BIOS: Josiah SPECHT, Quemahoning, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading 
Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, 
Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp 78-80.

  Josiah Specht, miller and merchant of Quemahoning, is one of the most 
wide-awake and enterprising business men of Somerset County.  He was 
born in Shade, Pa., November 24, 1848, a son of David and Elizabeth 
(Kimmel) Specht.
  Andrew Specht, his paternal grandfather, was a lifelong resident of 
the town of Shade, where he was the proprietor and successful manager 
of a good farm, and also the owner of a saw-mill, in which he 
manufactured large quantities of lumber.  He was a man of strict 
integrity and an active member of the Seventh Day Baptist church.  To 
him and his wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Pisel, seven children 
were born, of whom but one is living - Samuel, who married for his 
first wife Susan Kimmel.
  David Specht, the youngest child of Andrew and Rebecca Specht, was 
born February 13, 1819, in Shade, Pa., where during the major part of 
his life he was engaged in farming on the old homestead.  Coming to 
Somerset County in 1868, locating in the village of Spruce Town, in 
Quemahoning, and establishing a grist-mill and general store, he built 
up a large and profitable business, and at his death, February 24, 
1896, left to his family a good property.  He was identified with the 
Republican party, and served his fellow-townsmen in various public 
capacities.  He was also an active member of the Lutheran church, to 
which his widow belongs.  Mrs. Specht's maiden name was Elizabeth 
Kimmel.  She was born in Quemahoning township, April 24, 1824, daughter 
of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bender) Kimmel, and is now the only survivor of 
their eleven children.  She is the mother of four children, of whom 
these three are living - Hester, Franklin K., and Josiah.  Hester is 
the wife of Peirson Lohr, and has had twelve children, of whom six 
survive - Jane, David, Annie, Florence, James, and Joseph; Franklin K., 
who served in the late war in Company K of the Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy 
Artillery, married Mary, daughter of Noah Miller, and has four children 
- Charles E., Annie, James, and Jennie.
  Josiah Specht obtained a good common-school education in Shade and 
after leaving school learned the miller's trade of his father, with 
whom he remained until 1873, when his father's mill was burned.  Mr. 
Specht then built a grist-mill and started in business on his own 
account.  He succeeded far beyond his expectations, and in 1877 he 
erected a building for a store, which he stocked with general 
merchandise.  He has since carried on an extensive business as a miller 
and merchant.  In December, 1893, he was unfortunate enough to have his 
mill and store, with their entire contents, burned, entailing a loss of 
sixty-five thousand dollars, on which there was no insurance.  Nothing 
daunted, however, he began again the very next day by putting up a 
shanty for temporary use; and in 1894 he built a new grist-mill, which 
is fully equipped with all the modern appliances necessary for carrying 
on his milling operations.  In 1895 he completed his present commodious 
store, which is one of the finest in regard to its stock and 
appointments to be found in this part of the State.  He is now carrying 
on an extensive and remunerative business, and occupies an honored 
position among the foremost men of the county.  He is a stanch 
Republican in politics.  He has served as School Director, and is now 
one of the directors of the Somerset County National Bank.  Both he and 
his wife are working members of the Lutheran church.
  Mr. Specht was married September 28, 1870, to Josephine Zimmerman, 
daughter of Daniel Zimmerman and his wife, the latter formerly a Miss 
Shaffer.  Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Specht, and 
these are living, namely: William E., who married Willou M. Wagner, and 
has one child, Mary Josephine; Myrtle M., who is the wife of Ross H. 
Rininger, and has two children - Ellen J. and Meredith R.; Harvey H.; 
David E.; Bertram; and Donald.