My Genealogy Hound

EMORY PECK, a gentleman of literary and social culture, is of Puritan ancestry, his progenitors having come over in the “Mayflower.” Luther Peck, the paternal grandparent, was a native of Connecticut, and died in 1846, at a good old age. He was the parent of five sons, all of whom entered the Methodist ministry, and Jesse T. rose to the distinction of bishop, and was one of the founders of Syracuse University, donating to the institution at one time $50,000. A biographical sketch of Jesse T. and George Peck is given in the People’s Encyclopedia. Andrew Peck, the subject’s father, was born in New York in 1800. He was, in the most literal sense, a self-made man, acquiring sufficient preparation, by the utmost diligence and economy of time, to enter the ministry at the age of twenty. For thirty years he continued in the active ministry, and was for years presitling elder in the Oneida, now the Central New York, conference. He was superannuated in 1850, but continued a member of the conference till death, which occurred in 1887. Politically, Mr. Peck was a republican, until a few years before his death, when he gave his support to the prohibition cause. In 1830, he married Miss Electa Gun, a native of New York, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch. She was a zealous co-laborer with her husband in christian work, being, with, him, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Peck were born four children — Mary S. (deceased), Emory, William G. (who enlisted in the war under Sheridan, in 1864 and was killed in the Valley of Virginia), and Elbert A., who is now, and has been for nineteen years, a member of the Central New York conference.

Emory, the subject of this biography, was born in Hamilton, Madison county, N. Y., in 1836. Having taken a course in Oneida seminary he, at the age of eighteen, migrated to Portage, Wis., and there engaged in teaching. From there he removed to Winnebago county, same state, and there taught and farmed alternately for five years. He next moved to Livingston county, Mo., and there taught for one year. He then took the principalship of the public schools of Clarinda, Iowa, and remained there until 1861, when he enlisted in the Union army, First regiment Nebraska volunteer infantry. He was soon after commissioned first lieutenant of his company, and was in the engagements of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and others. He re-enlisted in the same regiment as veteran and was placed in the recruiting service, with headquarters at Brownville, Nebr. There he resigned and engaged in farming. In 1868, he moved to Bates county, Mo., and followed farming for eight years, and from there came to Nebraska, settling in Buffalo county, on a homestead and engaged in farming. Mr. Peck was elected two successive terms to the office of county clerk and has also served as county supervisor. He is now residing on his ranch, of about six hundred acres, in Odessa township. Whatever success he has gained is due to attention to business and correct habits. Socially, Mr. Peck gives evidence of that magnanimity of soul which is characteristic of his lineage. He is a supporter of the republican ticket and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1859 he was married to Miss Mary F. Burin, who was born in New York city, in 1842. To them eight children have been born, and five are now living.