Robert H. Speck. The present postmaster of Vici, Oklahoma, is Robert H. Speck, a resident of the plare since 1902, and for years engaged in a mercantile enterprise until his appointment to his present position on September 14, 1914. Mr. Speck is a native of the State of Iowa, born in Wapello. Louisa County, on September 29, 1885. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Brown) Speck.

Henry Speck was born near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1837, and he died at Vici in April, 1914. He came of an old German family that had been identified with North Carolina for several generations, and he left his native state for Iowa when quite a young man. It was in Iowa he met and married his wife, who survives him. The family moved to Oklahoma in 1902 and bought a relinquished land claim of 160 acres, lying one-half mile west of the Town of Vici, and that acreage is still a part of the estate he left. Mr. Speck was all his life a farmer and stock man, and he enjoyed a good deal of success in his work. He came to Oklahoma when it was in the pioneer stage, and in the years of his activity in this vicinity he did his full share toward the development of the community. He was a lifelong democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a trustee for many years. To him and his wife were born four children. Elmer A. is the owner of the Vici Telephone Exchange. Dora married George S. Marshall and lives in Louisa County, Iowa, where Mr. Marshall is agent for the Overland Automobile Company. Rosetta married John H. Beard, and both are now deceased. The fourth child was Robert H., the subject of this review.

Robert Speck was reared on his father’s farm to the age of eighteen years, securing what education he might in attendance on the schools of the home community. When he was eighteen he branched out for himself, working independently of his father for two years. When the family moved to Oklahoma, in 1902, young Speck came with them, and in the years of 1905-6-7 he was associated with his brother in the mercantile business in the old Town of Vici. In 1908 Vici was wiped out by a cyclone. Mr. Speck did not join his brother in a new mercantile venture, but secured a position with a wholesale house and traveled for it for two years. In 1910 he once more joined his brother in business, and two years later they sold out to Cuberly Brothers, after which Mr. Sneek traveled for the Angldile Scales Company for two years, resigning his position on his appointment to the postmastership of Vici on September 14. 1914.

Mr. Speck is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Vici Camp No. 11310, and at one time was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, lie is the owner of considerable real estate in Vici, including the post office block, his own residence and some building lots in the town.

On September 28, 1910, Mr. Speck was married in Vici to Miss Jessie M. Schranling, daughter of D. J. Schranling, a prominent rancher of this community, living on his property four miles east of Vici. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Speck. Claudine E. was born August 4, 1911, and Daniel Woodrow was born on March 20, 1913.

It is perhaps unnecessary to add that Mr. Speck is a staunch democrat in his political faith.