Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-13

From an interesting sketch of the late ex
Judge and ex- Governor Peck, evidently from
the pen of Hon. E. p Walton, in the Mont
pelier WatchmaA, we take the following:
He was descended from Joseph Peck, who
was in the twenty-first generation from John
Peck of Bolton, Yorkshire county, England.
Thus the genealogy of the Pecks has been
traced as far back as, and probably farther
than that of any other Vermont family.
Joseph Peck, the American ancestor of the
subject of our notice, came from bingham,
England, to IIingham Mass, in 1888.
Asahel, third son of Squire Peck and Eliza
beth Goddard, was born at Royalston,
Mass, in September, 1903, and brought by
his parents about 1906 to Montpelier, who
settled in what is known as East Montpelier
Receiving the discipline of a farm until he
was of age the benefit OF the common school,
and fitting for college at Washington County
Grammar School, he entered the University
of Vermont, but in his senior term left col
lege for a course of study in the French Ian
guage in Canada. The incipient eminen.
Judge and governor entered then upon the
study of the law with his oldest brother,
Nahum Peck. Of llinesburgh. Asahel Peck's
name as attorney, at Hinesburgh, appears in
Walton's Register for 1888, when he was
thirty years of age. In that year he removed
to Burlington, where all his professional life
was spent. Doubtless his progress at the
bar was slow, as he was not II man TO push
his way, but to honestly win it by merit.
Indeed a characteristic of him is that he
was slow in everything, but in the end he
was almost always sure to be right, and that
he regarded as the only point worth gaining.
lie was n thorough and patient student, and
n conscientious lawyer and judge. Poses
sing tenacious memory, he held all that
he had secured in years of study, and could
instantly bring his great store of learning to
bear upon any legal question presented to
him. Touching his abilities as a lawyer, we
cite an incident that occurred several years
ago: The late Rufus Choatc. who will be
remembered as one Of the most eloquent and
eminent lawyers of Massachusetts met Mr.
Peck az an ANTAGONIST ut the trial of an i'm
portant case, and at its rbnclusiOn Mr.
ChOate was 50 astunishcd to find such
lawyer IN JeIMOHf that lac went to Mr.
Peck and urged him vchcmently 10 remove
to Boston, assuring him that he would win
fame and fortune. No induccment, how
ever could move Mr. Peek having once
made up his mind. nothing could change it,
Burlington he had selected as the place To
practice his. profession, and Burlington it
must and should be. and was OF his repu-
tation as Il lawyer. and judge, an eminent
member of the bar declares that no man in
New England since Judge Story has equalled
Judge Peck in his knowledge Of the common
law of England and the law of equity. As
Governor, We can hear testimony that he
was one of the very hest that Vermont has
ever had thoroughly Independent, prudent
in every iact, and carefully inspecting the
minutest detail of everything presented for
his official approval
A correspondent of the JermOat CHrOni-
Gle says:
Though judge Peek wore stern face
and 10 one not familiar with him appeared
austere. he yet enjoyed quiet humor and
good joke as well us the next man. Once
was prnpounded TO him the hackneyed con
undrum on the word of four syllables. the
first of which is an article of household fur
niture, the second kind of grain, the third
and fourth currency, and the whole one of
the United States. The amiable executive
bothered over it for awhile when lady
friend, thinking to give him little lead in
formed him that the state was one he had
never been in and probably never would he.
Still it was too much for him. He had not
been accustomed TO study conundrums of
that kind. Heartily and Justify did he
laugh over and over again when told that the
state was matrimony. He seemed especially
to appreciate the joke that was on himself.
1t will be remembered that the Governor
was bachelor.
The venerable Nahum Peck in a note to
the St. Adams Messenger, says ''Some per-
sons have asked, What about my brothers
religious yiewsY He was well versed in
Scripture, had always been church going
person, and believed in heaven-revealed
religion. His mind was sound and trans
parently clear till within few hours before
he departed, and his last words on earth and
to me were, and with an emphasis: IL hope
to, and have no fears but that shall, fare
well before and in the hands of the great
Judge"