John Speakman served as a private in Company B of the 63rd Ohio Infantry during the Civil War and was killed in action at Pulaski, Tennessee, on March 15, 1863. He was buried in Nashville National Cemetery. He left behind his wife and two young sons in Ross County, Ohio. His twin grandsons, James and Charles, later served in World War I. Garland "Buzz" Ison was John Speakman's great-great-grandson.