OSCAR L. PECK

Oscar L. Peck, who is a well known farmer of section 9, Morgan township, was born upon the family homestead in that township, January 7, 1876. His father, Hiram Peck, was born in Ohio of Dutch ancestry and during his early life taught school and also followed the carpenter’s trade. After removing to Morgan township, this county, he purchased land, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres, which he cultivated successfully for many years. He was married in Lineville, Iowa in 1870 to Miss Lucy Bellows, whose birth occurred on the 15^th of October, 1855, in Morgan township. Her parents, Smith and Emaline Bellows, were pioneer settlers of this county, but previous to removing here resided in Illinois. The father died upon his farm in Morgan township, but his wife survives and now makes her home in Lineville, Iowa. Hiram Peck passed away on the 15^th of November, 1902, and following his demise his wife continued to reside upon the farm with the younger children until 1914, when she removed to Leon where she is still living. They were the parents of eleven children: Oscar L.; Wilbert, deceased; Francis who is living in Colorado; Clyde, of Oklahoma; Inez, the wife of Frank Warnock, who is living in the vicinity of Lineville, Iowa; Ruby, who married Oscar
Vaughn, of Morgan township; Helen the wife of James Grogan, of Morgan township; Guy, who is living in Storm Lake, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Stokes Moore, of Corydon, Iowa; Horace, deceased; and a daughter who died in infancy.

Oscar L. Peck attended the public schools in his boyhood and youth and thus acquired his education. He remained at home and gave his father the benefit of his labor until he was twenty-three years of age, when he began farming for himself, renting farms in Hamilton and Woodland townships for three years. In 1903 he purchased one hundred and fourteen acres on section 9, Morgan township, and in the intervening years has added thereto until his holdings now comprise one hundred and ninety acres of land, all of which is well improved. He does all of the work connected with the operation of the farm by himself and is meeting with gratifying success as a farmer and stock-raiser. He breeds high grade cattle and hogs, which he ships to the St. Joseph, Chicago and Kansas City markets.

Mr. Peck was married on the 19^th of November, 1900, to Miss Nellie Scott, a daughter of Dr. William H. H. and Louisa (Richardson) Scott. Her father was a native of Bartholomew county, Indiana, and came of Irish ancestry. He was born on the 14^th of December, 1840, and remained in his native state until he was eleven years of age, when he removed with his parents to Missouri. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. For fourteen months he was confined in the Confederate prison at Tyler,, Texas. He grated from Keokuk Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, and in 1891, went to Cushing, Oklahoma, taking up a claim in Payne county, which he improved and operated. At the same time he continued to practice his profession, in which he gained an enviable reputation. He was also prominent in public affairs and represented Payne county in the territorial legislature of Oklahoma, proving an efficient working member of that body. He passed away at his home in Cushing on the 6^th of November, 1908, when sixty-seven years of age. He was married in 1866 in Mercer county, Missouri, to Miss Louisa Richardson, who was born in Delaware county, Ohio, November 19, 1845, and who is of Irish descent. She survives and still makes her home in Cushing.

Mr. Peck is a republican and staunchly supports the candidates of that party at the polls. He is now serving his fifth year as trustee of Morgan township, was for three years treasurer of the school board and for five terms has been a school director. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Lineville, and he wife is a member of the Rebekahs. They are numbered among the prosperous and public-spirited citizens their township and are widely and favorably known.