Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-02
THE PIONEERS.
The life and Character OF the Late
Erasmus n. Peck-The Truthful
Record " Busy Life.
ny HON. ASHER COOK.


MEN or THE PIONEER ASSOCIATION: TO
those OF you who met with us Nt our last
reunion, n vacancy IL visible in our num-
berS to-day. Our worthy Vice President,
who occupied his accustomed seat with us
on that occasion, has since our last meeting
been called from his earthly labors, aud
his vacant chair stands draped in mourn
ing.
DIR. Erasmus ID. Peck, who settled at Per-
rysburg in the year A. ID. 1884, died Decem-
ber the 25th, A. ID. 1876, at the age OF SO
years At the time Of his settlement in The
MAunee Valley he was twenty six years Of
age; had shortly before received his medi.
cal diploma, and came to the West from
Connecticut, his native State, full Of hope
and energy, and set to work with all the
| will Of an ardent Adventurer to make for
himself name and living by unremit-
ting attention to business.
Unlike many other young men who
think, when they have received their diplo-
ma their labors are ended, aud community
must support them for their good looks, Tor
some other negative qualities quite as pc.
culinr to them) DIR. Peck had the good
sense to know. when he reached that point,
his mos. arduous labors had only begun.
His work up to that time had been by
himself, with none but fellow students or
his instructors as witnesses. But from this
time forward the community would become
witnesses, and his lnbors be suhiected to the
cross-Gre Of unfriendly criticism from com
petitors in practice. But, nothing daunted,
he launched out boldly, and with an un-
| quenchnble faith In the ancient idea that
labor conquers ali things, he soon found
himself in possession Of good remunera-
fivn tca twl ola lao aI ho
infrmities Of age compelled him to retire
from business. DR.. Peck was emphntically
n worker, and IL often scemed to those who
knew him best that he lnbored for the love
Of II. For him labor had no terrors.
"Some place the bliss 10 action,
Some 10 sass."
Ease had no charms for Dr.. Peek. IIisidea
OF the glory OF man was in action, and he
exemplifed his faith by his works.
lie was eminently succcssful ns prnctic-
ing physician. This, however, in my judg-
| ment, was not the result of n superior crit
ical knowledge of the science OF medicine
| but il arose from practical common sense
knowledge Of the human system, and the
cause and nature OF disease.
Az in law and orntory, 40 in the practice
Of medicine, the fundamental qualification
must be inborn, and the nature, habits, and
inclinations Of the physician must so har-
mOniLe with his occupation, that he will in
his walks, and in his acts, carry health to
his patients; and this our brother did TO
greater extent, perhaps, than any other
man who has practiced medicine in this
valley. The sound Of his footsteps on the
threshold, has revived the fainting hopes
OF the sick in many los. cabin in the will.
derness, and the flashes of his wit and good
humor have cheered up desponding house.
holds, and brought life and hope into the
sick room, which would have fled at the
sight OF pills administered in cold formal
| ity. DIR. Peck was born at Stafford, Conn.
September 18th, 1903. He received his ele.
mentary education in the common schools
Of the village. His medical education was
obtained at Yale College and Berkshire
Medical College, from the latter of which
he graduated in the year 1927.
In his younger days he spent no time in
the frivolities OF fashionable life. The
earnest desire to work his way through the
world, which was 80 prominent a feature
of his life, was developed in youth. Games
and the thousand and one amuscments
which are now provided for the young, Ia
keep them from drinking saloons, and pln-
ces of darker and more dangerous evils
were not needed to keep his feet in the path
OF virtue, which alone leads to happiness
and wealth. This was no eccentricity, but
the exercise Of common sense, which hai
led thousands besides DIR. Peck, TO honor
and distinction.
II has been said human life is a poem
His was OF the sterner sort, written in blank
verse, with many of the rough rugged
Shakespearian digressions from the rules
which those follow more closely who write
in softer strains, and hope to move by pa
thetic appeals to the tender passions.
AT the commencement Of the practice o.
his profession, he was less actuated by a
desire to make money, than 70 gain dis
tinction and I've useful to others.
The love of money, nevertheless, was will
him a strong, but not the ruling passion
not, however, to be enjoyed as the misel
gloats over his boarded pelf but for thu
uses he could put it to, in building up anC
improving the business of the country. i
he sacrificed ease to make money, he freely
gave OF it TO aid the moral and religiou
development of the community. If he did
not respect the storms OF heaven, but bold
de6ed them in the performance Of duty, h
cheerfully spent the money thus made il
decorating and beautifying Gods footstool
In all his mOney-making he turned it L
some practical account. lie did not keel
il for show, nor wear it for Ostentation. A
AoOn as earned, il was invested in some use
ful occupation. There was in his compo
sion but little Of the imaginative. Dream
and visionary theories he discarded, ant
with wonderful tenacity clung to the prac
tical business OF the country, and througl
life kept every dollar employed in activ,
| hn l.r
hers Of men, and assuming all the risks in
cident to an active business life; and il
all, singularly successful. He was seldom
deceived in the character or ability Of thOs
, whom he employed. He had no hobbies
and cared little for theories. By his mag
netic influence he drew those in his emplO
into such personal relations with himsel
that to deceive him would be like betTAy
ing n parent, while by the power of hi
, will he controlled all their actions.
Q The FIRST business in which he engaged
outside oi the practice OF medicine, wa
one subsidiary TO it-a drug store. 500
after, he engaged IN the mercantile busi
meas, which at that time, included a sale {
. all the wares necessary for country lif
This buAiness he continued from the yea
1889 until 1855, with eminent success, ther'
E by making the bulk of his fortune. In I'll
year 1883 he built Touring mill on I'll
PerryAburg Hydraulic Canal, and in ii
, year 1856 bought the canal and continue
in control Of it until 1858. In the meaI
time, he tried his luck at ship-buildin
}. still hoping TO keep the commercial bus
I meas center Of the valley at Perrysbur
a where Il had been from the settlement
the country, until the completion of III
Wabash and Erie canal in l940, with i
. northern terminus at Toledo. With II
|, advantages thus secured, Toledo soon b
I, came the business center of the valley
= and in spite of the most heroic struggle
on the part OF the towns At the toOt OF Il
. rapids, they were compelled to surrend,
= their commercial business and transit
: their withered laurela to their rival siste
= Toledo.
i In the year 1853 the Dayton 4 Michigs
J, railroad was located from Dayton to Tol
q do. To insure its success and secure Il
location Of il through PerrySburg, a loI
, Of credit was asked from the village al
township OF Perrysburg, Of sixty thousar
j. dollars. Through the united efforts OF d