Raymond Louis Speicher Sr. (1908 - 1987)

Born 1908 in Warrick Co., Indiana

Husband of Sarah Frances (Kelley) Speicher — married 25 Sep 1926 in Warrick Co., Indiana

Died 29 Jan 1987 at about age 79 in Boonville, Warrick, Indiana

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Biography

Raymond Louis Speicher, Sr

Birth: 1908 Death: Jan. 29, 1987 Boonville Warrick County Indiana, USA

Family links: Spouse: Sarah Frances Kelley Speicher (1906 - 1994)

Children: Raymond Louis Speicher (1927 - 1991)* George M Speicher (1930 - 2005)* Lula Mae Speicher Nelson (1932 - 1992)* Emma Faye Speicher Coleman (1932 - 2000)*

Burial: Freedom Cemetery Boonville Warrick County Indiana, USA

Created by: Brian Fossmeyer Record added: Oct 22, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 79115285

Sources

• SPEICHER FAMILY

Posted by Linda <llt@hoosierlink.net> on Mon, 07 Aug 2000

Surname: Speicher, Kreps

A Brief History of the Speicher Family as written by Paul Speicher onJune 2, 1941. The origin of the Speicher family dates back to the period between the years 1558 and 1603. At this time Queen Elizabeth of England, being astaunch protestant, persecuted those of the Catholic faith. Our Speicher ancestor, who was a Catholic priest was forced to flee to avoid being beheaded.

In Switzerland, near the French border, he took refuge at a farm. Here he hid in a granary and implement shelter called a "Speicher" in the German language. While in hiding here, he was sustained by the owner of the farm. His priestly locks were cut off and he was clothed as a farm hand, wearing wooden shoes and coarde clothing.

A search was conducted for the priest on the premises, but it was not suspected the coarsely dressed farm hand was the priest for which they were searching.

To avoid further trouble, he changed his name to Speicher in remembrance of the building which had sheltered him and saved his life. His real name is not known, although it is thought the name might have been Wesley. Whatever the name might have been, it was kept secret to avoid any trouble.

He was a highly educated man and was soon asked to teach the children of the family. Later the neighbors wanted their children educated, so he became the village school master.

When death came to the community, the schoolmaster was turned to for funeral advise, and the community found he could preach as well as teach. Thus he also became their minister.

At a later date he married a princess from a family of high standing. One of his sons became the body guard of the Ruler.

Upon the death of the first Speicher, his body was highly embalmed, placed in a vault and laid away for one hundred years, at which time it was taken out and looked upon, as was the custom among Royalty. It is said the grandson kissed the face - his grandfather.

The sons married along the royal line, but were not wealthy.

During the Austrian Invasion into Switzerland, a descendent of the first Speicher broke ranks when the Swiss were about defeated. He turned back to his comrades and said, "Remember my family if I fall". He rushed forward with his rude instrument which was something like a spear , mowing down the enemy until he was standing alone, waist deep in blood and dead bodies. His companions, seeing his bravery and courage, rushed forward and the Austrians were defeated.

One of the finest avenues in the City of Berne, Switzerland, is called Speicher. The father of John Speicher was mayor of the city of Berne for many years.

In the family of Mayor Speicher, there were three boys and two girls. He decided to give all of his wealth to his youngest son, Benjamin, so the others, having to shift for themselves, went to Germany and later to America. After the death of the father, the children, by contending to it, received one thousand dollars each.

It is the descendants of the youngest son, Benjamin, who are now to be found in Switzerland. Joseph Speicher visited Switzerland in the year ,and found the family occupying the old castle and family buildings. The family had been extravagant, having had servants, coaches, receptions, etc. without much income and had been reduced to poverty.

After John Speicher has served in the army, he determined to go toAmerica, since he had heard stories of freedom, plenty, and opportunity. Leaving Switzerland by himself, he went to Germany, and from there to France, and there took passage on a three masted schooner. After a perilous voyage lasting sixty days, land was sighted and the grateful passengers gave a prayer of thanksgiving.

John Speicher went at once from New York City to Holmes County, Ohio where he secured a job in a grist mill. Here he remained four years, learning the trade, and learning the English language.

He soon determined that America was the land of opportunity and he thought of his friends at home who were toiling against adverse circumstances, so he returned to Switzerland. With glowing accounts, he induced about one hundred people to return to America with him. Among those returning with him was his sweetheart, Elizabeth Kreps. He married her soon after reaching Ohio. T his was October 11th, 1834.

In a short time he purchased forty acres of land in Holmes County and built a grist mill, where he soon came to be know as "Honest John, the Miller".

In 1852 he disposed of his property in Ohio and moved to Indiana, locating in Wabash County, where he founded the Speicher settlement. He made this journey westward via the Erie and Wabash Canal. He purchased about two hundred acres of slightly developed land about a mile east of Urbana. He made this his home where he died in 1879.

The entire county was in the early stage of development at this time, there not being any rail roads in the county and Wabash was a small village. Shopping was done in Huntington and Fort Wayne.

John Speicher was energetic, ambitious and a good business man. At onetime the tax valuation of 2500 acres of land owned by the family was $91,000.00.

He had strong political convictions, and although he identified himself with the Whig party, at the advent of the Anti-slavery party, he cast his vote for their candidate, John C. Fremont . Two sons, John and Frederick, gave their lives for their country in the war of rebellion which followed.

John Speicher was deeply religious, and when he spoke the name of God, heal ways uncovered his head in reverence. The Bible was very sacred to him. On one occasion a minister called at the home and laid his hat on the Bible which was on a stand. John Speicher brushed the hat aside saying that nothing should lie on the Bible. Through his generosity, he founded the Speicher Church, which was a fine brick building located near his home. He also founded the Speicher Cemetery.

Some time after his death, due to a schism in the church over the question of what tongue should be spoken, the church broke up, and those wishing English services came to Urbana. The church was later sold to the Wesleyan Methodists at Wabash who dismantled it and reconstructed it in Wabash. The original windows and the original bell were used.

John Speicher was primarily of Teutonic origin. He was a happy admixture, having the solidity of the Germans and the temperament of the Celts. He was a good man, a Christian gentleman whose advise was always good and wholesome.

He lived close to the green verdure of the soil. He was a wholesome liver, a practical idealist. He was a devotee of nature and humanity, unadorned by sanctity, pretense or austere mysticism.

The family was of the highest type of citizenship. They were industrious, religious and musically inclined. The family was in possession of a pipe organ, perhaps the only one in a country home of America at this time. They were Swiss Bell Ringers, having brought the bells from Switzerland. The dialect spoken in the home was German.

The funeral of John Speicher was held in the Speicher Church, one year, four months and five days after the dedication. His body was the first interment in the Speicher Cemetery as he had predicted.

Following is a list of the children: Samuel, Christian, John, Fredrick, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, William, Catherine, George, Henry, David, Rose, Simon Peter, Daniel and Phillip.

The above history is in the vertical file at the Wabash Carnegie Public Library in Wabash, Indiana.