Bio: Speich, George (Stolen Car - 1926)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Speich, St. Ilwell, Arbs

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) (28 Jan 1926)

Speich, George (Stolen Car - 20 JAN 1926)

Last Wednesday afternoon three young men from Neillsville came to Greenwood and got themselves in trouble.

Two of them entered the Speich garage, and after asking several question, one of them left by way of the front door, while the other went out the back door and jumped into a Ford coupe belonging to Mr. Speich.

Howard St. Ilwell, employed at the garage, noticed the car pass by the window and remarked that it looked very much like Mr. Speich's car. Upon going to the back of the garage the car was missing.

George at once telephoned Mr. Arbs, who rushed to the garage, picked up George and the two gave chase.

They overtook the stolen car at the Imig farm, 3 miles north of Neillsville, and forced the driver to stop, by stopping their car across the road in front of him. Word had been sent to Neillsville and the sheriff was also on the scene at about the same time that Speich and Arbs arrived.

Only one of the young men were in the car, the other two being ahead in another car. The sheriff took him to Neillsville and later in the evening the other two men were also picked up.

The Speich car was brought back to Greenwood. The left fender was somewhat bent when the driver hit the Arbs car when he was forced to stop.

***************************************************************************

Obit: Speich, George W. (1893 – 1979)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Speich, Houston, Beyer, Pope, Ludwig

----Source: TRG (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 10 Jan 1979

Speich, George W. (6 Apr 1893 – 2 Jan 1979)

George W. Speich, age 85, died Tuesday, January 2, 1979 at Memorial Hospital, Neillsville. Services were held Friday, January 5 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Robert B. Houston officiating.

Mr. Speich was born April 6, 1893 at Monroe, Wisconsin. He moved to Greenwood with his parents in 1905. He spent most of his life in the Greenwood area. He was educated in Monroe and Greenwood schools. He married Barbara Beyer of Unity on November 6, 1923, and they farmed in the area for several years. He became sub-agent for Braun Auto Sales at Loyal in 1921. He started a garage business in Greenwood in 1924, as Ford agent and implement dealer. He retired in January 1951, when his son Kenneth took over the business.

Mr. Speich served two terms on the City Council, and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Greenwood.

He is survived by his wife, one son, Kenneth, of Greenwood, and a daughter, Carol (Mrs. David Pope) of New Orleans, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Rose Ludwig, Greenwood.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and seven brothers.

Pallbearers were all nephews, Elmer, John D., William, Robert, Gary and Donald Speich. (He was buried in Greenwood St. Mary’s Cemetery)

Rink Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.