In the vicinity of Ottawa, LaSalle county, is some of the finest farm land in the northern part of Illinois, and much of the prosperity of this section is due to this fact and to one other of equal importance, that the agriculturists hereabouts are thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the times and are progressive in the extreme.
One of the successful farmers of this locality is Henry Peck, whose birth occurred in the town of Ottawa, September 27, 1846. He is a son of David and Jane (Griffith) Peck and a grandson of Baker Peck, who was a native of Vermont. David Peck was born in Clark county, Ohio, where his father had located at an early day. When grown to manhood he mastered the trades of brick-mason and tailor, and, concluding that he would fare better in the west, where towns were rapidly being built up, he came to Ottawa. Here he found plenty of employment for years, but when still in his prime he was summoned to the home beyond. He left four children, namely: Anna, who is the wife of Albert McIntyre, and Ruth, May and Henry. The mother subsequently (about 1858) became the wife of James Pickens.
In his boyhood and youth Henry Peck attended the schools of Ottawa, worked on the farm and clerked in a dry-goods store. In 1882 he took up his abode on the fine homestead where he is still living. It is located but half a mile from the town, and was formerly the property of the Rev. Justice M. Clark. Mr. Peck is extensively engaged in the stock business, buying and selling cattle and hogs, and in addition to that line of enterprise he has given some attention to dairying of late years, having numerous customers in Ottawa.
When he was twenty-five years of age Mr. Peck married Addie, daughter of James Pickens, and several years afterward she died, leaving two children. Fred, now in his twenty-fifth year, was one of the patriotic young men who responded to his country's call in the Spanish-American war, and served under Colonel Bennett as a member of Company C. Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Nellie, the daughter, became the wife of Cyrus P. Bradish, who is deceased. In 1882 Mr. Peck wedded Miss Sarah Farnsworth, a daughter of Robert Farnsworth, and live children bless their union, namely: Bertha, Edward, Jane, Belle and Joseph.
Mr. Peck is connected with the Masonic order, being a member of Occidental Lodge, No. 40. In his political creed he is a Democrat.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 123-124.
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