Beckham County, OK - Obits: William Speis, 1929 Wednesday, July 16, 2003 Submitted by: sayrepl1@sayre.lib.ok.us (Stacy Akins) ************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************** SPEIS, WILLIAM B. 29 Jul 1849 D. 03 Jan 1929 Carter Cemetery H/O Kathryne (Shaefer) Clifner The lives of some men are an atmosphere into which we cannot enter without feeling braced and invigorated. Such was the life of William Spies possessing as it did the attributes of real man- hood, unswerving allegiance to right and a human tenderness. He was born in Germany in 1846 came to America with his parents when a boy. They settled in Chicago and lived there at the time of the Great fire in 1871, at which time he lost all trace of his family. He was married to Mrs. Kate Cliftner in 1871, to which union was born one daugh- ter, Mrs. Robertson, of Carter, with whom he has made his home for several years. Besides this daughter he leaves one step- daughter, Mrs. Green and one stepson, Charles Cliftner, and a host of friends to mourn his go- ing. He came to Oklahoma it 1899 and settled near Doxey, where he lived until that town was opened in 1902, when he moved there and went into busi- ness. When Carter townsite was laid out he moved his dwell- ing and business house here and was one of the leading citizens of the town and community. "Daddy" as he was affectionate- ly called by all who knew him was one of the best men, a fath- er not only to his own daughter and step children, but to all who knew him. He was a member of the Lutheran church and a char- ter member of the Carter ma- sonic Lodge. This good man passed quietly to his reward January 3rd at his home at Carter. Funeral servi- ces were conducted at the Metho- dist church Friday at 3 p. m. by Rev. C. C. Williamson, the pas- tor, and the burial was in the Carter cemetery under the aus- pices of the Masonic lodge. His was a character singularly unselfish and pure. Nature en- dowed him with a vigorous body, a character simple, honest and grand, a generous, enthusi- astic heart and a symmetrical and highly gifted mind, while grace developed both heart and mind. Carter Express 11 Jan 1929 Mr. Spies died at this home at Car- ter, Okla., January 3, 1929. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church at 2:00 p. m., Rev. Williams officiating. Interment was made in Carter Cemetery. Gentry-Killough, di- rectors, in charge. Elk City Daily 10 Jan 1929