Robert Goodloe Harper Speed, for many years prominent in the business and political life of the city, and a member of the first class to graduate from Cornell University, died at 3:50 o’clock yesterday afternoon at his home, 911 East State Street, after an illness of nearly two years’ duration. He was in his 80th year.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon from his late home. Rev. Henry P. Horton, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, will officiate. Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery.
Robert Goodloe Speed was born at Harper Spring Farm in the Town of Caroline on July 6, 1845, the son of James Richard Speed and Frances Cuthbert Peters. His grandparents, Dr. Joseph Speed and Mary Goodloe Harper were pioneer settlers in the town, having come from Mecklenburg County, Virginia, in 1805. He was also a great nephew of Mrs. Simeon DeWitt, wife of the founder of Ithaca.
Mr. Speed was named by his grandmother for her brother, General Robert Goodloe Harper, member of Congress from South Carolina, a writer and prominent Southerner. Old residents of Caroline used to tell how General Harper drove up from Baltimore with coach and four, with outriders and colored attendants to visit his sisters.
Mr. Speed’s father, who had studied law with Judge Dana in Ithaca, returned to take charge of the homestead in Caroline, and here his son Robert spent his boyhood, and began his studies with the help of a private teacher. Later he attended the district school and proved to be a keen competitor in the spelling bees which were held between the different schools in the locality.
When Mr. Speed was eight years old his father was killed by lightning, and from this time on Robert helped his mother shoulder the responsibilities of the family.
He prepared for college at the Homer Academy where he graduated in the classical course, in 1867, receiving one of the two highest honors conferred upon members of the class.
Mr. Speed entered Cornell at the opening of the university in 1868 and graduated with the class of 1871, receiving the degree of Ph.B. and a diploma in Military Science. He was one of six chosen to deliver orations on the commencement stage. He had been class secretary ever since, and for years had the reputation of having more children who graduated from Cornell than any other alumnus - two sons and two daughters. A grandson, John Harper Speed, also graduated in 1923. He was a member of the Association of Class Secretaries and for a number of years one of the directors of the Associate Alumni.
He was always keenly interested in Cornell affairs, and was at one time nominated for the alumni trusteeship.
During his university course Mr. Speed had built up a thriving industry in butter and cheese making which furnished a source of revenue with which to pay his expenses. This business he continued for about 20 years, at the same time engaging in agriculture, fire, insurance, ad other business, living near the village of Slaterville. In 1900 he ecame a resident of Ithaca.
For over 20 years Mr. Speed was connected with the Tompkins County Cooperative Fire Insurance Company of which he was president for a large part of that period. The company began as the Tompkins County Company, and grew until it extended over the entire state outside of New York City. He retired during the summer of 1919 from active business.
One of Mr. Speed’s greatest interests has always been in the development of the educational system. Only a few months after his graduation from the university he was elected school commissioner of the second district of Tompkins County, and held the office for six years having about 100 county schools under his supervision. In 1909 he was elected a member of the Board of Education in this city and served for six years until his resignation in 1915.
Mr. Speed was for nine years a justice of the peace and was a member of the Board of Supervisors from the town of Caroline from 1884 - 1887.
He had always been largely interested in agriculture, was a member of the grange, and for two terms master of the county organization. It was largely through his efforts that the Tompkins County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which had lost its grounds and property through adverse conditions, was reorganized into a stock company and gained a clear title to its grounds. He was a pioneer in the movement for agricultural cooperation.
Mr. Speed was chief organizer of the Caroline Town Insurance Company.
He also helped to organize the Caroline Masonic Lodge as a branch of the Speedsville Lodge, and served as secretary for 15 years, and as Master for several years. In 1873 he joined the Eagle chapter of the Royal Arch Masons in this city and retained his membership through life, being the oldest member.
On October 29, 1872, he married Miss Romelia Van Pelt, daughter of L.D. Van Pelt of Dryden, who survives him. He leaves also two sons, Robert L. Speed of Slaterville Springs, and L.D. Speed of Detroit, Michigan; three daughters, Miss Bessie F. Speed, Mrs. J.E. Mount and Miss Emma R. Speed all of this city, a sister, Miss Sallie Peters Speed of Ithaca, a brother, Henry Linn Speed of Slaterville Springs, and four grandchildren.
