SPECK, JESSIE

by Ronda Godfrey

Entry F397 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Jess Speck

Jessie Alexander Speck was born on De-
cember 7, 1873 near Phelps City, Missouri to
Cornelius and Jemima (Stephenson) Speck
while they were on a cattle drive from
Nebraska to Missouri.

In 1887, Jessie began working on ranches
in the Mullen area as a cow-puncher.

On December 21, 1898, Jessie married
Mary Alice Schwaberson. Mary was born on
January 24, 1883 in Kankakee, Illinois to
Herman and Minnie Schwaberson. Jessie and
Mary were the parents of 7 children - Alta,
Mabel, Violet, Sadie, Ethel, Earl and Pearl.

Jessie and Mary lived on ranches in the
sandhills of Nebraska for many years.

In March of 1900, Jessie and Mary took a
homestead on a piece of land in Cherry
County, Nebraska. This ranch had a natural
28 acre sandhill lake on it. The lake is called,
Speck Lake.

In 1912, Jessie and Mary s ld their ranch
and moved to Gordon, Nebraska where they
ran a hotel. In 1915 they moved to near
Scenic, South Dakota where they started
ranching again. Jessie ranched until he was
60 years old then sold out and started a little
grocery store by the White River 20 miles
south of Scenic, South Dakota.

Jessie Alexander Speck passed away on
March 19, 1941 at his home south of Scenic,
South Dakota. He was buried in the Moun-
tain View Cemetery at Rapid City, South
Dakota.

In 1953, Mary Speck wed Charles Rodgers.
Charles was born in 1868 in Henderson
County, Illinois to Albert and Jemima (Ste-
phenson) Rodgers. Jemima Rodgers later
married Cornelius Speck. Charles Rodgers
was a half brother of Jessie Speck.

On November 16, 1969, Charles Rogers
passed away at Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.
After his death, Mary made her home with
her daughters until she entered a retirement
home.

Mary passed away on January 2, 1978 at
age 95 in Rapid City, South Dakota and is
buried in Mountain View Cemetery at Rapid
City, South Dakota.