Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Peck, John F. 1841 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 30, 2013, 2:55 pm Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher JOHN F. PECK. John F. Peck has for fifteen years filled the office of city assessor in Ottumwa, and the record which he has made in the position is indicated by his long continuance in the office. He was born near Dayton, Ohio, April 3, 1841, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Wagner) Peck, the former a native of West Virginia and the latter of Ohio. They were married in the Buckeye state and in 1857 removed to Muscatine county, Iowa, settling upon a farm, where they remained until called to the home beyond. Their family numbered six children: John F.; Margaret, who is the widow of Barney Sheeler, and now resides in Missouri; George W., who is upon the old homestead in Muscatine county, Iowa; Sarah and Ellen, both deceased, and Emma, the wife of Clarence Lee, now of Canada. John F. Peck spent the first sixteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he attained his majority. He was married there in 1869, when a young man of twenty-eight years, to Miss Martha A. Lavery, a native of the state of New York, as were her parents, John and Sylvia (Remington) Lavery. Both her father and mother spent their entire lives in the Empire state and there reared their family of three children, namely: Mrs. Peck; Julius T., now deceased, and Roswell C., who is living in New York. Mrs. Peck was educated in an academy in her native state and taught for forty-six years, advancing from the primary grades to the university. She said it was her ambition to teach for fifty years, but her record fell short four years. She is a prominent, active and influential member of the Suffrage Club of Ottumwa and is a supporter of all movements for civic progress. She went to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1869, and there became the wife of John F. Peck. In 1870 they removed to Wapello county, and in 1871 she was a candidate for the office of county superintendent of schools on the republican ticket. She is a member of the Unitarian church and her influence has been a potent force in promoting moral progress. To Mr. and Mrs. Peck was born a son who died in infancy. Following their arrival in Ottumwa Mr. Peck secured a clerkship in a grocery store, where he remained for several years. He was afterward a police officer for a number of years and for the last fifteen years has filled the position of city assessor, to which office he has been elected on the republican ticket. He is most loyal in his support of the party and that he has made a capable official, systematic, prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties, is indicated in the large majorities he receives when year by year he is chosen for the position. Both he and his wife are widely known in this county, where they have now made their home for forty-four years and where they have an extensive circle of warm and admiring friends. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb