Biographical Sketch of Prof. Bernard J. Specking, Franklin County, MO

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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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 accep-
ted 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 be-
reavement and poverty.  Mr. Heimann was a farmer, and so the subject
of our present sketch grew to manhood on the farm, receiving the rudi-
ments 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 hav-
ing 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 like 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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