My Genealogy Hound

John Speaker, retail liquor dealer of Fort Smith, Ark., was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, May 16, 1848, and is the son of Ernest and Catherine Speaker. Earnest Speaker was also a native of Germany, born in 1825, and served some time in the army in Germany. He came to America when his son John was quite small, settling in Fort Smith, and here followed the stone-mason’s trade for some time. He has also followed various avocations in the city. Catherine Speaker died in Fort Smith with cholera. She was the other of seven children, John Speaker being the eldest: J. H., L.M., Charles, Annie, Mary and Lena. The father is still living, and resides in Fort Smith. John Speaker was reared and educated in Fort Smith, and in early life followed the brick business, being a brick molder by trade. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Bettie Schuster, a native of New York, and the daughter of Anton Schuster. Of the five children born to this union three are now living: John, Mamie and Frank. Two are deceased: Nettie, who died at the age of seven years and Charley, who died when five years of age. Mr. Speaker is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a Republican in politics.