Bio: Dr. Joseph W. Speight, Sabine Parish Louisiana

Source:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, The

Southern Publishing Company, 1890, Nashville and Chicago



Submitted by:  Thelma Shields

e-mail: shields@eufaula.lib.ok.us
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DR. JOSEPH W. SPEIGHT



Dr. Joseph W. Speight is a practicing physican and surgeon at Columbus, La.,

and is one of the very foremost of the professional men of Sabine Parish.  His

ability is acknowledged by his professional brethren, and to his skill and

talent the gratitude of hundreds is due.  He was born near where he lives in

1852, to Moses and Martha (Smith) Speight, their births occurring in Macon,

Ga. and Alabama, in 1812 and 1816 , respectively, their marriage being

consummated in the latter state.  About 1845 they emigrated to Louisiana, and

settled on a woodland farm, near where Columbus post office now is, here

spending the rest of their lives, the former dying in 1876, and the latter in

1863, she being a member of Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mr. Speight was for

many years a justice of the peace, was president of the police jury for a

number of years, and belonged to Little Flock Lodge No 180 of the A.F. and

A.M.. While a resident of Georgia, Joseph W. was the clerk of a county of that

state, a position to which he was elected at the age of seventeen years, and

he three times represented Henry County, Ala., in the State

Legislature.  Although he was left an orphan at an early day, he was a man of

much intelligence and possessed business qualities of a high order.  The

paternal grandfather, John Speight, was of German descent, and died in

Georgia, a planter.  The maternal grandfather Sion Smith, was also a planter,

and passed from life in Alabama.  The subject of this sketch was the youngest

of five sons and three daughters, four of which family are still living, and

he was reared on a farm, receiving a good academic education in Louisiana and

Texas.  In 1879 he began the study of medicine with Dr. S. H. Cade, and in

1883 graduated from the Alabama Medical College at Mobile, after a two years'

course.  He has since practiced in the neighborhood of his birthplace, his

patronage being very extended.  Nanne E., the daughter of John and Margaret

Godwin became his wife in 1887.  The father was born in Georgia, and the

mother in Claiborne Parish, La., the former moving from his native state to

Louisiana in 1838, and the following year to what is know as Sabine Parish. 

He and his wife are still living and since 1854 he has been postmaster of

Columbus.  Mrs. Speight was born on the farm on which she and the Doctor are

now living.  He is a member of Little Flock Lodge No. 180, of the A.F & A.M.,

and is secretary of Lodge No 130, of the Farmers' Alliance.  He is a Baptist

and his wife a Methodist.  The Doctor is the owner of 240 acres of fine land,

and the income from this, together with his practice amounts to a handsome sum

annually-$2,500.  Moses K. Speight, his brother, enlisted in the Confederate

Army, at the age of sixteen years, and made a brave soldier, and was in many

engagements, losing his left are at the battle of Port Republic.



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