When Ernest Spears was born on 14 May 1883, in Colby, Clark, Wisconsin, United States, his father, Francis Marian Spears, was 35 and his mother, Alice Maria Winchel, was 25. He married Eva L Vanchoick on 29 April 1903, in Forest, Vernon, Wisconsin, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Forest, Vernon, Wisconsin, United States for about 10 years and La Farge, Vernon, Wisconsin, United States in 1920. He died on 25 September 1979, in Dexter, Lane, Oregon, United States, at the age of 96, and was buried in Springfield, Lane, Oregon, United States.