Speer Residence

Isaac Speer was born in New Jersey in 1809. He married Valeria Collins in 1833. Mr. Speer appears in the earliest Chicago Directory, published in 1839. At that time, he was a watchmaker with Smith J. Sherwood on Lake Street. By 1844, Mr. Speer had moved his clock and watchmaking business to the corner of Lake and Dearborn Streets. By 1862, Mr. Speer and his son Charles W. Speer operated a jewelry store on what is now the 500 block of West Monroe Street. Isaac resided at 31 16th Street (now 202 E. 16th Street). After the fire of 1871, the jewelry store moved to several downtown locations. Mr. Speer died in 1879, and is buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago with his wife Valeria who died in 1882.

For further details, contact the Chicago Genealogical Society. Isaac Speer is Pioneer Ancestor number 256.