For the full obituary, see Ithaca Journal-News, Wednesday Evening, January 28, 1925, page 5
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon from his late home. Rev. Henry P. Horton, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, will officiate. Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery.
Robert Goodloe Speed was born at Harper Spring Farm in the Town of Caroline on July 6, 1845, the son of James Richard Speed and Frances Cuthbert Peters. His grandparents, Dr. Joseph Speed and Mary Goodloe Harper were pioneer settlers in the town, having come from Mecklenburg County, Virginia, in 1805. He was also a great nephew of Mrs. Simeon DeWitt, wife of the founder of Ithaca.
Mr. Speed was named by his grandmother for her brother, General Robert Goodloe Harper, member of Congress from South Carolina, a writer and prominent Southerner. Old residents of Caroline used to tell how General Harper drove up from Baltimore with coach and four, with outriders and colored attendants to visit his sisters.
Mr. Speed’s father, who had studied law with Judge Dana in Ithaca, returned to take charge of the homestead in Caroline, and here his son Robert spent his boyhood, and began his studies with the help of a private teacher. Later he attended the district school and proved to be a keen competitor in the spelling bees which were held between the different schools in the locality.
When Mr. Speed was eight years old his father was killed by lightning, and from this time on Robert helped his mother shoulder the responsibilities of the family.
He prepared for college at the Homer Academy where he graduated in the classical course, in 1867, receiving one of the two highest honors conferred upon members of the class.
Mr. Speed entered Cornell at the opening of the university in 1868 and graduated with the class of 1871, receiving the degree of Ph.B. and a diploma in Military Science. He was one of six chosen to deliver orations on the commencement stage. He had been class secretary ever since, and for years had the reputation of having more children who graduated from Cornell than any other alumnus - two sons and two daughters. A grandson, John Harper Speed, also graduated in 1923. He was a member of the Association of Class Secretaries and for a number of years one of the directors of the Associate Alumni.
He was always keenly interested in Cornell affairs, and was at one time nominated for the alumni trusteeship.
During his university course Mr. Speed had built up a thriving industry in butter and cheese making which furnished a source of revenue with which to pay his expenses. This business he continued for about 20 years, at the same time engaging in agriculture, fire, insurance, ad other business, living near the village of Slaterville. In 1900 he ecame a resident of Ithaca.
For over 20 years Mr. Speed was connected with the Tompkins County Cooperative Fire Insurance Company of which he was president for a large part of that period. The company began as the Tompkins County Company, and grew until it extended over the entire state outside of New York City. He retired during the summer of 1919 from active business.
One of Mr. Speed’s greatest interests has always been in the development of the educational system. Only a few months after his graduation from the university he was elected school commissioner of the second district of Tompkins County, and held the office for six years having about 100 county schools under his supervision. In 1909 he was elected a member of the Board of Education in this city and served for six years until his resignation in 1915.
Mr. Speed was for nine years a justice of the peace and was a member of the Board of Supervisors from the town of Caroline from 1884 - 1887.
He had always been largely interested in agriculture, was a member of the grange, and for two terms master of the county organization. It was largely through his efforts that the Tompkins County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which had lost its grounds and property through adverse conditions, was reorganized into a stock company and gained a clear title to its grounds. He was a pioneer in the movement for agricultural cooperation.
Mr. Speed was chief organizer of the Caroline Town Insurance Company.
He also helped to organize the Caroline Masonic Lodge as a branch of the Speedsville Lodge, and served as secretary for 15 years, and as Master for several years. In 1873 he joined the Eagle chapter of the Royal Arch Masons in this city and retained his membership through life, being the oldest member.
On October 29, 1872, he married Miss Romelia Van Pelt, daughter of L.D. Van Pelt of Dryden, who survives him. He leaves also two sons, Robert L. Speed of Slaterville Springs, and L.D. Speed of Detroit, Michigan; three daughters, Miss Bessie F. Speed, Mrs. J.E. Mount and Miss Emma R. Speed all of this city, a sister, Miss Sallie Peters Speed of Ithaca, a brother, Henry Linn Speed of Slaterville Springs, and four grandchildren.
For the full obituary, see Ithaca Journal-News, Wednesday Evening, January 28, 1925, page 5
Robert Goodloe Harper Speed, for many years prominent in the business and political life of the city, and a member of the first class to graduate from Cornell University, died at 3:50 o’clock yesterday afternoon at his home, 911 East State Street, after an illness of nearly two years’ duration. He was in his 80th year.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon from his late home. Rev. Henry P. Horton, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, will officiate. Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery.
