BIOS: Peck, Thomas N. & William S. - Lexington, Kentucky & Catahoula Parish, LA ------------------------------------------ Contributed by: Mike Miller " mike_m@deq.state.la.us " November 19, 1998 ------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ============================================================== Thomas N. Peck, a planter of Catahoula parish, La., was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1851. He is a son of Dr. Henry J. and Laminda M. Peck. Dr. Henry J. Peck was born in 1803, in Boston, Mass. He immigrated with his parents to Kentucky when a boy of twelve years, and located in Lexington. He graduated in both the medical and literary courses at the Transylvania university of Kentucky. He completed the literary course in 1823 and the medical course in 1826. After practicing for one year in Kentucky he removed to Warren county, Miss., and there continued his practice. While he lived in the last-named state, he was a neighbor as well as an intimate friend of Colonel Claiborne, to whose history of Mississippi he contributed no small amount of data. He also contributed liberally to newspapers and periodicals, both before and after the war. At the time of his death he was writing the "History of the Birds and Animals of the South." In 1830 he moved to Louisiana and paid a great deal of attention to the interests of a plantation which he purchased on Cicely island, two years before. He was twice chosen to the state senate, and once to the house of representatives of Louisiana. During this period he produced the bill for the construction of the Rockasee cut-off. He also originated the bill for our present free-school system. He was an honored and respected member of the Episcopal church. In 1828 he was married to Miss Leminda M. Smith, and to them were born twelve children, only three of whom grew to manhood: William S. Peck, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Thomas N., the subject of this notice, and Capt. John Peck, deceased, who was killed at Water Proof in 1878. Capt. John Peck was a graduate in law at the Transylvania University of Kentucky. He entered the war as a private in 1861, in the Tensas cavalry. At the close of the war he was paroled as the captain of his company. He was first married to Miss Bettie Smith, of Louisville, Ky., and to them were born four children. After her death he married Miss Anna Lovelace, and to this union were born three children. He was a very prominent man in the portion of the state where he lived, and took a prominent part in the reconstruction of the state. Dr. Henry J. Peck was a son of Maj. John Peck, who received his title in the Revolutionary war. He was a grandson of Dr. John Peck, of Boston, who was killed at the siege of Charleston, S. C., during the Revolution. Henry J. was a great-grandson of John Peck, of England, who immigrated to Boston in 1740. The Doctor's mother was Eliza (Blodgett) Gillman, and his grandmother was Mary Gillman, a daughter of Samuel Blodgett, who emigrated from England after Charles L came to the throne. [See Blake's Biographical dictionary.] The Doctor was a well-known and highly respected physician of his day, and did much toward the advancement of the public weal. He was an honest, upright and Christian gentleman, and richly deserved the esteem with which he was regarded. Thomas N. Peck, the immediate subject of this notice, is a graduate of the Kentucky university, completing his course of study there in 1869. He also attended schools at different places in the state. After his graduation he returned home, locating on the plantation where he now resides. For a time he clerked in a store, but finally devoted his whole attention to planting. In 1884 he was chosen a member of the police jury of the parish, a position which he still holds. Mr. Peck is now a middle-aged man, being strong, tall and commanding in appearance. He is justly proud of the noble ancestors; from whom he is descended. Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 301-302. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892. *************************************************************** William S. Peck, a planter of Catahoula parish, La, was born in Lexington, Ky. He was a son of Dr. Henry J. and Leminda M. Peck. [For history of Dr. Henry Peck, see sketch of Thomas N. Peck, above in this work.] William S. Peck left college which he was attending in Kentucky to join the confederate army, and soon after joined the Tensas cavalry in Wirt Adams' regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, on a cavalry charge on the 8th of April, 1862, the ball passing through his right leg. This prevented his active service for nearly a year, but as soon as he was able he again joined his company. He was chosen lieutenant of his regiment. After the war he returned home and turned his whole attention to planting. He was married in 1868 to Miss Florence Lovelace, daughter of John and Julia (Kirkland) Lovelace. To them were born four children, two sons being now living: Willie and Henry C. His esteemed wife departed this life in 1881. Mr. Peck is descended from one of the best old families of the parish, and he is highly respected by all who know him. Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 302. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.