Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
SPECHT, John Sr.
SPECHT, John Sr. (Byron, Germany, 1807--Dubuque County, Oct. 24, 1866). John Specht III arrived in the United States in 1832. He remained in New York City a short time and then moved to Dubuque where he built the first frame house in town. (1) He lived there working as a carpenter. (2)
In 1848 Specht moved to Peru Township and purchased 1,300 acres of land and settled down. He lived there the rest of his life. Around 1851 Specht purchased a ferry that had been operated by Hiram Wells since 1838. The boat ran daily between Wells Landing (renamed Specht's Landing) to Potosi Landing in Wisconsin. Cargoes included farmers and their produce, Wisconsin brewers and their beer and loads of fish caught commercially. (3)_
Upon his death, he left in his estate 1,300 acres of land in Iowa, land in Minnesota, and the only ferry to operate between Specht's Ferry, Potosi, and Dubuque. (4) John had help during his life from his sons, Edward and Werner. Edward moved to Minnesota so the land was divided among his children and the ferry became the property of his widow and Werner. In 1860 the river road became the right-of-way for the Milwaukee Railroad and the Specht's stone house which had also served as a hotel, restaurant and bar became a railroad station. (5)
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Source:
1. Swenson, Jim, "Changing Times, Telegraph Herald, July 15, 2018, p. 31
2. Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1894, p. 145
3. Swenson
4. Portrait and Biographical...
5. Swenson