John Speed

Photograph of John and Margaret Speed. Courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society

John Allen Speed was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1801, immigrated to the United States in 1823, settling initially in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, followed by his wife, Margaret, and their eldest daughter a year later. As a skilled stone cutter, Speed travelled the nation for work, as he contributed to public buildings in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., including the stone steps of the United States Capitol and the east steps of the White House. In 1834, Speed relocated his family to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where they purchased land and gradually expanded their home. Speed established a marble business on North Green Street and became a respected member of the community. Aside from his successful career in masonry, the Speed family continually showed support for the local African American community, as he helped procure the land for the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church. The Speeds extended their aid to freedom seekers who travelled North to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Committed to public service, Speed entered the local political realm as he served as Crawfordsville’s second mayor from 1868-1869. After his term as mayor, Speed remained dedicated to his local community until his death on January 1, 1873, leaving behind a legacy of public service and dedication to moral action during tumultuous times.

Primary:
- Speed, Sidney. Letter to W.H. Siebert, Esq., 1892. (Courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society Files).

Secondary:
- Beckwith, H.W. History of Montgomery County, Together with Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, Private and Official Correspondence, and Other Authentic, Though, for the Most Part, Out-of-the-Way Sources. Chicago, IL.: H.H. Hill and N. Iddings, Publishers, 1881. (Courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society Files)

Cadwallader, Charles. “Decaying Shack Is Relic Of Underground Railway.” Crawfordsville Journal and Review. Wednesday, October, 21, 1931. (Courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society Files)

Cline, Pat. “Cabin Testimony of Pioneer Days.” Montgomery Magazine, November 1985. (Courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society Reference Library).

Zach, Karen Bazzani. “Immigration–Emigrattion.” Crawfordsville: Athens of Indiana. Charleston, SC.: Arcadia Publishing, Inc., 2003. (Courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society Reference Library).