Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-12-17
A BRIEF SKETCH
Of the Late Daniel Peck, and Inter
esting "reminiscences Of His
Career.

The subject of this sketch was one Of
the most remarkable men this new coun
try has ever Produced and if he had
possessed any desire for public station
or ambition for political distinction, he
might easily have become one of the
most celebrated. And although his
fame is limited to a narrower horizon
than that of senatorial statesman, yet
in that circle he had few equals and nc
superiors in either mental ability or that
solid and noble character which secures
enduring honor and respect among his
fellow citizens.
Born at that age in our country's his
tory, and under those circumstances
where poverty was the condition of all
the country people, he had none of the
possibilities even of an education, and
no advantages Of the culture of polite
society. But with the natural instincts
of q gentleman, far better possession
than the lineage of noble blood, with sin
cerity of purpose, purity Of motive. and
untiring industry, he made himself one
of the most agreeable companions, one
of the most cultured minds, and one OF
the ablest lawyers in this country, whose
gentle manners, ready wit and guileless
friendship made him priced by every
heart and in every home where he was
known.
Daniel Peck was born in 1898, IN Wood.
stock, Windsor county, Vermont. His
mothers maiden name was Anna Dow
cousin of the eccentric but justly cele
brated itinerant evangelist, Lorenzo Dow
His ancestors Oh his fathers side were
English; on his mothers, German. His
father, Samuel Peck, was not prosper+
Gus or business like man, although in
every way a good man, and trained his
children in all the solid virtues Of hon.
esty, truth, sobriety and industry. Mr.
Peck remembered, and would relate to
the children he loved so well, his trials
in the clearing up of two farms in ths
rugged woods of Vermont and New
York, the titles to both of which were
lost by his father, after he had expended
great labors in establishing homes OF
them. The family removed, first from
Woodstock, Vermont, to Essex county
New York, when young Daniel, the old
est child, was but six years Of age, trsv-
cling with a team of two hsrses and q
large sled, which carried the family and
all their worldly goods, crossing the
Green Mountains in mid winter and
Lake Champlain on the ice. This new
settlement was made about 1904, and the
site selected for the future home of the
family was little valley between two
high and projecting spurs of the Adiron
dack mountains. The great prairies OF
Illinois were at that time wholly unheard
of and utterly unknown to the farmers
of the Empire State.
Here Daniel Peck laid the foundation
of his superb health and great physical
strength and endurance, which served
him so we'll, and enabled him to carry
such loads and accomplish such tasks in
after life. .As he said of himself, be was
thorough boy. He would climb noun.
tains for the pleasure of sending great
stones crashing to the valley below. He
was an expert hunter, and no disciple OF
Isaak Walton could excel him with the
rod and line. The woods we're alive with
wild game, and bears were even too com.
mon for game, and had to be watched
out of the corn fields, as might band oi
unruly hogs. His youth was as free as
the ar. and full Of pioneer adventure.
He was ten years old before he evel
had the opportunity Of attending a re-
ligieus meeting for public service. When
he was about fifteen years of age, he was
sent to writing school to learn to write
He had to walk distance of four ano
one>half miles to this school every day
He attended for three weeks, and the
teacher kept him making pot hooks" al
the time. to which fact he attributed hi.
well known bad style of penmanship
which he declared to be nothing but 4
slight modification Of his old pot hook
copies.
While residing at this place, youns
Peck was brought into the immediat, t,