Published in The Columbus Journal, August 4, 1909
DIED
SPEICE--After suffering as an invalid for several years, Hon. Chas. Speice, one of the early pioneers of Columbus and Platte county, passed away at his home, at Sixth and Grover street, last Thursday morning. As one of the pioneers he has been associated with the growth of the city and county ever since he came here, which was in 1857. Born in Boalsburg, Center county, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1830, he spent the early part of his life on a farm. After attending the local schools he continued his educational course and graduated from the Altoona college. Soon afterwards he concluded to cast his fortune in the west and soon afterward located in Memphis, Tenn., where he worked at his trade of a carpenter. Omaha was his next stopping place, where he arrived in 1856 remaining there one year before coming to Columbus in 1857. The same year he arrived here he built a log house on the site now occupied by the present Speice home. Here on May 31, 1860, he was married to Catherine Becher, a sister of Gus G. Becher of this city, and to them were born nine children. In the early days Mr. Speice was interested in educational work and organized the first school district in Platte county, and was later elected county superintendent, which position he filled for a number of years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, and was later elected to the office of county judge. He also served as a member of the legislature form this county. In 1869 he formed a partnership with J.E. North in the land loan and insurance business, which continued until 1893, when Mr. North removed to Omaha. Later he conducted a coal business until he suffered from a paralytic stroke four years ago. Funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, being conducted by Rev. Harkness of the Presbyterian church, and being in charge of the Masonic order of the city, of which he had been a member for over forty years, the order using their burial ceremony at the grave.

BIOGRAPHICAL

CHARLES A. SPEICE

Charles A. Speice, one of the leading figures in the early years in the development of Columbus and Platte County, was born November 10, 1830, at Altoona, Pennsylvania. He attended the Altoona schools and was graduated from Altoona College.

He came to Omaha late in 1856, and to Columbus in the summer of 1857, a year after the town was founded. Having learned the carpenter trade, he started in first as a building contractor, but was destined to use his talents in many other fields, including education, real estate, the coal business, the legal profession, and a career in public office.

He was active in the organization of the Columbus school district in 1960, and a few years later, served as its director. Mr. Speice bought the old "Company House," in 1861, which had served during the winter of 1960 as quarters for the first public school.

Also around 1860, he began the study of law. He was soon admitted to the bar and became one of the county's early lawyers. However, he devoted most of his time to the handling of legal matters incident to the Speice and North's real estate, abstract, and loan business.

Mr. Speice was one of the organizers of the Columbus Cemetery Association in 1864, and served as its secretary from 1879 until 1909. He was chairman of the group of citizens who organized the Congregational Church Society of Columbus, on September 2, 1865. He was also an early Platte County Superintendent of Schools, serving from 1869-1871, and again from 1875-1876.

He served as one of three county commissioners from 1861-1866, inclusive, and again from 1894-1895, and a county supervisor from 1895-1896. He served a two-year term as County judge, 1886 and 1887. He was elected Mayor of Columbus in 1877, and held that office until 1879.

In 1869, Charles A. Speice and James E. North formed a partnership and established a real estate, abstract and loan office, under the firm name of Speice and North. Through this business, they were instrumental in helping many settlers to locate homesteads, and sold thousands of acres of railroad land.

Together, Mr. Speice and Mr. North organized the Union Pacific Coal Company. They engaged in the coal business until 1892, when Mr. North was appointed internal revenue collector, and they then dissolved partnership. Mr. Speice continued as proprietor of the firm until his death, on June 29, 1909.

On May 31, 1860, Charles A. Speice was married to Katharina Becher, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gustavus Becher, Sr. Mr. Becher was the first merchant in Columbus, and Katharina had lived in Columbus from 1857, when her father, Gus Becher, Sr. and his family, moved here from St. Louis. The wedding took place in a log house which stood on the site of the old Speice home, at the southeast corner of Sixth Street and Eighteenth Avenue. Mrs. Speice was born October 4, 1838, at Pilsen, Bohemia.

Charles A. Speice was an active figure in the development of Columbus and Platte County; a builder whose constructive activities touched as many phases of the early life of the community as those of any other man.


(the above is displayed as written, including all typing & spelling errors)

Click Here To Close Window

The excerpts in this area were obtained from the website - Platte County, Nebraska Researchers. You can find his death notice by clicking HERE

The Biographical information can be located HERE