Civil War veteran, Private, Company G, 7th Michigan Infantry, 25 Jan 1864 - 5 Jul 1865; honorably discharged.
Among rival genealogists, debate remains as to the birthplace and birth date of Charles Spears. He was aged 28 in 1860, census says born in Ireland; he was aged 35 in 1861 or 1864 at initial enlistment; he was aged 34 or 39 in 1870 [neighbor guestimate], census says born in England; he was aged 39 in the state census of 1875, which also says he was born in Scotland; he was aged 54 in 1880, census says born in Ireland. The 1880 and 1930 censuses as a parent say [consistently!] he was born in New York; the death certificate of his daughter lists his birth place as unknown; other published sources also vary.
In September 1884, the Long Prairie Leader ran a news story that was picked up by several other newspapers in the state. Charles Spears, an aged Civil War veteran, had disappeared from the property he had been farming in Birchdale Township, just down the road from his married daughter. Separated from his wife Ruth, and troubled by financial and personal problems, his cabin was intact but his wheat was unharvested and had gone to seed. A search was mounted immediately to see what had become of him, but the results are inconclusive. He had recently sold his horses and cattle. Family legend suggested he was robbed and murdered. To date his body has not been recovered.
Among rival genealogists, debate remains as to the birthplace and birth date of Charles Spears. He was aged 28 in 1860, census says born in Ireland; he was aged 35 in 1861 or 1864 at initial enlistment; he was aged 34 or 39 in 1870 [neighbor guestimate], census says born in England; he was aged 39 in the state census of 1875, which also says he was born in Scotland; he was aged 54 in 1880, census says born in Ireland. The 1880 and 1930 censuses as a parent say [consistently!] he was born in New York; the death certificate of his daughter lists his birth place as unknown; other published sources also vary.
In September 1884, the Long Prairie Leader ran a news story that was picked up by several other newspapers in the state. Charles Spears, an aged Civil War veteran, had disappeared from the property he had been farming in Birchdale Township, just down the road from his married daughter. Separated from his wife Ruth, and troubled by financial and personal problems, his cabin was intact but his wheat was unharvested and had gone to seed. A search was mounted immediately to see what had become of him, but the results are inconclusive. He had recently sold his horses and cattle. Family legend suggested he was robbed and murdered. To date his body has not been recovered.
Civil War veteran, Private, Company G, 7th Michigan Infantry, 25 Jan 1864 - 5 Jul 1865; honorably discharged.
Among rival genealogists, debate remains as to the birthplace and birth date of Charles Spears. He was aged 28 in 1860, census says born in Ireland; he was aged 35 in 1861 or 1864 at initial enlistment; he was aged 34 or 39 in 1870 [neighbor guestimate], census says born in England; he was aged 39 in the state census of 1875, which also says he was born in Scotland; he was aged 54 in 1880, census says born in Ireland. The 1880 and 1930 censuses as a parent say [consistently!] he was born in New York; the death certificate of his daughter lists his birth place as unknown; other published sources also vary.
In September 1884, the Long Prairie Leader ran a news story that was picked up by several other newspapers in the state. Charles Spears, an aged Civil War veteran, had disappeared from the property he had been farming in Birchdale Township, just down the road from his married daughter. Separated from his wife Ruth, and troubled by financial and personal problems, his cabin was intact but his wheat was unharvested and had gone to seed. A search was mounted immediately to see what had become of him, but the results are inconclusive. He had recently sold his horses and cattle. Family legend suggested he was robbed and murdered. To date his body has not been recovered.
Among rival genealogists, debate remains as to the birthplace and birth date of Charles Spears. He was aged 28 in 1860, census says born in Ireland; he was aged 35 in 1861 or 1864 at initial enlistment; he was aged 34 or 39 in 1870 [neighbor guestimate], census says born in England; he was aged 39 in the state census of 1875, which also says he was born in Scotland; he was aged 54 in 1880, census says born in Ireland. The 1880 and 1930 censuses as a parent say [consistently!] he was born in New York; the death certificate of his daughter lists his birth place as unknown; other published sources also vary.
In September 1884, the Long Prairie Leader ran a news story that was picked up by several other newspapers in the state. Charles Spears, an aged Civil War veteran, had disappeared from the property he had been farming in Birchdale Township, just down the road from his married daughter. Separated from his wife Ruth, and troubled by financial and personal problems, his cabin was intact but his wheat was unharvested and had gone to seed. A search was mounted immediately to see what had become of him, but the results are inconclusive. He had recently sold his horses and cattle. Family legend suggested he was robbed and murdered. To date his body has not been recovered.
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