The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-26

DEATH OF Hon. JOHN a. FECKHAM.
The citizeus of st. Paul have seldom if ever
been more shocked or grieved over the death
OF one of their number than that of Hon. John
A. Peckham, which occurred very suddenly
On Sunday afternoon. Mr.. Peckham had been
slightly unwell for day or two, but on Satur.
day afternoon was able to walk down street as
usual On Sunday morning he walked down
to the Leyee in his usual health apparently,
and returned home about half past ten, saying
to his wife, whom he met on the way to church,
that he felt a little too tired to accompany her.
and would go home and lie down. He went
home and lay down to rest, no one being in
the house except himself. On Mrs. Peckhams
return from church she found him senseless,
with every appearance OF approaching dissolu-
ton. Medical aid was at once called in, when
it was discovered that his old complaint, from
which he had suffered more or less for several
years, neuralgia of the heart, had again at
tackled him, and although every effort known
to medical skill was used. the attempt to revive
him was in vain, and he expired seemingly
without pain, about two o'clock P. NJ,
Mr.. Peckham, as given by himself in the
Legislative Manual Of the last session. was a
native of New York and in the 4Sth year of
his age. He removed to Minnesota in 1857.
He has held several public positions in this
State, the duties of which he discharged with
credit to his constituents and honor to himself.
In 1862 he was elected member of the Board
of Education of the City, and at the first meet
ing of the Board was elected as the Treasurer
of the Board, which position he held until his
time expired this spring. In 1868 he was
elected Alderman for the Fifth Ward, which Of
fee he filled at the time of his death. He
renresented his District in the last Legislature,
to which position he was elected by very fiat
tering majority, after the exciting cavass of
last fall. ....
If there was anything needed to testify the
respect and esteem in which he was held by
the community in which he has lived for the
past eight years, it was abundantly shown yes
terday in the vast concourse OF our citizens that
gathered together to pay the last honors of
earth TO his remains. Notwithstanding the
short notice given, we question if ever larger
number of our citizens were collected together
on q like occasion. The funeral procession
was an imposing one He was buried with
Masonic honors. The procession was headed
by the Great Western Band, followed in their
order bv the members of the Pioneer Hook and
ladder Company, members of the Fire Depart
| ment Association. Master Masons, Royal Arch
Masons, knight Templars, (of all of which he
was q member), members of the Common
Council, city officers, and long line of car
riages. The procession moved from his late
residence to st. Paul Church, where the Epis-
| oonal burial service for the dead was read by
the Rev. DR.. Paterson, after which the funeral
cortege took up its line of march for Oakland
Cemetery. Arriving at the grave, the solemn
ond impressive service of the Order of Knight
Templars, was performed by Sir Knight Geo.
+. Otis. assisted by Sir Knights Ames, of Min
neapolis. Rev. DR.. McMasters and Geo. w.
Prescott, of st. Paul.
| Tn the death of John A. Peckham st. Pau
;s called to mourn over the sudden loss o.
of a citizen universally respected and esteemed
by all. the high and the low. the rich and the
moor, It will be hard to find another possessed
of more genial, high-toned qualities. Gen
erous, kind, unassuming, none knew hin
but to praise. . \
In his death the Masonic fraternity loses
beloved brother, of whom no higher prals
can be named than that he lived and practlce'
the principles of the order to which he wa
deyotedly attached.
In his death the fremen of our city lose
warm friend who was ever ready with hear
and purse to advance their interests.
He leaves q wife and three daughters t
mourn the sudden death of q devoted HUSBAND
and affectionate parent. 81.