BIOGRAPHIES - SPEAKES, William Hezekiah, Bourbon County, Kentucky From: Bob Francis http://www.shawhan.com Date: 07 Feb 2000 The biographies are taken primarily from William Perrin's "The History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky" and E. Polk Johnson's "The History of Kentucky and Kentuckians," Vol. III. Many Bourbon County, Kentucky, researchers have pointed out mistakes and they are notated. Name: William Hezekiah SPEAKES1 _________________________________________ Birth: July 31, 1831, Bourbon County, Kentucky Father: Hezekiah “Hez” SPEAKES (-1833) Mother: Ann GARRETT Spouses _________________________________________ 1: Nancy PALMER Birth: October 27, 1838 Father: Robert PALMER Mother: America CURRENT (1824-1914) Marriage: February 10, 1857 Children: John T. (1854-); Blanton (1876-1958); Harry (-1953); Ora F. (-1959); William E.; Louise; Mary Agnes (-1958); George W. H. SPEAKES,2 farmer; P. O. Paris; born July 31, 1831, in this county; son of Hezekiah and Ann (Garrett) Speakes. The grandfather of the above was named Hezekiah also; he was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to this county with Old Man Kiser, and located in this county at an early day, at a place since called Kiser Station. Hezekiah built a still-house here, which was among the first enterprises of the kind in the county, and remained here until his death, which occurred in 1835; he married Ellen Tucker, and by her had three children: John, Hezekiah, and William—called “Jack,” “Hez,” and “Will.” But one of these survived-”Hez,” the father of our subject, who married Ann Garrett, and by her had also three children, named Jack, Hez, and Will. The great-grandfather of W. H. was named Hezekiah; he had three sons, whom he named “Jack,” “Hez,” and “Will.” The one ramed Hezekiah was the grandfather of W. H.; who had three sons, whom he named “Jack,” “Hez,” and “Will.” Four generations named Hezekiah, each having three sons, each set having the same names, with this difference—the first Hezekiah down to the third had but three sons, but raised but one of them, Hezekiah being the surviving one; W. Hezekiah, our subject, being the fourth in regular descent, but had twelve born, but carried the family name down, naming three of them “Jack,” “Hez,”arid “Will;” but in his case, “Hez” did not survive. Our subject was left fatherless at the age of two years; his father dying of cholera, in 1833. Our subject began life upon his own resources in his early manhood, learned the mysteries of distilling, and for seventeen years had charge of a distillery, and became proficient in the art. Feb. 10, 1857, he married Nancy Palmer; born Oct. 27, 1838; daughter of Thomas Palmer and Judith Collins. The Palmer family are descendants of one Joseph Palmer, a Revolutionary soldier of seven years service; his son, Robert, was born in Bryant’s Station, in 1793, who was the grandfather of Mrs. Speakes. Mr. Speakes has 300 acres of land. Children living are : John, Lou, Ellen, William, Lucy, George, Joseph, Blanton, Odella, and Ora. Sources 1. The primary information for this family line was given by permission from Linda Combs Gipson.—REF September 15, 1999 2. Perrin, p. 491 ------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.