Joseph Speck was born in Baden, Germany, in 1808, learned the blacksmith trade, served six years in the German army and sold clocks before an eight-month voyage brought him to New York and then to Jefferson Township, Coshocton County. The 1909 history says he first worked on the Ohio canal, then entered land and built a log cabin with a puncheon floor, where he lived the rest of his life. He married Caroline Gamertsfelder in 1837 and, after her death, Margaret Straum in 1844. John Christian married Rosanna Bowers in 1859, and their son J. R. Speck, born in 1874, helped organize the Eureka Laundry and Domestic Manufacturing Companies in Coshocton in 1903. Every fact below is cited to a public-domain Coshocton County history.
Where the family starts
Joseph Speckborn 1808Most recent in our records
J. R. Speckborn 1874Tap a name to jump to that person.
Blacksmith, clock seller and farmer, Jefferson Township
SPECK JOSEPH, Jefferson township; postoffice, Warsaw; born in Baden, Germany, November 7, 1808; son of Starnus and Avon Speck. At the age of seventeen he began the blacksmith trade with Ignatius Storts, and served three years, then worked as a journeyman one year. He then served six years in the German army; then sold clocks two years; then embarked for America, and after a voyage of eight months landed in New York, and from there he came to Jefferson township, Coshocton county, where he has remained a resident ever since. After coming to this country he sold clocks one year, and since then has been farming. He was married in May, 1837, to Miss Caroline Gamertsfelder, who died January 6, 1844. They had two children, viz.: Christian and John. He married, in June, 1844, Miss Margaret Straum. They had seven children, viz.: Gotlieb, Joseph; Caroline, deceased; David, William, Daniel and George.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Mason, sawmill and planing-mill man, and farmer, Bethlehem Township
JOHN CHRISTIAN SPECK.
John Christian Speck, residing on his valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres in Bethlehem township, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. March 4, 1839, his parents being Joseph and Caroline (Gamertfeder) Speck, who-were natives of Germany. When seventeen years of age the father became coimected with the blaclcsmith's trade, which he followed for three years, while subsequently he worked as a journeyman for one year. For six years he served in the German army and.subsequently was engaged in selling clocks for two years, but in 1833 embarked for the United States, landing in Ncav York after a voyage of eight months. From the Empire state he made his way to Jeffereon towaiship, Coshocton county, and was first employed on the Ohio state canal. Later he entered land in Jefferson township and erected thereon a log cabin with clapboard roof, luncheon floor and a door wdth wooden hinges. In this primitive pioneer structure he lived until the time of his demise, being called to his final rest when eighty-eight years of age. His w'ife passed away in 1846. Unto this worthy couple were born four children: John Christian Speck acquired a common-school education and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. Subsequently he learned the mason's trade, at which he worked for several years and then purchased a steam sawmill, being successfully engaged in its operation for twenty-five or thirty years. Buying a farm of forty acres in Jeft'person township, he made his home thereon for some time and on selling the property, purchased a tract of land in Monroe township, where he lived for four years. On disposing of that farm he bought eighty acres in Sandusky county. Ohio, but after two years also sold that place and removed, to Newark, Licking county, where he operated a sawmill for one year. During the following five years he resided on a farm of thirty acres in Bethlehem township, and on selling out removed to "Warsaw, w'here he conducted a planing mill for a year. After disposing of the mill he bought eighty acres of land in Tiverton township, Coshocton county, which he sold after a residence thereon of five years. He then purchased his present place of one hundred and thirty-five acres in Bethlehem township, on which he has made many substantial improvements, including the erecxvn. In all of his undertaking.s he has met with a ited measure of prosperity and is well known and of the sulvtantial and enterprising citizens of the tion of a fine house and 1 gratify highly
'd as i)ue t community.
:\Mr. Speck whose birth i seven children of Christ i:
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In his political views Mr. Speck is a democrat and his aid and influence can ever be counted upon to further any movement or measure instituted for the general welfare. A resident of this county for more than two-thirds of a century, he has not only seen it grow from a wild region, with only a few white inhabitants, to a rich agricultural district, containing thousands of good homes and acres of growing towns, inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people but he has participated in the slow, persistent work of development which was necessary to produce a change which is so complete that it has come to be popularly referred to as magical.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Secretary and treasurer, Eureka Laundry and Domestic Manufacturing Companies
J. R. SPECK.
Few men are so favored by fortune that a successful business awaits their entrance into the world of activity. The vast majority must labor for the advantages which they enjoy and must give proof of their merit through earnest and intelligently directed labor. Such has been the case of J. R. Speck, who is now the secretary and treasurer of the Eureka Laundry Company and also of the Domestic Manufacturing Company. He was born in Betlehem township, Coshocton county, July 12, 1874, his parents being John C. and Rosanne (Bowers) Speck, who were natives of Jefferson township, this county. Joseph Speck, the paternal grandfather, and the maternal grandparents of our subject came to Coshocton county from Germany of which land they were natives. John C. Speck was reared to farm life and has spent his active years in agricultural pursuits. For a long period he tilled the soil and at length when his labors had brought him sufficient capital to permit his retirement he put aside farm business cares and is now living retired on his farm in Bethlehem township. He is prominent in democratic circles and has been honored with various local offices, serving for a number of years as township trustee and township treasurer, being the incumbent in the latter office at the present time. He was twice candidate for county sheriff on the democratic ticket but was defeated. In his business life he was progressive and enterprising and brought the first steam threshing machine into Coshocton county. The farmers were afraid it would bum up their crops and buildings and he had to educate them to its use. For a long period he engaged in threshing and was also identified with the sawmill and planing-mill business. For a number of years he conducted the planing-mill in Warsaw, giving his attention largely to his industrial intercepts.
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On the 17th of June, 1905, Mr. Speck was married to Miss Grace Croy, of Trinway, and unto them was born one son, Jame Riley. Mr. Speck belongs to Coshocton Lodge, No. 376, B. P. 0. E. and to Fidelity Lodge, No. 135, K. P. He is in hearty sympathy with the principles of these orders and is enthusiastic in their support. A self-made man he started out on his own account without capital but knew that business advancement might be secured through close application and faithfulness. These qualities have ever remained salient factors in his life record and have brought him a volume of business which makes him one of the substantial residents of this city.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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