Mountjoy Taylor Hanks McKee Skiles Halmhuber
=
Anderson-KY Oldham-KY Cincinnati-Hamilton-OH VA IL

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/speer.gg.txt