This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Qk.2ADI/209.220.231.786.1225.1279.1.1.1.2 Message Board Post: In response to your request of Henry Specht...John Henry Spect proprietor of Specht's Hotel of Preston recognized for building up town...spent $20,000 on capital improvements..livery barn, first brick store in 1874 born is Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, March 4, 1936. Father a mason by trade and was only child of parents who came to america in 1854 and settled in Sabula. Was a shoemaker in germany took up farming in america. 1865 married Minnie Pithann who was born near city of Vesal on the Rhine, Prussia.Was justice of peace for 2 terms and school direcor. No children of there own but adopted 4 girls...anna port of Vinton Louis (Frey) Moore of Preston, Kattie Frey and Minnie Specht. Is this helpful? Taken from Portrait and Bigoraphical Album of Jackson county Iowa, published 1889