John Speer was the newspaper editor and publisher of the Lawrence Tribune, one of the earliest newspapers in the Kansas Territory. Known as an abolitionist, an encyclopedia of Kansas history and who helped to make much of that history. Speer came to Kansas Territory in 1851. He was James H. Lane's trusted friend and lieutenant in the Mexican War. The Lawrence Tribune office was attacked by Quantrill’s raiders in August 1863. Two of his sons were murdered during the raid on Lawrence, Kansas. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15154955/john-speer