Source: 1885 History of Steuben County, IN p.516

Rev. E. R. Spear was born near Palmyra, N. Y., Nov. 23,1801, and at the prime of life he removed to Steuben County, this state, where he resided most of the time until April 1871. He then removed to Fillmore County, Neb., to live the remainder of his life. He died at Geneva, Neb., Dec. 25, (Christmas Day) 1879, and was buried two days later at Geneva. He preached twenty-nine years at Lake Gage schoolhouse, where he had many warm friends, and he was also well known throughout the county.