Martha Eliza Spear

Martha Eliza Spear

• Father: Malachi Moore Spear b. 20 June 1809, d. 28 August 1861
• Mother: Elizabeth Candler Woodley b. 6 October 1812, d. 27 September 1866

• Martha Eliza Spear was born on 2 July 1831 in Montgomery County, Alabama.
• She was known as Patsy.
• Malachi Moore Spear and Elizabeth Candler Woodley appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Walker County, Texas, living next to Elizabeth's brother Jackson Woodley. Probably because Martha was married between the date of record and the actual date of enumeration, she also appears in Montgomery County in the household of her husband.. Other members of the household included Martha Eliza Spear, Elizabeth Ann Spear, Thomas Jackson Spear, Margaret Frances Spear, Louisa Jane Spear, Garrett Bird Spear and Christopher Malachi Spear.
• She married James Adniel Reding, son of Iredell Reding and Martha Hallum, on 27 June 1850 in Walker County, Texas, with Thomas Carothers, JP, officiating.
• James Adniel Reding and Martha Eliza Spear appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Montgomery County, Texas, married between the official date of the census and the actual date of enumeration. Martha also was enumerated with her family in Walker County.
• James Adniel Reding and Martha Eliza Spear appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Montgomery PO, Montgomery County, Texas, enumerated next to James' brother George.. Other members of the household included James Monroe Reding, Julia Eugenia Reding, Martha Louise Reding and Oscar Augustus Reding.
• The following appeared on 16 April 1862 in The Tri-Weekly Telegraph:
  Ed. Telegraph--I beg to acknowledge the receipt of the following articles, contributed for the Hempstead Hospital, by the ladies of Danville and Waverly, through Mrs. Major Green Wood, of Danville, Montgomery county:
       278 lbs. lard, 160 lbs. ham, 40 lbs. soap, 6 doz. candles, 88 lbs. butter, 93 doz. eggs, 2 calico spreads, 2 comforts, 12 mattrasses, 30 sheets, 27 pillows, 40 pillow cases, 40 towels, donated by the following persons:
       Mrs. Mayfield, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Spiller, Mrs. Sessum, Miss Sarah L. Davis, Mrs. Green M. Wood, Mrs. J. M. Leivi, Mrs. Geo. Redding, Mrs. Major Redding, Mrs. Maj. Green Wood, Mrs. McGarr, Mrs. Charles Abercrombie, Mrs. Tryler, Mrs. Dr. Carr, Mrs. W. B. Scott, Miss Thompson, Mrs. Tabb, Mrs. Richard Williams, Waverly; Mrs. Col. Campbell, do; Mrs. Dr. Campbell, do; Mrs. Dr. Scott, do; Mrs. Col. Jno. Hill, do; Mrs. John C. Abercrombie, do; Mrs. Laura A. Scott, do; Mrs. Wm. B. Wood, Danville; Mrs. Wynne, do; Master Solomon Wood; Major Green Wood's servant[s], 31 doz. eggs; Mrs. Green Wood, cash, $10; Miss Sarah L. Davis, $10; Mrs. Dr. Stewart, $5.
                      Mrs. C. A. Groce,
                  Principal Hempstead Hospital.
  Hempstead, April 10th, 1862.
• Martha Eliza Spear became a widow at the circa 1864 death of her husband James Adniel Reding.
• She married John B. Elam on 15 January 1866 in Montgomery County, Texas.
• John B. Elam and Martha Eliza Spear appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Danville, Montgomery County, Texas, and the Elam children from his earlier marriage: George (14) and Marsten (11).
• Martha Eliza Spear died circa September 1874.

• Last Edited: 14 May 2013