BIO: James PEACOCK, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
_______________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 334-335.
_______________________________________________________________ 

  PEACOCK, JAMES, the eldest son of William Peacock and Mary McArthur, 
of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was born in Paxtang township, Dauphin county, 
Pa., April 8, 1788.  His education was in a great measure due to his 
mother's care and tuition, with self-application in after years.  At 
the age of fifteen he began to learn the printing business with Mr. 
Edward Cole, of Lewistown, where he remained until 1807, when he went 
to Lancaster to work on the Intelligencer.  In 1809 he was employed by 
the celebrated John Binns, of Philadelphia, on book work, and 
subsequently by Mr. Dinnie on the Port Folio.  While in the latter 
establishment he became intimate with quite a number of the literati of 
that period, and concerning whom he has left some interesting 
"Reminiscences."  In 1811 Mr. Peacock returned to Lancaster, and from 
thence came to Harrisburg, where, in December of that year, he started 
the Pennsylvania Republican, which he continued to publish for about 
eight or nine years, in the meantime being one of the printers to the 
Senate and House.  In December, 1821, he was employed as an assistant 
clerk of the Senate, and in March, 1822, received the appointment of 
postmaster at Harrisburg in place of Mrs. Wright, who had recently 
deceased, an office he held under different national administrations 
until the 15th of November, 1846.  In December, 1847, he removed to 
Philadelphia, where he became identified with the publication of the 
Evening Bulletin, The Sun and Neal's Saturday Gazette, which he managed 
with all the tact and skill of his early years, relinquishing his 
labors only a brief time prior to his death.  He died in the city of 
Philadelphia on the 23d of August, 1863, and is interred in the 
Harrisburg cemetery.  Mr. Peacock was twice married - first to Frances 
C., daughter of Matthias Slough and Mary Gibson, of Lancaster, who died 
October 27, 1837; and, secondly, to Mrs. Louisa V. Sims, of Mount 
Holly, N. J., who died in 1869.  Mr. Peacock was ever held in high 
esteem by the citizens of Harrisburg, whether as journalist, or his 
occupancy of the postoffice for a quarter of a century.  He always took 
an active part in public affairs, and was largely instrumental in 
organizing St. Stephen's Episcopal church, in which there has been 
erected a tablet to his memory.  He was a gentleman of dignified 
manners, of refined culture, and a sincere Christian.