John Spearman

Background

He was born in Mc Kee’s Gap, Blair County, Pennsylvania. His father was born in Kent county, Maryland, of English origin. His mother was born near McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania.

Education

His early opportunities for education were very limited, and confined to two terms in the early-day common schools. Despite this, by reason of his wide experience of business and by mingling with men of letters and affairs generally, as well as by observation, by reading books and newspapers, he gained an excellent general education.

Career

They came to Mercer, Pennsylvania in 1852, where the father died. The mother died at Middlesex and was buried in Mercer. By occupation, the father was a miller.

This couple reared a family of eight children, of whom two were sons and six were daughters.

Very early in life Spearman was thrown on his own resources. At the age of fourteen he became a clerk in the mercantile establishment of David Puterbaugh, of Woodbury, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

Here he remained for three years, and then accepted employment in 1841 with Doctor Peter Shoenberger, a prominent manufacturer of iron in those days, at the Rebecca and other furnaces, and Maria forges, in Blair county, Pennsylvania. Here Spearman gained his first practical experience in the manufacture of iron, and he spent six years there.

In January, 1847, Spearman took charge of the business management of the Sharon furnace, which was operated at that time by Shoenberger, Agnew & Company

He held this position for a period of six years. In 1853 he purchased the Mazeppa furnace, near Mercer, which he operated until 1859, when he accepted the position of manager of the Sharpsville furnace, where he stayed for three years. Spearman moved to Sharon where, in 1872, he organized the Spearman Iron Company and built the Spearman furnaces at Sharpsville, and became general manager.

This was a partnership concern up until 1895, when it was incorporated, and in 1901 the property was sold.

Spearman retired from the iron industry, in which he had spent half a century. In 1868 he was prominent in the organization of the First National Bank of Sharon.

The first president was George Prather, who died in the autumn of 1871. He was succeeded by Spearman as president of the bank in January, 1872.

Doctorate. Spearman had a long and successful business career and saw many changes in the production of iron.

He had a reputation as a reliable man, a good citizen and an exemplar for younger mentor 347, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He lived to be one of the oldest residents of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and among the best and most universally known men of the county.

Membership

In Masonic circles he was an advanced Mason and member of the Knights Templar degree. He was one of the charter members of Sharon Lodge Number.

Connections

Partner:

James Wood