Lucas Speaker, Potter, and His Sons, Lucas and Frederick Speaker from Brunersburg

 In 2016, I posted about the Speaker Pottery in Brunersburg, Ohio .

No one ever came forth with an example of this pottery, but it was made very early in the history of the county.  The potter and his family have an interesting story, as well.

An example of pottery from 1840

Paulus Lukecas Speaker immigrated from Baden, Germany, in 1832, To Buffalo, NY, with his wife, Mary.  At some point, after arriving and settllng south of Brunersburg in Section 15 along the Tiffin River, he began using the abundant river clay and water to begin his pottery business.

Unlike some of the large pottery businesses that formed in southern Ohio, such as Weller, Rockwood, and McCoy, Lucas Speaker's pottery was most likely very important locally for utilitarian items for the settlers.  When he arrived, he came into what was then Williams County and he appeared in the 1840 census. 

By the 1850 census, he was in the "new" Defiance County, living on his farm in Noble Township with his wife and three of his children.  He described himself as a potter with real estate valued at $500. Others have reported that he had older children, but those living at home in 1850 were Josephine, 20; Lucas, 18, farming; and Frederick, 13.

The senior Lucas Speaker, born October 18, 1788 in Baden, Germany, died in America on November 9, 1854.  His brief obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on November 18, 1854:

"Died in Brunersburgh, on Thursday, 9th inst., Lucas Speaker, aged 67 years.

He was buried in Brunersburg Cemetery.

That seemed to be the end of the pottery business.  HIs sons, Lucas and Frederick identified themselves as farmers in subsequent censuses.

After her husband's death, Mary moved in with her son, Lucas, and was enumerated with him in the 1860 census.  Luke, 30, single, farmed and with him were Mary, 64, and two little girls, Clara Jane, 5, and Mary E., 2. It seemed likely that these children were relation in some way, perhaps taken in by their grandmother, but the relationship is unknown currently. By the 1870 census, it was just Lucas, 40, and his mother, Mary, 76, living on the farm. His real estate was valued at $3500.

Mary Speaker died at her home on March 29, 1871.  Her short obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on April 8, 1871:

Mrs. Speaker.  Died at her residence near Brunersburg, March 29, Mrs. Speaker, aged 71 years.

She was buried with her husband in Brunersburg Cemetery.  It appeared new stones have been placed for both.

It would appear that Lucas Speaker (Jr.) never married.  He was enumerated alone in the 1880 census in Noble Township.  At 51, he described himself as a retired farmer.  

He had scarlet fever in 1889, as reported by the newspaper, and by January, 1890, a nephew and his bride had moved in with Lucas.  The Defiance County Republican Express reported that Charles Speaker and his bride, nee Kuhn, had moved into the house.

The couple stayed there and were enumerated in 1900 as living with Lucas Speaker, uncle, 69. Charles Speaker was noted as head of household (born April 1867), 33.  His wife, Ella, 30 and 6 year old daughter, Emma, completed the home.

In 1910, he lived with John F. and Ella Dowe, his niece and their six children.  By that time, Lucas was 78 and he still owned the farm, free and clear of any mortgage.

He died in February, 1911, and the Defiance Democrat ran his obituary on February 4:

"Lucas Speaker, uncle of John Dowe, died Saturday afternoon.  For the past five years, the deceased, who is unmarried, has been living at the Dowe home. The funeral of Lucius Speaker was held at 1:30 this afternoon in Brunersburg.  Buried in Brunersburg Cemetery.

The obituary of Lucas's brother, Frederick, who died in December, 1907, gave more information on the Speaker family:

"Obituary: Frederick Speaker, son of Lucas and Mary Speaker, who settled in Defiance county in 1832 was born in Buffalo, N. Y., 1832.  He lived with his parents near Brunersburg on the farm until a young man when he learned the harnessmakers trade at Defiance with John Kiser where he remained until the war of 1861 when he enlisted in company F, 48th regiment O.V.I. and remained there until the spring of 1866. He was in 16 battles, among them Shiloh, Cornith, Vicksburg, and Red River when he was taken prisoner and taken to Texas where he remained for six months. 

In the year of 1867, he was married to Catherine Webb who lived with her parents on the farm one mile above Brunersburg where they lived until a few years when they moved to Brunersburg where he died Dec. 7, 1907.  His age being 75 years, 1 month, 14 days.

They reared a family of four children being Charles, Hanna, Alva and Luke.  An elegant sermon was preached by Rev. Lance of Defiance after which funeral ceremonies were taken in charge by the G.A.R. encampment of Defiance.  The pall bearers were Peter Dickman, John B. Houtz, Adam Hall, J. J. Osborn, James Corbit and Obediah Partee."