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