On 20 Sept. 1847, a ship that had been aptly christened the S.S. Emigrant cruised into New York Harbor. Among the passengers of the Emigrant, which had departed from Bremen, Germany, was the Spieker family: Geerd Campen Spieker, age 33, his wife Achtje (or Aagtje), 24, and their sons Casten, 3, and Campen, who was less than three weeks shy of his second birthday. Like so many Germans in the mid- to late 19th century, the Spiekers had come to America seeking a better life and freedom of religion.
Once in America, they Americanized the spellings of their names. “Geerd Campen Spieker” became Gart or Garrett Speaker. His younger son Campen became Campe or Camp Speaker. The Speakers settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Gart died in 1854. In 1863, Geerd’s son Campe — Campen Geerds Spieker or Campe G. Speaker (1845-1916) moved to Pekin, where his mother’s brother Habbe Velde (1832-1927) had settled. Upon his arrival in Pekin, Campe began work as a blacksmith in the employ of Teis Smith’s Pekin Wagon Works.
Campe had arrived in Pekin during the Civil War, and in the late spring of 1864 he stepped forward to fight for his adopted country, being sponsored by Teis Smith’s younger brother D. C. Smith to enlist in the Union Army. Campe signed up for 100 days of service on 5 May 1864 with the 139th Illinois Infantry, Co. C, at the rank of Private. He was mustered in at Peoria 1 June 1864 and served in Southern Illinois and Missouri for a few months, then was mustered out in Peoria 28 Oct. 1864. Two years after the war, Campe was naturalized as a U.S. citizen on 5 Nov. 1866, his citizenship between sponsored by Habbe Velde and D. C. Smith as witnesses.
Returned to Pekin, Campe went into a three-year apprenticeship as a carriage-maker at the Pekin Wagon Works. From there he advanced in the company until by 1882 he was given complete charge of the business. After two years, however, Campe retired from wagon making and instead opened a grocery and provisions store at 307 Margaret Street. He continued to operate his grocery store there until the mid-1890s, when he retired altogether, living out his final years at his home at 804 N. Fourth St. with his wife Katherine “Katy” (Albertsen) Speaker (1850-1938), sister of prominent Pekin businessman Ubbo Janssen Albertsen.
Though Campe had experienced great success in business, childhood disease brought Campe and Katy sorrow and grief. Campe and Katy, who married in Pekin on 10 Jan. 1872, had four children together, but all but one them died in infancy or childhood, including their daughters Caroline Adelheid (1872-1876) and Clara Johannas (1881-1884). Their son, Campe George Speaker (1885-1904), succumbed to diphtheria aged only 18 or 19. Thus, Campe and Katy have no living descendants. Campe Speaker’s house on North Fourth Street survived until the 1940s and a different home (today numbered as 806 N. Fourth Street) was built in its place.
A sketch of Campe Speaker’s life and career was included in “Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties” (1894), pages 702-703, and is transcribed here:
“CAMP SPEAKER. A man’s life work is the measure of his success, and judged by this standard Mr. Speaker may be called a most successful man, for through his own exertions he has attained a prominent position among the business men of Pekin. He is a native of Germany having been born in Ostfriesland, October 5, 1846. His father, Gart Speaker, a native of the same place as himself, was a shoemaker by trade. In 1847 he brought the family to the United States, and located in Kenosha, Wis., where he was employed at his trade. His death occurred some time during the ’50s. His wife, who died in Wisconsin, was a sister of Habbe Velde . . . .
“Our subject is the second in order of birth among three children. He was reared in Kenosha, and coming to Illinois was employed on a farm near Antioch. In 1863 he came to Pekin, and worked at the blacksmith’s trade in the employ of T. & H. Smith Co. Though only in his teens at the time of the Civil War, his enthusiasm was kindled in behalf of the Union, and in the spring of 1864 he volunteered in the service, becoming a member of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry. The company was mustered into service at Peoria, and thence proceeded to Paducah Station at Cairo. In the fall of 1864 they were ordered to Missouri in pursuit of Price’s army, but as that General had transferred his soldiers to other quarters before the arrival of the Union troops, the latter returned to Peoria. In September, 1864, they were mustered out of the service and honorably discharged.
“Upon returning to Pekin Mr. Speaker served a three years’ apprenticeship at the carriage-maker’s trade in the shops of the T. & H. Smith Co. He continued in the employ of that firm until 1884, meantime occupying various positions of importance. In 1868 he became foreman of the wood department, and as such continued until 1876, after which he engaged in the manufacture of wagons. The capacity of the works was about one hundred wagons per week, and employment was given to one hundred or more men. From 1882 until 1884 Mr. Speaker had entire charge of the business, but during the latter year he embarked in the grocery and provision business, and has since carried on a lucrative trade in that line. He occupies three floors in the Smith Row, 22×95 feet in dimensions, and is numbered among the successful grocers of the place.
“In 1872 Mr. Speaker was united in marriage with Miss Kate Albertson, a native of Germany. Four children were born of that union, of whom the only survivor is Campe George. Socially Mr. Speaker holds membership with the Knights of Honor and the Mutual Aid of Workmen, and aided in the organization of the latter society. He is a charter member of the Bay State Beneficiary Association, and is serving as one of the Councilmen. In his religious belief he is identified with the German Methodist Episcopal Church. He believes in the principles laid down by the Republican party, and therefore votes the straight ticket. As a business man he has been very successful, and his prosperity is the result of his unaided exertions. A liberal and public-spirited citizen, he is always ready to contribute of his time and means for the advancement of the enterprises calculated to promote the welfare of the people.”
Campe died at his home the night of 21 Jan. 1916. Having caught influenza about a week and a half prior, Campe’s heart troubles prevented him from recovering. He is buried in Lakeside Cemetery near his children who had predeceased him. His widow Katy survived him by 22 years. The Pekin Daily Times published his obituary the day after his death, 22 Jan. 1916, on page 8. Most of the biographical information in his obituary is reproduced almost verbatim from the above 1894 biographical sketch, which is therefore omitted from the partial transcription of his obituary here:
CAMP SPEAKER, WAR VETERAN, ANSWERS FINAL ROLL CALL
PASSED AWAY AT 10:30 LAST NIGHT OF HEART TROUBLE
Was Born in Germany But Came to This Country When a Small Boy . . .
Another of the veterans of the ’65, who fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War, has answered the final roll call. Camp Speaker died last night at his home, 804 North Fourth Street.
He had been ill with the grip for a week or so, but the immediate cause of his death was heart trouble. He had been sitting up last night, and shortly after 10 o’clock expressed the desire to go to bed. He was laid down, and immediately was taken with a severe spell of heart trouble, and died a short time later. . . .
In 1872, Mr. Speaker with united in marriage with Miss Kate Albertsen, a native of Germany. Four children were born to the union, but all are now deceased. The last surviving son, Camp Speaker, jr., died of diphtheria twelve years ago. As a business man he was very successful, and his prosperity was the result of his unaided exertions.
The funeral will be held at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon from the late home.
