Biography of Otho Speelman File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tom Speelman. tomspeelman@email.msn.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations.
_________________________________________________________________________ Although the below biography is on someone who was at the time living in Garrett County, his parents moved there when it was still part of Allegany County and there are strong ties to many other Speelmans who lived in Allegany County. Regards to all. Tom Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record of the Sixth Congressional District - Maryland" ; Chapman Publishing Co.; New York & Chicago 1898; page 392. Copy located in the Allegany County Library. " Otho Speelman has been one of the representative farmers of Selbysport District, Garrett County, for nearly half a century, and has been a witness of vast improvements and changes for the better in this locality. He has himself aided in the development of this neighborhood, and has been actively interested in all things relating to its welfare. He has ever been foremost in all progressive movements. The great-grandfather of our subject was Sylvester Speelman, a native of Germany. His son David, likewise born in the Fatherland, removed to the United States in his early manhood, and from that time until his death lived near Cumberland, MD. The parents of Otho Speelman are J. Peter and Sarah (Myers) Speelman, both deceased. The father, who was born in Allegany Co, MD, lived not far distant from Frostburg up to 1850, when he came to Selbysport. He bought the farm which his son Otho is now conducting, and in time became one of the foremost agriculturalists of this region. He was very successful in his business ventures and kept investing in land, until he was the owner of about sixteen hundred acres in this county. Politically he was a Whig in early life, but later allied himself iwth the Democratic Party. He was summoned to his reward at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. His wife died when she was in her sixty-seventh year. Of their eight children only two are now living, namely Otho and Julia, the latter the wife of Daniel Frazee. The birth of Otho Speelman took place upon the parental homestead near Frostburg in 1832, and he was consequently about eighteen years old when he accompanied the family in their removal to this county in 1850. He early learned everything pertaining to farming, and after his father's death he inherited the old homestead, where he has since dwelt. In 1854 he rebuilt a mill which stood upon his place, and has operated the same more or less ever since. He owns about two hundred eighty acres of well-improved land, and raises a full line of crops commonly grown in this section of the state. Following his father's example in the matter of politics, he is an advocate of the Democratic party principles. He holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and during the past seven years has been a steward and trustee. The first marriage of Mr. Speelman was celebrated in 1859, when Miss Caroline Mitchell, daughter of Andrew Mitchell, became his bride. She died in 1865, leaving one son, A.G. In 1869 Mr. Speelman married Mrs. Mary E. Van Horn, nee Liston, and their two children are Norval and Ellan. The son, Norval, after completing his preliminary education in the public and normal schools of this county, attended Mount union College, of Mount Union (near Alliance), Ohio, and was graduated from the law department of the University of West Virginia, at Morgantown, in 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He contemplates locating in Garrett County for the practice of his chosen profession. He is an able and talented yound man, and has already become quite an influential factor in the local Democracy. He has been sent as a delegate to local and county conventions, and was present in that capacity in the convention at Oakland in 1895." Submitted by Tom Speelman tomspeelman@email.msn.com