Francis Everett Speck, the son of F.E. and Elizabeth Speck, was born in Oquaka, Illinois, on the 24th of August, 1854. He was the son of a Methodist minister who lost his life in the Civil war and so Francis Everett Speck was left fatherless when about ten years of age. There were three daughters and two sons in Mr. Speck’s parents’ family. Of this family, the parents, two sisters and a brother of Mr. Speck preceded him in death. Mr. Speck’s boyhood was spent in Illinois. When he was fifteen years of age he came to Lincoln, Nebraska, thence to Clay county and thence to Gosper county in 1872.

On March 12, 1882, Francis Everett Speck married Annie Hanson in Elwood, Nebraska. For twenty-eight years, Mr. and Mrs. Speck made their home in Gosper county. To this union seven sons and five daughters were born. Two daughters and one son awaited their father in the life beyond this early sojourn. In the year 1900, Mr. and Mrs. Speck and family moved to Lexington.

Mr. Speck was honored and respected by all who knew him. He was honorable in all his dealings with his fellowmen. He was a man of high idealism and he sought to teach his children to live for the better things in life. He believed in God the Father and in Jesus Christ, His son. He believed the Word of God and he loved to sing the great hymns of the church. He was reared a Methodist, but he respected every church which acknowledged God and honored Jesus Christ. It was Mr. Speck’s life-long wish to be buried from a church. He was a loyal husband and nine living children gratefully acknowledge that they were privileged to have a good father. Neighbors and friends in large numbers confirm this judgement.

Mr. Speck had been in quite vigorous health until recently. Suddenly he was stricken and after a few days, he passed away on Wednesday, October 9th. He had lived one month and fifteen days of his 82nd year. Mr. Speck is survived by his widow, Mrs. Anna Speck, by six sons, three daughters, one sister, twenty-five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The sons are, Peter, Ingham, Nebr., John B., Moorefield, Nebr., William E., North Platte, Nebr., Eugene P., Gibbon, Nebr., LeRoy, Lexington, Nebr., and Clyde J., Norton, Kansas. The daughters are, Mrs. Mary E. Powell, Lexington, Nebr., Mrs. Katherine L. Toll, Elm Creek, Nebr., and Mrs. Mable M. Denzine, Denver, Colo. The sister is Mrs. Mary Frazell of Grand Island.

Funeral services were held this afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church in this city (Lexington). Louis H. Kaub, pastor of the church officiated. Interment was in Greenwood cemetery.

The collection of Elizabeth Speck of Benkleman, Nebraska, January 2003