Joshua Fry Speed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joshua Fry Speed
Portrait of Speed as a young man.
Kentucky State Representative
In office 1848–1850
Personal details
Born	(1814-11-14)November 14, 1814 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	May 29, 1882(1882-05-29) (aged 67) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place	Cave Hill Cemetery Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Nationality	American
Spouse	Fanny Henning ​ (m. 1842)​
Parent	John Speed (father)
Occupation	General store co-owner, real estate investor, plantation owner (through family), Kentucky representative
Known for	Abraham Lincoln's best friend and a close confidant

Joshua Fry Speed (born November 14, 1814 – died May 29, 1882) was an American politician and businessman. He is best known as the closest friend and trusted advisor of Abraham Lincoln, who later became President of the United States. Their friendship began when they lived together in Springfield, Illinois. Speed was a partner in a general store there. Later, he became a farmer and real estate investor in Kentucky. He also served one term as a representative in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1848.

Life Story

Family and Early Years

Joshua Fry Speed was born on November 14, 1814, at a large family estate called Farmington in Louisville, Kentucky. His parents were Judge John Speed and Lucy Gilmer Speed. His family had a long history in America. His ancestors included John Speed, a famous mapmaker and historian from the 1600s.

Joshua's great-great-grandfather, Captain James Speed, fought in the American Revolution. He was given a lot of land in Kentucky for his service. This land helped the Speed family become very successful. Joshua's father, John Speed, was a judge and a businessman. He owned a store and later became a large farmer, growing crops like hemp.

Joshua's mother, Lucy Gilmer Fry, came from a well-known family in Virginia. Her family was even friends with Thomas Jefferson. Joshua was the fifth of 11 children. He was very close to his mother throughout his life. While his father wanted him to have a good education, Joshua seemed to have a difficult relationship with him. Some members of his family, including Joshua himself, sometimes struggled with feelings of sadness or depression. Lincoln even noticed this about Joshua, saying he had a "nervous temperament."

Education and First Job

Even though his father didn't have much formal schooling, he wanted his children to be well-educated. Joshua was taught by his grandfather, Joshua Fry, and later attended St. Joseph's College in Kentucky. However, he got sick before finishing college.

He returned home and, despite his father's wishes, decided he was ready to start his career. He worked for about two or three years as a clerk in a large wholesale business in Louisville. After that, he decided to move to Springfield, Illinois, to seek new opportunities.

Starting a Career in Illinois

In 1835, Joshua Speed moved to Springfield, Illinois, hoping to find success in the Midwest. At that time, Springfield was a small town with fewer than 1,500 people. Soon after arriving, Speed started a business selling goods and also helped edit a local newspaper.

Speed and Lincoln's Friendship

Joshua Speed first heard young Abraham Lincoln speak when Lincoln was campaigning for the Illinois legislature. On April 15, 1837, Lincoln arrived in Springfield, which had just become the new state capital. He was a young lawyer looking to start his career. That's when he met Joshua Speed.

Lincoln rented a room above Speed's store, and they became roommates. This was the start of their lifelong best friendship. They shared many conversations and supported each other through tough times.

In March 1840, Joshua's father passed away. Joshua decided to sell his store and move back to his family's large estate, Farmington, near Louisville, Kentucky. Around the same time, Lincoln was engaged to Mary Todd, a lively young woman also from Kentucky. However, Lincoln broke off the engagement on the day they were supposed to get married, January 1, 1841. Speed left as planned, leaving Lincoln feeling very sad and guilty.

Seven months later, in July 1841, Lincoln was still feeling down. He decided to visit Speed in Kentucky. Speed welcomed Lincoln to his family home, Farmington. Lincoln stayed for a month, and the visit helped him feel much better. During his stay, Lincoln often rode into Louisville to talk about legal matters with Joshua's older brother, James Speed, who was also a lawyer. James even lent Lincoln books from his law library.

Joshua Speed and Lincoln had different views on slavery. Speed believed that people in the North shouldn't worry about slavery in the South. In 1855, Lincoln wrote to Speed, explaining his feelings:

You know I dislike slavery; and you fully admit the abstract wrong of it. ... I also acknowledge your rights and my obligations, under the constitution, in regard to your slaves. I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down, and caught, and carried back to their stripes, and unrewarded toils; but I bite my lip and keep quiet. In 1841 you and I had together a tedious low-water trip, on a Steam Boat from Louisville to St. Louis. You may remember, as I well do, that from Louisville to the mouth of the Ohio, there were, on board, ten or a dozen slaves, shackled together with irons. That sight was a continued torment to me; and I see something like it every time I touch the Ohio, or any other slave-border. It is hardly fair for you to assume, that I have no interest in a thing which has, and continually exercises, the power of making me miserable. You ought rather to appreciate how much the great body of the Northern people do crucify their feelings ...

Lincoln explained that he hated slavery and found it very upsetting, especially seeing enslaved people being treated poorly. Even though they disagreed on this important issue, their friendship remained strong.

During Lincoln's time as president (1861–1865), he offered Speed several government jobs. Speed always turned them down, choosing to help in other ways. Despite their different opinions on slavery, Speed remained loyal to Lincoln. He helped organize support for the Union cause in Kentucky during the American Civil War. His brother, James Speed, even served as Lincoln's United States Attorney General starting in 1864. Lincoln told Congress that he didn't know James as well as he knew Joshua.

Later Life and Legacy

After Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, Joshua Speed organized a memorial service in Louisville to honor his departed friend. He also supported the new president, Andrew Johnson. Speed and 60 other members of his family donated money for a monument to honor Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Joshua Speed also wrote many letters to William Herndon, Lincoln's former law partner, who was writing a biography about Lincoln.

Joshua Speed passed away on May 29, 1882, in Louisville, Kentucky. He is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. His family's historic estate, Farmington, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Although the farm is much smaller now, the house has been restored. It is used for events and living history programs, helping people learn about the past.

Joshua Speed married Fanny Henning in 1842. They were married until his death and did not have any children of their own. However, they were very close to their nieces and nephews. Fanny Henning Speed later left a large amount of money to Union College in Kentucky. A building there, Speed Hall, is named in her honor.

In Movies and Books

Joshua Fry Speed's life and his friendship with Abraham Lincoln have been shown in various forms of media:

• In the 1940 film Abe Lincoln in Illinois, he was played by Minor Watson.
• He was voiced by Laurence Luckinbill in the 1992 made-for-TV documentary Lincoln.
• In the 2010 novel Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith, and its 2012 film version, he was played by Jimmi Simpson.
• The TV show 30 Rock referenced the connection between Joshua Fry Speed and Abraham Lincoln in the episode Florida (30 Rock).
• Author Jonathan F. Putnam has written three mystery novels where Speed and Lincoln are the main characters.
• The 2019 historical novel Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard focuses on Lincoln's relationships with Mary Todd and Joshua Speed in Springfield.

Images for kids

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  Lucy Speed, Joshua's mother