Scripps-Speed Collection

Title

Scripps-Speed Collection

Subject

Speed, Joshua Nichols, 1833-1900
Speed, Ellen Scripps, 1833-1908

Description

The Scripps-Speed Collection is named for two prominent familes joined by the marriage of Dr. Joshua Speed and Virginia Ellen Scripps, daughter of Reverend John Scripps. Joshua Speed (1833-1900) was born in Danville, Kentucky, graduated from Center College there and then attended medical school at Keokuk, Iowa and the Rush Medical College in Chicago. He practiced medicine in Rushville and during the Civil War was assistant-surgeon in the provost marshal’s department of the Ninth Congressional District.  He was examining surgeon at the enrollment board in Mt. Sterling. 

His wife, Ellen, was the daughter of John Scripps, a Methodist preacher, merchant and newspaper publisher. He and his son J. C. Scripps published the Prairie Telegraph in Rushville1850-1854, until it burned down. J. C. continued on in the newspaper business.  Ellen and Joshua’s daughter married Everett R. McFadden.

The finding aid for the Scripps-Speed Family Papers, 1830-1909 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum may be found at http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/566.

Photographs in this collection include images of Speed and Scripps family graves and individual portraits.

Collection Items

Child in Dress
An unidentified child wearing a light-colored dress sits for a portrait.

Man in Long Coat
An unidentified man poses for a portrait wearing a suit and jacket and holds a top hat in his hand.

Ann, Grace, and William Scripps Gravestones
The gravestones of (l-r) Ann, Grace, and William Scripps stand in the Old Lorimer Cemetery in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The Ann Scripps headstone reads, "Sacred to the memory of Ann Scripps; daughter of Wm & Grace Scripps who departed this…

Joshua Nichols Speed and Ellen Scripps Speed Gravestone
A small flag stands in front of the gravestone of Joshua Nichols Speed and Ellen Scripps Speed stands in the Rushville City Cemetery in Rushville. The gravestone of Ellen's parents, John C. Scripps and Emma Scripps, is visible in the foreground.
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