In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions (1915), A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896)
IMROD SPEAKER, of Belmore, Putnam county, Ohio, is one of the most prominent and successful merchants in the township of VanBuren. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, March 21, 1841, was reared a farmer, was well educated in the common schools, and in 1857 came to Putnam county with his parents, of whom further mention will be made a few lines below. In 1 80 1 Nimrod Speaker, leaving the
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Andrew and Elizabeth (Moreland) Speaker, the parents of our subject, were both natives of the Buckeye state, the father being a farmer. In 1857 Mr. Speaker came to Putnam count) with his family and bought a farm of eighty acres, of which a few acres were partially cleared and improved with a log cabin and log stable, but before his death he succeeded in converting the place into a splendid farm and comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Speaker had born to them a family of eleven children, of whom five only grew to manhood and womanhood, as follows. David, who died in 1893; George, a farmer of Putnam county, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of Adam Baker, a farmer of Van Wert county; Hannah, married to E. Blauvett, also a farmer, and Nimrod, the subject of this sketch. In politics Mr. Speaker was a democrat but never aspired to office of any kind. His death took place in 1866 and that of his wife followed shortly afterward, in the same year. Both were highly respected by their neighbors for their morality and many other good qualities. Of the Moreland family there are but three survivors, viz: William, a prominent farmer of Missouri; Basil, a wealthy attorney of San Diego, Cal., and George, for many years a merchant of Illinois, but now a farmer.
Mrs. Hetty (Ward) Speaker, wife of our subject, was born in the north of Ireland about the year 1844, and came to Ohio, in 1847, with her parents, who settled in Licking county and there soon afterward died, leaving their daughter Hetty to be reared by an uncle. She and our subject were school-children together, and when Nimrod was old enough he left his business in Putnam county, in 1865, and returned to Licking county to claim his bride, who has since been his faithful companion and helpmate. To this happy union have been born seven children of whom two died young, unnamed; George lived to be nineteen years old; Mary, the wife of Alvan Hook; and John B., Harvey and William are still at home with their parents.
After his marriage Nimrod Speaker continued in the wood and timber contracting business until 1869, when he bought a stock of merchandise in Belmore, going considerably in debt for his purchase— -not, however, entirely relinquishing his wood and timber speculation, in which he had started with a capital of one ax, a strong arm and a determined spirit. In the earlier days, when timber was plentiful and sales unlimited, he made mon 'y taking large contracts from the railroad company and others, but since 1892, timber being exhausted from the many acres he had contracted to clear, his business in that line has been quite limited. After conducting his mercantile work for a short time he became alarmed at the amount of debt he had incurred, and, although he knew he was doing well, sold out in order to save any tarnish of his business reputation. Soon after his transfer he purchased another mercantile establishment “in lump,” and from the trade made considerable money, which fact renewed his confidence in himself as a merchant, and he has since followed this vocation with most satisfactory results. Notwithstanding that he has met with many mishaps such as having his store twice destroyed by fire and being covered with but limited insuiara, and the loss of money through going security for others (one man alone having mulcted him for $ 1 2,000 he
I now owns a fine two-story frame business block, the upper part of which is occupied as a hall for the Odd Fellows, and attached to which he has his residence. His stock of merchandise reaches $12,000 in value, and his annual.sales average from $16,000 to $20,000. He is also the owner of four good farms, and is aPogether well to do, his fortune resulting from his own enterprise and self-exertion.' Until 1892 he handled most of the grain disposed of at Belmore — an elevator having been erected by another firm — but since that date i lie has gradually worked out of the grain trade. His trade >n town property has, through his good judgment, resulted profitably and netted him a neat little sum. In politics Mr. Speaker j has always been an active democrat. He has I taken an interest in public affairs through a j sense of duty as a citizen, but has never been j an office seeker through a desire to reap any i emolument attached to public office, yet he has served several terms as township treasurer and also as clerk of the township, as well as in some of the minor offices. Mrs. Speaker is a member of the Evangelical church association, and the family stands among the most highly respected residents of Van Buren township, Mr. Speaker being especially esteemed for his business integrity, his urbanity and his genuine interest in the progress and welfare of the community in which he has lived for so many years and in which he has reared his respected family.
As printed in A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
NIMROD SPEAKER.
The oldest resident of Belmore, Putnam county, Ohio, is Nimrod Speaker, who has been engaged in business in that place for twenty-nine years. When he first came to the pleasant village of Belmore, there was only a little board depot and two log cabins. During his long residence in the village he has seen it grow to its present prosperous condition, and has borne no inconsiderable part in making it what it is today. A leading business man for more than a quarter of a centui-y, he has been active in promoting the general prosperity of the town, and during a great part of. this period, he has held one official position or another. He is now retired from active work and is spending his declining years in retirement, highly honored and respected by everyone who knows him.
Nimrod Speaker, the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Moreland) Speaker, was born on March 21, 1841, in Licking county, Ohio. His parents were natives of western Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively, and came to Licking county with their respective parents. Andrew Speaker was a son of Charles Speaker. Elizabeth Moreland was a daughter of David Moreland, and both the Speaker and Moreland families were early pioneers in Licking county. Andrew Speaker and family moved to Putnam county, in 1857, and located in Blanchard township, not far east of Leipsic, and there, on a farm, the parents both died within four weeks of each other, in 1866.
Soon after the family located in this county, Nimrod Speaker went to Put-in-Bay Island and worked there for some time. However, his health became impaired and, in 1861, he came to Belmore and worked in the timber, cutting out wood and timber, until 1868. In that year he and his brother, George, bought a general store, at Belmore, and continued in partnership, until 1890. In that year, his brother withdrew from the business, and Mr. Speaker continued it alone, until 1897, when he retired from active work. Mr. Speaker has been a participant in the life of Belmore, since its inception. He is better informed on the history of the town than any other man.
Mr. Speaker was married in 1865 to Hattie Ward, who was a native of Ireland and was two years of age when her parents brought her to America, the youngest of several children. At New Yoi'k both parents died and the children were left orphans. Relatives came and got them and reared them, these relatives living on a farm next to Mr. Speaker's father's home. He and his wife were schoolmates together, in their childhood days. To this union were born three children, George, who died at the age of twenty; Edward, who died in childhood; Katherine, who died on January 2, 1913, leaving her husband, Alvin Hook, with three children, two sons and a daughter.
Mr. Speaker married Ellen Blue, in 1883, who was reared in Ashland county, Ohio, and came to Putnam county, with her brother, William, and now lives five miles east of Belmore. To this second union have been born three children, John Burgan, Harvey and William. John B. is a minister in the Methodist church, and is now stationed in Illinois. He married Lola Lonzway, and has three children. Harvey is a painter and decorator and makes his home in Belmore. William is a farmer at Belmore, who married Gertrude Linkhart. The mother of these three children died, in 1904.
Mr. Speaker has been justice of the peace, for thirteen years, and still has three years more to serve of his present term. He has been clerk of Tiis township for two terms, treasurer for two terms, and has been on the school board for the past twenty-seven years. He holds his membership in the Masonic lodge, at Deshler, and in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Belmore. He is financially interested in the Belmore Banking Company, and is now the vice-president of that institution.
As printed in History of Putnam County, Ohio : its people, industries, and institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name Nimrod Speaker: John B. Fisher (b. 1866) Charles R. Blauvelt (b. 1878)
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.