Robert Goodloe Speed was born at Harper Spring Farm in the Town of Caroline on July 6, 1845, the son of James Richard Speed and Frances Cuthbert Peters. His grandparents, Dr. Joseph Speed and Mary Goodloe Harper were pioneer settlers in the town, having come from Mecklenburg County, Virginia, in 1805. He was also a great nephew of Mrs. Simeon DeWitt, wife of the founder of Ithaca.
Mr. Speed was named by his grandmother for her brother, General Robert Goodloe Harper, member of Congress from South Carolina, a writer and prominent Southerner. Old residents of Caroline used to tell how General Harper drove up from Baltimore with coach and four, with outriders and colored attendants to visit his sisters.
Mr. Speed’s father, who had studied law with Judge Dana in Ithaca, returned to take charge of the homestead in Caroline, and here his son Robert spent his boyhood, and began his studies with the help of a private teacher. Later he attended the district school and proved to be a keen competitor in the spelling bees which were held between the different schools in the locality.
When Mr. Speed was eight years old his father was killed by lightning, and from this time on Robert helped his mother shoulder the responsibilities of the family.
He prepared for college at the Homer Academy where he graduated in the classical course, in 1867, receiving one of the two highest honors conferred upon members of the class.
Mr. Speed entered Cornell at the opening of the university in 1868 and graduated with the class of 1871, receiving the degree of Ph.B. and a diploma in Military Science. He was one of six chosen to deliver orations on the commencement stage. He had been class secretary ever since, and for years had the reputation of having more children who graduated from Cornell than any other alumnus - two sons and two daughters. A grandson, John Harper Speed, also graduated in 1923. He was a member of the Association of Class Secretaries and for a number of years one of the directors of the Associate Alumni.
He was always keenly interested in Cornell affairs, and was at one time nominated for the alumni trusteeship.
During his university course Mr. Speed had built up a thriving industry in butter and cheese making which furnished a source of revenue with which to pay his expenses. This business he continued for about 20 years, at the same time engaging in agriculture, fire, insurance, ad other business, living near the village of Slaterville. In 1900 he ecame a resident of Ithaca.
For over 20 years Mr. Speed was connected with the Tompkins County Cooperative Fire Insurance Company of which he was president for a large part of that period. The company began as the Tompkins County Company, and grew until it extended over the entire state outside of New York City. He retired during the summer of 1919 from active business.
One of Mr. Speed’s greatest interests has always been in the development of the educational system. Only a few months after his graduation from the university he was elected school commissioner of the second district of Tompkins County, and held the office for six years having about 100 county schools under his supervision. In 1909 he was elected a member of the Board of Education in this city and served for six years until his resignation in 1915.
Mr. Speed was for nine years a justice of the peace and was a member of the Board of Supervisors from the town of Caroline from 1884 - 1887.
He had always been largely interested in agriculture, was a member of the grange, and for two terms master of the county organization. It was largely through his efforts that the Tompkins County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which had lost its grounds and property through adverse conditions, was reorganized into a stock company and gained a clear title to its grounds. He was a pioneer in the movement for agricultural cooperation.
Mr. Speed was chief organizer of the Caroline Town Insurance Company.
He also helped to organize the Caroline Masonic Lodge as a branch of the Speedsville Lodge, and served as secretary for 15 years, and as Master for several years. In 1873 he joined the Eagle chapter of the Royal Arch Masons in this city and retained his membership through life, being the oldest member.
On October 29, 1872, he married Miss Romelia Van Pelt, daughter of L.D. Van Pelt of Dryden, who survives him. He leaves also two sons, Robert L. Speed of Slaterville Springs, and L.D. Speed of Detroit, Michigan; three daughters, Miss Bessie F. Speed, Mrs. J.E. Mount and Miss Emma R. Speed all of this city, a sister, Miss Sallie Peters Speed of Ithaca, a brother, Henry Linn Speed of Slaterville Springs, and four grandchildren.
For the full obituary, see Ithaca Journal-News, Wednesday Evening, January 28, 1925, page 5
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon from his late home. Rev. Henry P. Horton, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, will officiate. Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery.
