Cecil Speke

SPEKE WILLIAMS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/18/2010 at 20:16:49

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Cecil Speke
By Mrs Darrell Wilson

Cecil Speake was born April 23, 1888, in Church Stretton, Shropshire, England. His parents were Thomas and Sarah Williams Speke. He emigrated to the United States in 1913, joining his brother, William Speke, who had previously established himself in farming in Woodbury County.

After working as a farm hand for a few years, Cecil enlisted in the United States Army, serving in France in WWI, and thereby becoming a citizen of the United States.

Upon his return from the war he rented a farm west of Stone’s Grove in Floyd Township, living there until his brother, William’s accidental death in 1924. At that time moved to the home of his brother’s family, four and one-half miles southeast of Moville, renting the farm and helping his sister-in-law, Alice, raise her four children, Robert, Lillian, Doris, and Beryl, all under the age of ten at the time of their father’s death.

They survived one hardship after another, a devastating tornado in 1928 that left only the house intact, the closing of a Moville bank in 1929, the difficult depression years, and the drought of 1936. Cecil helped to see his nephew and nieces through high school and continued to give them love and moral support after the death of their mother in 1939. They remember him with affection and gratitude.

When Robert returned from WWII to take over the family farm, Cecil purchased the Hamilton farm in Wolf Creek township. He married Kathryn Anderson, widow of W A Anderson, in December 1945, and farmed until his retirement in 1947 when they moved to Moville. Cecil enjoyed life in town and derived great pleasure from his grandnephews, grandnieces, and step grandchildren. He died at the age of 71, December 25, 1959.

Kathryn continued to live in Moville with her daughter, Arlene Anderson, until 1975, when they moved to Wall Lake. Kathryn died October 291, 1977.

Cecil joined the Wink-Sparks Post No. 303 of the American Legion in 1919 and was a loyal, active member of that organization until his death.