William T. Spear
Encyclopedia
William Thomas Spear was a Republican politician in the U.S. State
of Ohio
who was a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court 1885–1912.
, Trumbull County, Ohio
, attended public schools and learned the printing trade, apprenticing at the Trumbull Whig and Transcript, published at Warren. He was a compositor at the New York Herald
, and then a proofreader at Appletons
. He returned to Warren. He was a deputy Probate Judge and deputy County Clerk while studying law under Jacob Dolson Cox
. He finished his education and graduated from Harvard
Law School in 1859.
Spear returned to Warren and was admitted to the bar
in 1859. He was associated first with Cox and Robert Ratliff, and later with John C. Hutchins and C. A. Harrington. He spent three years in Louisiana
associated with a cotton plantation. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Trumbull County in 1871 and 1873, and City Solicitor of Warren in 1873 and 1875, all the while in practice with C. A. Harrington. In 1878 he was elected to the Court of Common Pleas, and re-elected in 1884.
In 1885, Spear was nominated by the Republicans to fill the un-expired term on the Ohio Supreme Court of John W. Okey
, and defeated Democrat Gibson Atherton
, who had been appointed to fill the seat for a few months. Atherton resigned in December that year, and Spear was appointed to fill the seat in the Interim. He won a full five-year term in 1887, and several more, serving until the December 31, 1912.
Judge Spear was married September 28, 1864 to Frances E. York of Geneva, New York
, or perhaps Lima, New York
. She taught at the Warren High School, and had four sons. Spear died less than a year after retiring at his home in Columbus, Ohio
on December 8, 1913.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who was a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court 1885–1912.
Biography
William T. Spear was born at WarrenWarren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
, Trumbull County, Ohio
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
, attended public schools and learned the printing trade, apprenticing at the Trumbull Whig and Transcript, published at Warren. He was a compositor at the New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
, and then a proofreader at Appletons
D. Appleton & Company
D. Appleton & Company was an American company founded by Daniel Appleton , who opened a general store which included books.- Timeline :* 1813 Relocated from Haverhill to Boston and imported books from England...
. He returned to Warren. He was a deputy Probate Judge and deputy County Clerk while studying law under Jacob Dolson Cox
Jacob Dolson Cox
Jacob Dolson Cox, was a lawyer, a Union Army general during the American Civil War, and later a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 28th Governor of Ohio and as United States Secretary of the Interior....
. He finished his education and graduated from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Law School in 1859.
Spear returned to Warren and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1859. He was associated first with Cox and Robert Ratliff, and later with John C. Hutchins and C. A. Harrington. He spent three years in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
associated with a cotton plantation. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Trumbull County in 1871 and 1873, and City Solicitor of Warren in 1873 and 1875, all the while in practice with C. A. Harrington. In 1878 he was elected to the Court of Common Pleas, and re-elected in 1884.
In 1885, Spear was nominated by the Republicans to fill the un-expired term on the Ohio Supreme Court of John W. Okey
John W. Okey
John Waterman Okey was a Democratic judge and legal author in the U.S. State of Ohio who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1878-1885....
, and defeated Democrat Gibson Atherton
Gibson Atherton
Gibson Atherton was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born near Newark, Ohio, Atherton attended Denison University, Granville, Ohio, and graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1853...
, who had been appointed to fill the seat for a few months. Atherton resigned in December that year, and Spear was appointed to fill the seat in the Interim. He won a full five-year term in 1887, and several more, serving until the December 31, 1912.
Judge Spear was married September 28, 1864 to Frances E. York of Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
, or perhaps Lima, New York
Lima (village), New York
Lima is a village in Livingston County, New York, USA. The population was 2,459 at the 2000 census.The Village of Lima is in the Town of Lima and is nineteen miles south of the city of Rochester, NY.- History :...
. She taught at the Warren High School, and had four sons. Spear died less than a year after retiring at his home in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
on December 8, 1913.