New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-29
NEW.JERSEY NEWS.
COLONEL JESSE f. PEYTON DEAD.

THE FATHER OF CENTENNIAIS" EXPIRES AT
HIS HOME IN HADDoNFIELD
Haddonheld. April 2S.--Colonel Jesse f. Peyton,
who was known as "1he Father of Centennials,
died al his home here early this morning. after an
illness of nearly FIVE months.
Jesse Elbows Peyton was born November TO- 1915.
In Mayesville Nicholas County, Ky. When twenty
one years ol' he got clerkship in store In Flat
Rock KY. At a salary OF $50 year and board. In
1910 he was In the employ OF William I. Payne, and
there he first met L. s. Grant. then Of Georgetown,
Ohio
When Mr.. Peyton landed in Philadelphia he car
ried letters of Introduction from Henry Clay and
other prominent Kentuckians. He made the ac-
quaintance of a number Of prominent men of the
day and secured place with the drygoods firm of
Gills Co. In 1912 he visited Lexington. Ky. and
told by James B. Clay that his fathers health
was poor and that he also financially embar-
raised and that he would be forced part with his
home. Ashland" the Clay homestead. When P,y-
ton returned TO Philadelphia he went among the
manufacturers and merchants with the result; that
fund sufficient to liquidate Mr.. Cay's debts was
raised, and the great Wing leader never knew who
the men were who contributed the money.
In 1854 Peyton retired from the drygoods business
and became interested in coal lands in what is
West Virginia. He then became interested In poll
tics, and worked hard to the election Of
James Buchanan to the Presidency. In January,
1860 he visited the South, and had long interviews
with many prominent men OF that section regard
ing tho secession movement. At the suggestion
Of President Lincoln he visited Kentucky to do
what he could to induce her to hold her place In
the Union. He told by some OF the old men
Of the State to go home and let Kentucky affairs
alone When he returned North he carried let
ter from Major Anderson, Of Fort Sumter fame,
with authority TO equip a regiment in New-Jersey
for service In Kentucky. When he delivered the
letter to Governor Olden OF tw-Jersey he in
formed that the States quok made up. In
1851 Colonel Young. OF Kentucky. recruited reg
ment, and upon the suggestion of Secretary of War
Cameron Jesse T. Peyton became quartermaster
His was the first regiment of cavalry that reached
Washington after the outbreak of the war. He
never saw actual service. but fitted out Youny's
Kentucky Cavalry and the llth Regiment of Penn
sylvania and paid all the expenses out Of his
he could not make legal claim against either
Government or State.
1t was in 1865 that the Centennial Celebration
suggested itself TO Colonel Peyton. lie was in
Richmond Va. in that year and the outlook
seemed 50 gloomy that he thought reunion OF al
the old American families in Philadelphia in lS'6
would have an excellent effect In cenentins the
differences then existing between the different Sec
tons OF the United States He subsequently, CON
ferred with the descendants Of the signers OF he
scheme feasible and advised him to go ahead and
Cities W and s sG~S
ing the matter pushed to successful conclusion:
he also suggested the centennial annNersary OF
celebration at Yorktown Va.
At a meeting Of the committee Of the Governors
of the original thirteen States in Independence
Hail. Philadelphia. July 1889. TO prepare proper
memorial TO commemorate the first century Of
Constitutional Government. Governor Green, of
New-Jersey. presided. II was at this time that
Colonel Peyton acquired the title Of Centennial
Father"
In politics Colonel Poyton was an ardent Repub-
in 1876. In 1915 ne was married Jane Peterson of
Philadelphia. who bore 70 him three children
Jennie now Mrs Charles H. Hillman; Harry l. Pey-
ton, now in Texas. and John F. Peyton. OF IIaddon-
field