Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Peck, was born July 5, 1762, and lived in
Hamden, where he died August 9, 1845.
He married Olive Chatterton, daughter
of Wait and Susanna (Dickerman) Chatterton,
of Hamden.
Zeri Peck, son of Joseph Peck, was
born April 2, 1794, and died May 29, 1867.
He was the owner of a large farm at Mt.
Carmel, Hamden, Connecticut, and in
addition was the owner of a blacksmith
shop, which he conducted successfully for
many years. He married Alma Warner,
who passed away at the advanced age of
over ninety years. They were the par-
ents of Friend Joseph, of whom further.
Friend Joseph Peck, son of Zeri and
Alma (Warner) Peck, was born in Hamden,
Connecticut, July 31, 1847, where he
is now living in retirement, in the house
built by his grandfather. He has always
been a farmer, is a Democrat in politics,
and a prominent man in the community,
having served as a member of the Legis-
lature, in 191 1, and on the Board of Fi-
nance. He followed the dairy business
for some thirty-five years in all, but is
now retired from active pursuits. He and
his wife are members of the Congregational
church. He married Alice Northrup,
who was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut,
a daughter of George and Laura
(Truesdale) Northup, of that region. Mr.
and Mrs. Peck are the parents of five
children : Leon
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Friend, of whom further ;
Florence M., who was educated at the
private school of Miss Orton and Miss
Nichols, in New Haven, and later at Bel-
mont College, Nashville, Tennessee ; Alice
D., who was educated at the Normal
School in New Haven ; and two children
who died in infancy. Miss Florence M.
Peck is widely known as an educator, and
is at present principal and proprietor of
the Phelps School at Hillfield-Mount
Carmel, Connecticut, where she teaches
Latin, mathematics and French. This
208
modern girls' school provides special and
advanced courses and a two year inter-
mediate course for younger girls, and is
very delightfully situated within a few
minutes' ride of New Haven. Miss Alice
D. Peck is also associated with this
school.
Leon Friend Peck, son of Friend Joseph
Peck, gained the preliminary portion
of his education at Cheshire Military
Academy, where he was prepared for col-
lege, and from which he was graduated
in 1892. He later entered the Sheffield
Scientific School of Yale University,
where he took an engineering course and
graduated with the class of 1897 and the
degree of Ph. B. He has specialized in
civil engineering, and began his active
career by taking a position with a civil
engineer in Torrington, Connecticut.
Here he remained for about a year and
then, on September 1, 1898, went to
Greenwich, Connecticut, with S. E.
Minor, a civil engineer, who had a gen-
eral private and municipal practice there.
Young Mr. Peck became his chief assistant
engineer. In October, 1909, he was
elected superintendent of highways in
Greenwich. In this capacity he made so
great a success that he was invited to
come to Hartford, Connecticut, as super-
intendent of streets. Accepting this offer,
he came to Hartford-on April 1, 1913, and
has served in that capacity ever since,
with the highest degree of efficiency and
disinterestedness. He has been one of
the most capable superintendent of streets
that Hartford has ever had and has won
an enviable reputation in the city. There
are employed under him an average of
three hundred and fifty men who are under
the direct charge of foremen and inspectors
to the number of nineteen, and the responsibility
for the conduct of the entire complex
department rests entirely upon Mr.
Peck's shoulders. Mr. Peck has always