Lewis Victor Peek Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1197-1198 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	LEWIS VICTOR PEEK, of Wilmot, was born near Portage City, Columbia 
county, Wisconsin, September 26, 1862, being one of a family of four 
children, whose father, William H. Peek, a native of New York, was an 
early settler of Wisconsin, and by occupation a tiller of the soil. 
Lewis V. was reared to agricultural pursuits, acquired a strong physique 
under the rugged but wholesome discipline of the farm and grew to young 
manhood in Minnesota, to which state his parents removed when he was but 
a child. Later, in 1882, he accompanied the family to South Dakota and 
subsequently began clerking in a store at Milbank, but after spending a 
short time in that town he accepted a similar position in Wilmot, where 
he sold goods for one year. 

	In 1887 Mr. Peek was appointed deputy county treasurer and two 
years later succeeded to the office of treasurer to fill out the 
unexpired term of William McKissick, discharging the duties of the 
position until 1893, having been elected for a full term in 1891. 
Retiring from the office at the expiration of his period of service, he 
took a claim in the northern part of the county, where the name Victor 
was given to a township in compliment to him, and a little later he 
secured the postoffice at Vernon, to accommodate people of that 
locality. After residing on his claim until the fall of 1894 Mr. Peek 
was elected cashier of the First State Bank of Wilmot, accordingly he 
returned to the town and entered upon his duties, discharging the same 
to the satisfaction of all concerned until January, 1902, when he 
resigned. He is still interested in the bank, however, being a 
stockholder and a member of the board of directors, in addition to which 
he is secretary and treasurer of the Wilmot Land and Loan Company, the 
organization of which was brought about mainly through his agency and 
influence. He is also interested in agriculture and stock raising, and 
owns considerable valuable farm land in Roberts county, which he 
personally manages, also a fine residence in Wilmot and other city 
property, his various enterprises having succeeded .so well that he is 
now numbered with the financially strong and reliable men of the 
community honored by his citizenship. 

	Mr. Peek has been and is still one of the leading men of Wilmot 
and since locating in the city he has been very closely identified with 
its history and development. He served several terms as trustee and 
mayor under the original municipal government and after a city charter 
was secured he was also honored with official station, being mayor at 
the present time. Like the majority of enterprising men, Mr. Peek is a 
Mason and stands high in the order, belonging to the blue lodge at 
Wilmot, the chapter at Milbank, the commandery at Watertown, the 
Scottish Rite at Aberdeen and the Mystic Shrine. which holds its session 
in the city of Sioux Falls. He is also a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and their several 
auxiliaries, and an active worker in the local lodge of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, with which he is connected. 

	Mr. Peek, on February 17, 1887, was married to Miss Ida C. Bailly, 
daughter of Alexander P. Bailly, of Minnesota, and is the father of one 
child, Stewart Irving Peek, whose birth occurred on April 18, 1896. As 
already indicated,Mr. Peek is one of Wilmot's valued and highly esteemed 
citizens. He has borne well his part in life and is now conducting a 
flourishing business and meeting with the success that is justly 
deserved.