Robert Goodloe Speed was born at Harper Spring Farm in the Town of Caroline on July 6, 1845, the son of James Richard Speed and Frances Cuthbert Peters. His grandparents, Dr. Joseph Speed and Mary Goodloe Harper were pioneer settlers in the town, having come from Mecklenburg County, Virginia, in 1805. He was also a great nephew of Mrs. Simeon DeWitt, wife of the founder of Ithaca.
Mr. Speed was named by his grandmother for her brother, General Robert Goodloe Harper, member of Congress from South Carolina, a writer and prominent Southerner. Old residents of Caroline used to tell how General Harper drove up from Baltimore with coach and four, with outriders and colored attendants to visit his sisters.
Mr. Speed’s father, who had studied law with Judge Dana in Ithaca, returned to take charge of the homestead in Caroline, and here his son Robert spent his boyhood, and began his studies with the help of a private teacher. Later he attended the district school and proved to be a keen competitor in the spelling bees which were held between the different schools in the locality.
When Mr. Speed was eight years old his father was killed by lightning, and from this time on Robert helped his mother shoulder the responsibilities of the family.
He prepared for college at the Homer Academy where he graduated in the classical course, in 1867, receiving one of the two highest honors conferred upon members of the class.
Mr. Speed entered Cornell at the opening of the university in 1868 and graduated with the class of 1871, receiving the degree of Ph.B. and a diploma in Military Science. He was one of six chosen to deliver orations on the commencement stage. He had been class secretary ever since, and for years had the reputation of having more children who graduated from Cornell than any other alumnus - two sons and two daughters. A grandson, John Harper Speed, also graduated in 1923. He was a member of the Association of Class Secretaries and for a number of years one of the directors of the Associate Alumni.
He was always keenly interested in Cornell affairs, and was at one time nominated for the alumni trusteeship.
During his university course Mr. Speed had built up a thriving industry in butter and cheese making which furnished a source of revenue with which to pay his expenses. This business he continued for about 20 years, at the same time engaging in agriculture, fire, insurance, ad other business, living near the village of Slaterville. In 1900 he ecame a resident of Ithaca.
For over 20 years Mr. Speed was connected with the Tompkins County Cooperative Fire Insurance Company of which he was president for a large part of that period. The company began as the Tompkins County Company, and grew until it extended over the entire state outside of New York City. He retired during the summer of 1919 from active business.
One of Mr. Speed’s greatest interests has always been in the development of the educational system. Only a few months after his graduation from the university he was elected school commissioner of the second district of Tompkins County, and held the office for six years having about 100 county schools under his supervision. In 1909 he was elected a member of the Board of Education in this city and served for six years until his resignation in 1915.
Mr. Speed was for nine years a justice of the peace and was a member of the Board of Supervisors from the town of Caroline from 1884 - 1887.
He had always been largely interested in agriculture, was a member of the grange, and for two terms master of the county organization. It was largely through his efforts that the Tompkins County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which had lost its grounds and property through adverse conditions, was reorganized into a stock company and gained a clear title to its grounds. He was a pioneer in the movement for agricultural cooperation.
Mr. Speed was chief organizer of the Caroline Town Insurance Company.
He also helped to organize the Caroline Masonic Lodge as a branch of the Speedsville Lodge, and served as secretary for 15 years, and as Master for several years. In 1873 he joined the Eagle chapter of the Royal Arch Masons in this city and retained his membership through life, being the oldest member.
On October 29, 1872, he married Miss Romelia Van Pelt, daughter of L.D. Van Pelt of Dryden, who survives him. He leaves also two sons, Robert L. Speed of Slaterville Springs, and L.D. Speed of Detroit, Michigan; three daughters, Miss Bessie F. Speed, Mrs. J.E. Mount and Miss Emma R. Speed all of this city, a sister, Miss Sallie Peters Speed of Ithaca, a brother, Henry Linn Speed of Slaterville Springs, and four grandchildren.
For the full obituary, see Ithaca Journal-News, Wednesday Evening, January 28, 1925, page 5
Inscription
Speed
Robert Goodloe Harper Speed
1845 - 1925
Romelia Van Pelt His Wife
1849 - 1936
Bessie F. Speed
1874 - 1960
Emma R. Speed
1889 - 1975
R.G.H.S.
Family Members
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