- REV. THOMAS DEWITT PEAKE, A.M., D.D., for several years the
eloquent and devoted
- pastor of the First Methodist Church, of Beloit, is one of
the most influential and efficient representatives of his church
and the gospel to be found in southern Wisconsin, a region of
strong churches and mighty preachers.
- Dr. PEAKE was born near Princeton, Butler Co., Ohio, March
19, 1843, and is a son of
- William Burton and Cynthia (FLENNER) PEAKE, both natives
of Ohio. They had a family of four sons and seven daughters,
and eight of their children are now living: Angeline, a widow,
who first wedded Alexander T. LICK, a prominent lawyer in Indiana,
who was killed in the war of the Rebellion, and later married
John CHIDESTER, now deceased; Joseph S., of Flora, Ill.; Mary,
wife of Bishop Halleck FLOYD, of Dublin, Ind.; Rev. T. DeWitt,
our subject; Carrie, wife of James MAJOR, a hotel-keeper at Flora,
Ill.; Calastine, widow of James MANKER, of Clay City, Ill.; Rev.
RUDOLPH, a minister of the Advent faith in Kansas; and Louisa,
wife of Rev. C. A. BECKETT, of Olney, Illinois.
- William B. PEAKE was a farmer. He moved from Butler County,
Ohio, into Shelby County,
- Ind., about 1852, and lived there some twelve years, removing
from Indiana to Flora, Ill., at the expiration of that period,
and still continued farming for some years. When old age forbade
his further sowing and reaping, Mr. PEAKE made his home in Flora,
where he died at the age of eighty-four, full of years and of
honor. His wife died several years previously, when about sixty-eight
years of age. Both were Methodists, and Mr. PEAKE was a minister
at one time. He was a talented man, and did good to his day
and generation. His father was Joseph PEAKE, a native of Virginia,
a farmer, and of English descent. He had six or seven children,
and died in Butler County, Ohio, when sixty years old. David
FLENNER, the father of Mrs. William B. PEAKE, was a native of
Pennsylvania, of German descent. He was a farmer, reared a large
family, and died in Butler County, Ohio, in old age.
- Rev. Dr. PEAKE was reared on the farm, and spent the first
seventeen years of his life under the
- parental roof. He attended the local schools and Hartsville
University, Indiana, where he received a classical education,
with a view to entering the ministry. He taught school in Ohio
several years, and during his period of teaching was attracted
very strongly toward the law. But later, on strong conscientious
grounds, he returned to his first ambitions, and became a preacher.
He had his first charge in Highland County, Ohio, a field of
labor known as the Newmarket circuit, and rode circuits for several
years, his appointments frequently calling for three sermons
on Sunday and a journey of twenty-five miles or more. He was
station at Milford, Yellow Springs, Portsmouth, and Pomeroy Ohio,
and from the last place was transferred to the Wisconsin Conference
and assigned to the Court Street Methodist Episcopal Church,
Janesville; he held that important charge three years. He was
at Merrill four years, at Beaver Dam three years, and four years
ago came from that city to Beloit, holding his work here four
years with increasing success and satisfaction.
- Dr. PEAKE and Miss Lida VAIL, a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth
(VAIL) VAIL were united
- in marriage April 20, 1870. Mrs. PEAKE is in every way a
worthy companion and associate of her gifted husband. Eight
children have come to bless their union, Elmore Elliott, Quesnal
DeWitt, Harriet Neff, Prue Ferren, Frederick Robertson, Noon
Talford, Carrie Pearne and Edward Payson. Elmore Elliott is
a literary man, his contributions appearing in the leading magazines
of the country, and author of "The Darlingtons," one
of the popular novels of the day, published in 1900. Quesnal
DeWitt is a newspaper man at Green Bay, Wis.; he married Isora
HANSEN, and they have one child, Elmore Elliott. Harriett married
Burt S. BARBER, of Beaver Dam, Wis., where she died when twenty-two
years old. Prue Ferrern died when an infant six weeks old.
Frederick R. died at Portsmouth, Ohio, an infant of fifteen months.
Noon Talford died at New Carlisle, Ohio, when sixteen months
old. Carrie Pearne is living with her parents; she is a very
gifted woman and a fine singer. Edward Payson died at Merrill,
Wis., when six years old. Mr. PEAKE is a Mason of the thirty-second
degree. His Blue Lodge is in Milford, Ohio, his Chapter at New
Carlisle, and his Consistory at Cincinnati. Both the Doctor
and his wife belong to the Beloit Lodge of the Order of the Eastern
Star.
- During the war Dr. PEAKE was a revenue officer of the government
at Shelbyville, Ind. When
- he was in Ohio he was appointed by the judge of the circuit
court a member of the board of inspection for the examination
of public buildings. He had two brothers in the Union army,
and was himself connected with the 67th Ind. V.I., but saw no
field service of any account.
- Dr. PEAKE is a writer of much force and power. He has published
a book on "Sanctification,"
- and one on the "Symbolism of Solomon's Temple,"
a book on the teachings of Masonry. Many of his sermons have
been printed and widely read. Mr. PEAKE is an eloquent and popular
speaker, and his style is peculiar to himself. He is a close
reasoner and a hard worker, and wherever he has been he has left
behind him an enviable reputation as a loyal and devoted pastor.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 261-262.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|