Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 43

Among the successful business men of Coalinga is E. R. Spear, of the well-known firm of Spear Brothers' Automobile Company. He is a man of ability, popular in automobile circles, and his friends predict for him a business future of even greater success. E. R. Spear was born in the Blue Grass State, August 26, 1886, at Tompkinsville, near Bowling Green, Ky., a son of L. D. and Virginia (Thompson) Spear, both natives of Kentucky, the father being the descendant of an old Virginia family, the mother of English ancestry. L. D. Spear was a farmer and stockman, and still resides in Kentucky, near Bowling Green. Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Spear were the parents of ten children, eight boys and two girls: E. R., the subject of this review; Thompson N., a partner with his brother E. R. in the automobile business, and who is serving in the United States Army; Bert, a partner with E. R. in the automobile business at Hanford; Pearl, now Mrs. Dozier, who resides at Coalinga; Benton and McKinley, both in the United States Army; and Beecham, Bennett, Susie, and Buster, with their parents in the "Old Kentucky Home."

E. R. Spear received his early education in the public schools of Kentucky and remained at home assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he became possessed of a desire to see the great West. He first went to Indiana, then moved on to Illinois, and later went to Texas and New Mexico, seeking an advantageous location. In November, 1908, he came to Fresno County, where he and his brother Thompson secured employment on a ranch at Wheatville, where they remained until the spring of 1909, when they located at Coalinga. Both boys went to work in the oilfields. Thompson became an oil-driller, remaining six years with the K. T. &O., which is now the Southern Pacific Oil Company; E. R. Spear continued in the oil-field until December, 1914, when he returned to Coalinga, and opened an automobile and garage business under the name of Spear Brothers Auto Company, the firm consisting of E. R. and his brother T. N. The first year's gross business amounted to seventy-five thousand dollars. So successfully did they conduct their business affairs, that in October, 1916, E. R. Spear, with his brothers T. N. and Bert, opened a salesroom and garage in Hanford. They are agents for Dodge, Buick, Chandler and Velie automobiles. Since Thompson Spear left to join the colors his interests in Hanford have been looked after by his brother Bert.

While E. R. Spear was still working in the oil-fields, he displayed his aptitude as a salesman by taking orders, at night, for made-to-order suits, representing S. H. Churchill and M. L. Obendorf, merchant tailors of Chicago, and during three years he sold 395 suits. During this time E. R. and Thompson Spear saved their money and purchased a farm of 367 acres located near Bowling Green, Ky., which place they still own and which is operated by their father.

E. R. Spear was united in marriage with Miss Pearl E. McCannon, a native of Pennsylvania, the ceremony occurring on October 15, 1913, at Fresno, Cal. Mr. Spear is a member of the Eagles and of the American Automobile Association.