Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-27


 Nathan Peck.
 Nathan Peck, president of the Merchants National bank, died yesterday afternoon at o'clock. The immediate cause of death was congestion of the brain, resulting from the accident he met with on Monday, Jan. 1Gth. The great shock his system received and his advanced age rendered his recovery matter of grave doubt from the first. His unusual
 ly sound constitution and the favorable
 symptoms at first developed gave rise to hope
 that this valuable and estimable citizen
 might be spared for further usefulness, but supervened rendering the case almost hope less. Yesterday morning very alarming symptoms appeared and he sank rapidly. The only remaining members of the family circle his son MT. Robert Peck and daugh- ter, Mrs. Dr. Robert Stone, of Yonkers, and her husband, were with the deceased during his illness also with him at the last were other relatives, including his only sister, widow of the late Rev. John Churchill. His wife, an estimable lady, died about forty years ago, and he never married again. The news. of MT. Pecks death causes many sin cere regrets and his memory will be warmly cherished. He was eminently 8 wise, dis erect, conservative and good man. He was a clear r-headed sagacious business man. In disposition he was retiring and unassuming. He was benevolent man, and many were his charitable acts silently performed. He ky> fIa Iyro nd 1IG- tressed when in his power. He was one of l the founders and the first and only president of the Merchants bank The bank was founded in 1851. Previously Mir. Peck had been director and prominently engaged in { the management of the Mechanics bank. For thirty years therefore, and more, he had filled the responsible position of a bank pres ident, and he had conducted the affairs of the Merchants with marked ability, He had al- ! ready passed half century of life before 1 taking that position. Previously he had had quite an extensive business career. He be- 1, came identified with the West India trade, in { which his father had become engaged and the business grew and prospered on their ! hands. Mr. Peck's father, whose name was Nathan Peck, was Milford man and when in middle life or later removed to this city: The family homestead was long at the junc- ton of Congress avenue and Meadow street. After his father died, the West India trade ! having in the meantime increased rapidly, the son remained at the head of the firm, I managing it alone for 6 number of years. It was very successful enterprise ! and laid the foundation for what was in after years considered 8 hand \ some fortunes and to which have since \ been added the accumulations of careful in- l vestments in various successful business un- ! dertakings. Before his brother Henry E. Peck died he also took lively and active in- \ terest in the development of the West India trade in conjunction with his brother. The demise of Henry left the responsibility and management entirely in the hands of Nathan, 1 and to it he devoted all his energies until he ! went out of the business
 1 The deceased was native of New Haven. His age was seventy nine years Beside Nathan i there were two other brothers, Willis and i Henry E., and one sister. The sister became Mrs. Rev. Dr. John Churchill, long one ot the prominent Congregational clergymen ot I Connecticut, who died not long ago. The
 ! brothers Willis and Henry E. died years ago. The latter was graduate of Yale Law
 school and for 9 time after graduation was one of the editors of the JOURNAL AND CoUR-
 ' TER. He is remembered also as very fine speaker. Willis, some of our citizens recall, ! was at one time associated in business with
 the father of Wm. D. Bryan and their store \ was where the New Haven House now stands. ! The Merchants bank for while after it was
 started was located on Chapel street in Mar. ble block, between State and Orange streets, ! afterwards in Exchange building, and finally
 ! the fine banking house it, occupies was erect ! ed.
 l Mir. Peck was financially interested in va- ! rious other enterprises. He was at one inc l considerably interested in the saltpe ire l works, East Haven. He had been for some ! time director in the Victer Sewing Machine company, Middletown, in which several New { Haven men are interested. He was also in ! terested in the Cheshire Mining company He took deep interest in historical affairs | and was long connected with the New Ha- | ven Historical society, of which he was treas urer. He never sought or desired political ! office. His tastes were not in that direction. In politics he was formerly 8 Whig, ! laGGeTly DomOcrdG f1o was HI earu | est Christian, for many years membe, | of the North church at one time the church 1 treasurer. The deceased lost 8 daughter l about 16 years ago. He went South with her for the benefit of her health. She died on the return trip from Florida. The father 1 of Mir. Peck was prominent for long time l in the stage coach and mail route service be- tween New York and Boston, and old resi-
 dents speaking of the matter yesterday re l called to mind that he had large l stables near the corner of Church and George streets, where MT. Goodyear's market is now. The firm was Peck & Babcock 1 He owned extensively of meadow land and unimproved land for building purposes ir the southwestern portion of the city. He ! owned the Congress avenue meadows, and g ! considerable part of what is now Evergreen
 ! cemetery was owned by him and was pur
 I chased of the son Nathan and other heirs | MT. Peck, the subject of these lines, was 6 prominent friend of the Orphan Asylum and
 1 liberal benefactor of that institution. Ht
 1 lived 8 long, useful, blameless and honorable
 l life, and his death removes 8 valuable citize1
 from the community.
 Entertainments.