Speed - John
Source: HW Beckwith History of Montgomery County, Indiana (1888 Publication date), p 211
He was born Pertshire, Scotland 1801 married Margaret Baxter. He came to Philadelphia in a codfish schooner. Speed was a stone cutter and worked awhile in Norfolk & Washington, even expending labor on the stone steps of the capital. Having heard a new state house was to be erected in Indiana, he started there and arrived in 1834 but was disappointed that he did not obtain work in Indianapolis. He wandered throughout the state and decided to make his home in our little city, bringing his family here and settling in. Soon, he heard a new state house was being built in NC, so he walked to Raleigh, via the Cumberland Gap.
He supervised the construction of the building's edifice and planned and patented an unusual stair for the capital. After the work was completed, he hiked back to Crawfordsville.
In politics, Mr. Speed was a radical Jackson Democrat, then an intense abolitionist, alter a Whig and finally a Republican. He became fairly well - known as a harborer for those on the underground railroad, having hidden many slaves in the garret of his home. At one time, there were so many "extras" that he bought 25 cents worth of bread then sent his children throughout the town buying small amounts of food until he could finally feed the slaves and send them on their way.
Speed and Margaret had a daughter, Margaret born in England and Cecelia, Frank, Sidney and Robert Bruce. Sidney attended Wabash College, married a woman by his mother's name and somewhat followed his father's trade. He also served in the Civil War, fighting his father's cause against slavery.
Source: 1860 Census Crawfordsville #23 - John Speed 59 $500/2500 Scotland Margaret 57 Scotland Sidney 14 b Indiana Bruce 11 b. Indiana. Cecelia V. Speed marr. John W. McDonald 12 - 28 - 1859 Bk 5 p 325 John J. Speed m. Miriam Hawkins 4 - 17 - 1839 Bk 2 pg 67 Margaret A. Speed m. Jesse W. Cumberland 1 - 30 - 1849 Bk 3 p 133. 1870 Census Crawfordsville #38 Stonemason 68 $1200/1500 b. Scotland Margaret 67 Scotland Sidney 22 Boot/shoe Ind McDonald, Ceclia 30 "Literary" b. Ill.
Source: Bowen, A.W. History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: A.W. Bowen, 1913, pg 475
John Speed - On Sept 4, 1865 the result of the election was John Speed for councilman one vote. (NOTE: he turned around 3 years later and won the mayorship of Crawfordsville)