West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-10-05
THE FAMOUS HUMORIsT.
His Early Life and Trials.-Author OF
"Peck's Bad Boy" and Now Gov.
ern0r OF Wisconsin.
GOVERNOR PEcK.

erhoT Oi WISCONSIN.
"If had been as proud as | was
poor for forty years." sand Gov.
George W. Peck, of Wisconsin, a
short time ago, in commenting on
his rise in life, "l would have been
the must stuck.up man in all the
Northwest.
When about twenty years OF age
he was employed to go to Jancsville
and become chief clerk in nam.
moth hotel which had been built
there by some man who had an
idea that the centre of the universe
would soon shift to that city and il
was well to be in advance of the
shift and catch the sliding mass OF
humanity MS it swept by. Beyond
the pleasure OF being described in
the GAINESVILLE Screechcr as the "thc
genial chief clerk of the Park" the
compensation of the position was
anything but satisfactory. The
proprietor learned early that he had
made a mistake in the hotel ven
turc, aud it soon became a part Of
the duties Of the chief clerk to
stand of the people with bills for
provisions. To add to the horrors
of the situation, the chief clerk,
when brought into prominence and
the promise of future subsistence
by tho gift of his position ut the
Park, believed that he could sup
port wife. lie rcmem bered a
maiden who had been the direct
cause OF numerous rides from
Whitewater to Dclavan. u distance
Of about eighteen miles. Franccna
Rowley had consented to share his
fortune, for better or for worse, and
1t was only few short weeks after
the wedding when she had every
reason to believe that il was for
worse. The hotel was closed mp
and the chief clerk out of q job
with scarcely money enough left in
his pocket to pay his fare to the
home of his father. lie was adrift
now, with wife to support and
only his trade as guarantee of
provisions. In looking about for
something to do he found that the
Jefferson County Republican had
been purchased by man who knew
nothing about the printing business
and was anxious TO have partner
who did. George struck bargain
with HIM and consented to assume
the burden of half interest in the
enterprise. But, as he said in his
later days, he bought with wind,
and it was only short timo before
it commenced TO blow gale and
finally blew him ont OF the Office,
he having "soId" his half interest.
Then he went to the State capital
and secured employment in tho
Office of David Atwood, State Prin.
ter, late in 1861. III Jobs turkey
was any poorer than Peck there is o
question whether it would have
lived to enjoy as much Of history
as it does. lie and his wife occu.
pied rooms in a little house which
still stands in Wisconsin's capital,
and it was there that his first child
was born, now Col. George Peck,
Jr. The weekly wages Of the prin.
ter ut that time hardly gave him
enough to make much Of showing
in housekeeping, and between doc.
tors bills aud the supplying OF the
necessaries of life he could not find
mach in his existence to turn iuto
sunshine, and yet those now living
who were associates with him at the
case then say that he never lost his
temper, but was ever the drst 20
crack a joke or lend helping hand
to his fellows. Generous TO fault,
with an absolute inability to say no
when asked for contributions
towards some charitable object.
whether worthy or questionable in
ia wfedom no seldom had -.