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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Prof. Bernard J. Specking, the present principal of the public schools of Washington, Mo., is a native of Westphalia, Germany. He was born on the 24th of April, in the year 1852, in the town of Coesfeld, near Munster, and is the son of Anton and Catharine (Graes) Specking. His father was born in 1820, and was a shoemaker by trade. He came to the United States in 1855, and located in St. Louis County, Mo., about four miles north of Kirkwood. His mother was born in the town of Coesfeld, in 1827, and lived there until she came with her husband to America. Not long after their arrival in this land of promise their hopes were blasted by the untimely hand of death, which snatched from their midst the beloved husband and father. Left in a strange country, without home and friends, the poor widow almost despaired of making a living for herself and two little children. In these circumstances she accepted an offer of marriage from Frank Heimann, a former friend of her husband, and the only person who aided her in those dark days of bereavement and poverty. Mr. Heimann was a farmer, and so the subject of our present sketch grew to manhood on the farm, receiving the rudiments of an education in the public schools, which he attended for about four years. Afterward he attended the Catholic schools for two years, making his first communion in the parish church near Kirkwood. In 1870 his stepfather moved to Franklin County, where he purchased a farm, adjoining the city of Washington. Here Mr. Specking attended the public schools for a year, and then, through the kindness of his teacher, Prof. Amos P. Foster, secured, the next fall, a position as teacher in a public school near Berger, Mo. Taking the money thus earned, he attended the State Normal School, at Kirksville, for a year, and then taught at Old Mines, in Washington County, the following year. His stepfather failing in health, Mr. Specking next took charge of the farm, in 1876, and the following year, having earned the necessary money, he again attended the Normal School, at Kirksville. His stepfather having died in the summer of 1878, he took charge of the farm for a second time, and also secured a position as teacher in the Campbellton public school. He now farmed during the summer and taught during the winter. The people at Campbellton liked him so well that he was re-employed for four successive years. At the close of this time he returned to St. Louis County, the home of his childhood and youth, and there taught at Bellefontaine for a year. Mr. Specking now determined to make teaching his profession for life, and therefore concluded that it would be best to finish his professional education. Accordingly, in the fall of 1883, he entered the State Normal School, at Warrensburg, Mo., and in the spring of 1884 graduated at the head of his class from the full course of four years, with the degree of Bachelor of Scientific Didactics. Having passed a satisfactory examination in all the branches required by law for a State certificate, he received this in addition to the Normal Diploma. Prof. O. C. Hill, having resigned his position as principal of the Oregon Normal School, Prof. Specking was elected his successor, in the fall of 1884. This position he filled for two years, to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, and thereby established his reputation as one of the foremost educators of Missouri. In the summer of 1886 he returned to Franklin County, and there set on foot a movement which resulted in the establishment of the Washington High School, but failing to receive the appointment of principal for said school, he was induced to accept the principalship of the public schools, the position which he fills at present. Prof. Specking was married on June 3, 1886, to Miss Anna Comer, a native of Oregon, Holt Co., Mo. The result of this union was the birth of one child, Bernard. At present Prof. Specking is devoting his leisure time to the study of microscopy, in which he has already made considerable advancement. In his political views he is very conservative, voting for principle and not for party.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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