Douglas Peck, one of the very earliest settlers of Clayton County, was born in New York, Jan. 7, 1821, and was a son of Palmer and Clarissa H. Peck, nee Douglas, natives of New London County, Conn. They died in New York State, where they located in an early day. The subject of this memoir came to Iowa in 1841, and finding the State very new he took his trusty rifle and with it, for twelve years, he probably killed more bears, wolves, deer and wild turkeys than any man in this part of the States; the stories of his excursions, hunts and fights with panthers and bear would fill a good sized volume with interest. In 1848 he married Catherine Gillett, who died in 1856, and in 1858 he married Mary, daugher of Abraham and Margaret (Merriman) Hought, natives of Fayette County, Penn., where Abraham died. Margaret is now living with Mr. Peck's family. By this union there are seven children--Richard William, born Aug. 11, 1859; Albert D. born Oct. 22, 1861 (deceased); Mary C. born July 25, 1864; Clarissa, Born Jan. 25, 1867; Margaret, born Sept. 28, 1868; Samuel Isaac, born May 10, 1874; Nancy Bell, born Feb. 1, 1876. Mrs. Peck is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Peck votes an independent ticket. He owns 120 acres of and on section 21, which is finely improved. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 923-924 |