b. 1809, in Ireland. Spear immigrated to the United States, and after living some years in Kentucky, he settled in Springfield, Illinois. Spear was in the dry goods business in Springfield for about a quarter of a century. For many years he was in partnership with Isaac P. Spear, but their partnership ended in August 1851. In 1850, Spear made his living as a merchant and owned real estate worth $18,000. In 1852, he was a stockholder in the Mechanics and Farmers Bank in Springfield, Illinois. By 1860, Spear owned real estate worth $80,000 and personal property worth $10,000.