----Source: GREENWOOD GLEANER (Greenwood, Wis.) 02/24/1916

Speich, Ben (22 MAR 1894 - 16 Feb 1916)

The sudden news of the death of Ben Speich came late Wednesday afternoon of last week, as a sever shock to relatives and friends of the deceased. His early demise came by his own hands, having inflicted three gun shot wounds in his person, two taking effect in his head and the other below the heart. There was no apparent cause for his act and all are at a loss to know why he pursued such a course.

Deceased had been foreman on the Haskell Withee farm, three miles east of Owen, Clark County, Wis., the past two years and was an ambitious, hardworking young man of good character and morals. His services as foreman were regarded as not dispensable on account of his efficiency in that capacity.

In speaking of the sorrowful event the Owen Enterprise says: "Speich came to town early Wednesday morning and went to Rawson & Greibnow store to purchase shells. He said that he wanted them to shoot a dog which had been bothering him. He showed the revolver for which he wanted the shells and secured the right ones. The gun was old and rusty and in poor shape. He bought a box of shells and two batteries and then left for home. He did not enter the house after coming from town and his body was not discovered until Mr. Withee went to the barn to call him to dinner."

Deceased was born in Green County, Wis., Mar. 22, 1894, a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Speich, and removed to this city in the fall of 1905 with his parents. He attended the public city school and later went to Montana, where he farmed, previous to going to the Withee place near Owen.

The body was brought here Friday and funeral services held Sunday from the German Reformed Church, Rev. Otto Saewert officiating, and burial was made in the Greenwood Cemetery. Deceased was a member of the F.R.A. and K.O.T.M. lodges. Besides his parents he leaves seven brothers and three sisters to mourn his departure.