Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-29
OBITUARY.
HON. ERASMUS DARWIN PECK.

foremost citizen OF the place. How lie
came to be such, by what qualities Of
mind and heart and body, through what
culture and what labors he reached the
eminence he oonfessedly held, are worthy
Of consideration in any proper notice OF
his life. The outline Of this life Is as
follows:
ERASMUS d. PECK was born Sept. 18th,
1908, in Stafford, CT. lie received his ele-
nrentary education in the common schools
Of his section, which was supplemented by
an ac identical course.
He commenced the study Of medicine in
1924, and attended the medical lectures
delivered at Yale College during 1926 and
subsequently at the Berkshire Medical Col
loge from which latter school he graduated
in 1927.
He removed to Portage Co., Ohio, In
1928 and practiced medicine from three to
Eve years at Franklin in that county. He
came to Perrys5urg, Wood county, Jan.
lst, 1884, anil has been engaged in the
practice OF his profession in and around
this locality for over forty years; and has
been actively interested in the business and
growth of the town, having been engaged
in not only the drug and medicine trade,
but also in selling dry goods, millinery,
&c, besides operating a farm. lie also
was engaged in the pine and lumber bHsi-
ness and was the owner and operator Of n
planning mill, where all descriptions Of
building material is manufactured, be-
sides djing general hardware trade.
H, served in the Ohio Legislature from
1855 to 1859, inclusive. He was appointed
Examining Surgeon for the army and PEN
sions before aud during the late war.
He was elected to the 4lst Cong ress, to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of
Hon. T. II. HoAs, IN 1870 and was re-
elected to the 42d Congress. He received
from his townsmcn all but SO votes in n
total vote OF 900.
lie was married to MARY THoRNDYKE,
daughter OF DR.. LINCOLN, of Brimfeld
Portage county, Ohio, who died at Wash
iagton, D. c., Jan. goth, 1873. Married
again to Mrs f. T. ROBERTSON, of Water
loo, Iowa, Sept. "a, 1874.
This is the brief outline which tells only
such facts as man might properly tell OF
himself
1t tells, however, enough to indicate the
power and capacity of the man who could
carry on large medical practice and
farms and stores and mills and be success.
ful in them all.
1t tells also Of culture, OF careful AGA
denlical preparation, of scholarship, which
fitted him for his work and gave him
standing in his chosen profession. L
tells of a forty.ive years Of ministrationi
among the sick. But it does not tell O
the continual dispensing OF medicine ant
cordials and food among those who ha,
nothing but love to offer. The bare recorc
made by one of to day would convey III
idea OF what was endured in making il
OF the physical endurance or the large
ness Of heart and self sacrifice which wer,
called out in this practice. Dr.
For As years he was never known t,
falter or refuse to go at the call of any
poor or rich, when his services we're needed
Day and night, with sleep and withou
sleep, the faithful physician responded t,
the call of the afflicted.
In that time of peril and panic, know
as the cholera year, the year 1854, will
extra work laid upon him by the death o
his partner, DR.. JAS. ROBERTSON, whoeve
else faltered in duty he did not, but wen
from house to house and dying men t,
dying women, with zeal and an activity
which allowed OF no regular rest or regula
meal.
His faithful labors of that year wer
borne in memory by the people whom h
had served, and who gave him in 1870
when candidate for Congress, out of tota
vote OF 900 all but SO votes. This compli
ment was not paid to him because he wai
the most able citizen OF the place, or tn,
one best qualified to do honor to his dis
trict, but because in all those 40 years o
medical practice, he had so gone out anC
IN among them rs TO become their "belov
ell physician" whose quick step and cheer
ful words and cOuntenance impaired cour
age and hope in the chamber of the sick.
His quick sympathy with suffering
more than any political reasoning, mad,
him Republican; a fact which his fel
low citizens took into account when with
ont regard to party they united to give
him their suffrages us their Represen
tAtive to Congress-. His public spirit wa,
doHbted by none, tor all his life had beer
devoted to the social aud material INTEREST,"
of his chosen home. His nature was Sc
broad and free, that, though he may hav,
had here and there an individual enemy
he himself was an enemy TO no man, anC
though quick and hot in temperament
and led by il to speak all his mind Will
excessive freedom, yet with coolneSs o
mind come instant regrets and kindness
of feeling, and willingness 10 help tn,
bittereSt opponent.
We speak of this now that he is gone
since some of late years have seemed e
think that he would have taken plensur,
in the misfor.unes of those who had op
posed him. But we know they were sim
ply mistaken; that it was not in his natur'
10 bear malice toward any.
DIR. PECK was firm believer, but not Al
open professor. lie has always beel
known as liberal supp porter Of the Pres
byterlan church, and, until his health for
bid, regular attendant on its services. Il
the winter of 1878, when the who'll
country passed through religious awak
ening, his mind was greatly moved, an,
he was on The point Of making profes
sion. The opportunity passed and busines
and cares intervened, and at last sicknes
prevented his doing what he greatly de