Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-10
DR.. PEABODY PASSES AWAY
PiOnser Omaha Physician suoeumbs at
Last TO Long Illness.
LIFE DEspAlRtD OF FOR MANY MONTHS
Deceased HAD for Years Been . PROM
inent Figure Not only In His Pre-
fession, hut In Politics ana
Loyal Legion Circles.

DR. J. II. Peabody, for many years one OF
Omshas most prominent physicians died
at o'clock Sunday morning at st. Josephs
hospital.
DR.. Peabody was born in Washington, ID.
c., March I, 1893. and came to Omaha July
H. 1851, as medical director of the District
OF Nebraska. From 1s47 to 1852 DR.. Peabody
was a page in the national house Of repre-
sentatives and afterwards became clerk
in the pension and land Offices. II was dur
ing this period of his life he began to
study medicine at the Washington school,
and when the war of the states broke out
he Joined the union army as a medical
oficer. remaining in the service until the
close Of the war. He was discharged from
the service IN 1856 with the rank Of brcvet
lieutenant colonel. DIR. Peabody then took
course in the New York hospitals and re-
turned to Omaha and began the active
practice OF medicine which he continued
with marked success until death.
In 1897 Dr. Peabody was appointed a
member Of the Board OF Fire and Police
commissioners by Governor Holcomb, for a
term OF two years. Before his term ex-
pired, however, by decision of the SUI
preme court, which was that the appointing
power was in the hands of the mayor, he
| lost the position. which was the only local
ONCE he ever held.
Incident of Political Career.
It was during DR.. Peabodys term of
office in 1897 that Martin White was APP
pointed chief OF police. after most bitter
contest in which charges were made that
members of the board had been approached
| to get them to vote for White for chief
When the charges were published an in
vestlgation was made and II was brought
out that DR. Peabody had been approached
and offered the position of health commits
sioner II he would vote for White for chief
of police. r. l.. Metcalfe, then editor OF
the World Herald, testified that Or. Pea
| body had told him as much.
That's correct interrupted DR.. Peabody
when Metcalfe testified. but didn't think
IL worth while publishing" Later DR.
Peabody said while he had been offered tbs
place, he thought the agent who had mad,
the proposition so insignificant he did not
| think 1t worth while TO even make the
| facts public. y
Incidentally. the board found after care
full investigation there was no foundation
for the story that any member OF ths
board had shown symptoms OF going wronl
or OF inviting any one to approach him.
Or. Peabody was affillated with the popu
list party in Nebraska. and was frequently
the standard bearer of his party in Omaha
Belonging to the minority party. however
he was never elected TO ONCE. He STOOD
high in his profession and during his life
enjoyed a lucrative practice.
sick for Long Time. ~
The illness from which DIR, Peabody diet
began to show itself to such an extent tina
he was obliged to suspend active practic,
about May /, of the present year. H,
went to st. Joseph's hospital and for I
while life was despaired Of, but eventual,
he began to rally and after several week.
was able to leave the hospital. It was ther
planned that he should go TO Florida, I,
the home Of his son, John. but before n
really got started, the illness resumed an,
he was obliged to return to the hospital.
That was but about three weeks ago an,
but for periods of slight rallies, IL was !,
continual downward course until dealt
came. The one son is all that now remain
OF the family. DIR. Peabody was twic
married, the first wife having died abou
twenty-five years ago and the second abou
three years ago. 3.
The funeral will held Tuesday. Afternoon
and will be under the auspices of the Loya
Legion. Intement will be at Prospect Hill
cemetery