John Peck
Taken From the Henry Republican
July 6, 1871
The Death of Mr. Peck
Mr. John Peck, the county superintendent is dead! Dead! What a deep thrill of anguish shoots through the hearts of his friends as these words are repeated. Marshall county first feels the shock, and spreads far around Woodford, and a portion of LaSalle, Peoria and Bureau, where he had warm, true friends. How many faces have paled, and smiles faded, during the last week as the woeful tidings were told to some newly arrived friend, and was echoes and repeated again and again.
Teachers look sad and pupils think with a sigh that they will never see that pleasant face again. No wonder teachers look sad. Few superintendents were as truly the friends of each teacher, or took such deep interest in each scholar’s progression, or endeavored so hard to encourage teachers and pupils. Groups of people declare Marshall county has met with a great loss, that his place will not soon be filled with one so efficient, so thoroughly alive, whose whole soul will seem thrown into his work.
Mr. Peck had the peculiar faculty of making every one feel that he was their own special friend; that their joys or troubles interested him more than others. Some called him deceptive, others a shrewd diplomatist, but the fact was, he only threw himself wholly into the present work, whatever it might be. We know not how well versed the readers of The Republican may be in Mr. Peck’s history; we will review a little of it for the benefit of those interested.
He was a native of the state of New Jersey. His father was a physician of limited means, hence able to give his children nothing more than a common school education. We believe the first school Mr. Peck taught was the "Buttonwood" where he had long attended school, also that the position was offered to him, not solicited by him. Even then he was ambitious to excel, and spent his hours of leisure in study. He received considerable assistance from an uncle who resided near, whose knowledge seemed unlimited to John and Mahlon, who was also studying. The two brothers came to Illinois together about 20 years ago. John spent his first years in this state at various employments, but finally concluded school teaching was the occupation for which he was best calculated.
His career since 1860 had been most successful. The winters of ‘60 and’61 he taught a large district school in Woodford county, and was so successful there the patrons and directors were glad to secure his services in the Minonk public school. There he taught several successive terms, giving general satisfaction. We know many who think that he taught in a manner superior to all whom they had or have tried as teachers, and who would have rejoiced to again obtain his services. From Minonk he went five miles north on the Central railroad and built up a good school at New Rutland. While he was there a new school building was erected and school matters in general were attended to. There are many in that vicinity who will long feel that they have lost a true, a noble friend.
He came from Rutland to our little city of Henry, and long and faithfully he labored. How much we will miss him we each know. We will offer no encomiums, will make no grand parade of our feelings, and are quiet respecting his many virtues, because we all know them so well. We can each see in the countenance of his neighbor that all is known, and we clasp hands quietly and pass on. Mr. Peck has a brother living in this state, and one in New Jersey, and a sister living in Henry, who will mourn his loss as only one can who trusts so implicitly in a brother’s honor as did Mrs. Smith. Would that we could in some way alleviate the sorrow of one who has already borne so much.
Almost every one knows that Mr. Peck bore proudly the (generally) opprobrious name of bachelor. He have often heard him jest about his state of "single blessedness," and say when he was young he was not in a suitable position to marry, and now it was "hard to find the one just suited to his mind." The motto of the deceased was "upward." He planned and studied with an invincible determination. Said he to us last autumn, "I have known myself capable of sustaining this position, and I meant to do it, and now I am going higher." We asked him if he were contented. "Oh yes, I am contented for the time being, just as one is contented on one round of a ladder till he can mount one higher; so I am contented till I can do something else that is better."
However, he never allowed his ambition to keep him quiet, or to remit one of his self-imposed duties, but it spurred him onward at every moment. His career is another evidence of the success attendant upon effort, courage and ambition. Had he lived - but oh! the hat of the Almighty called him from earth at a time which the All-wise, All-seeing eye saw to be the best, and we short-sighted mortals will not quarrel with the divine decree. Let us trust that he has reached the top of the ladder which extends higher than imagination can reach, and that his highest, holiest ambition is crowned in heaven.
N. H. N.
July 6, 1871
Further Particulars of Mr. Peck’s Death.
The particulars concerning the death of Mr. John Peck, are these: He was on a freight train, and on the inside of the caboose. The car ran off the track while the train was running at moderate speed and upset. The conductor was with Mr. Peck, saw the danger and jumped off, telling John to follow; but Mr. Peck was not quick enough, and as the car went over he went with it, and also a large box containing iron repairs for emergencies, which struck him or he it with great force, breaking his right arm just below the shoulder joint, also tow ribs, and producing a concussion of the right side of the Brian, rendering him unconscious, in which state he lay until his death 30 hours afterward. The accident occurred June 23d, on the New Jersey road, at a place called Woodbury, some 16 or 20 miles from Mr. P’s native place. His brother and other friends were immediately notified, and an old intimate physician of Mr. Peck’s attended him up to the moment of his death. He was buried in the family cemetery at home, along side of his parents and a sister, who had been dead several years. It is a severe blow to all his friends, but his virtues will be cherished and his memory precious.
Taken From the Henry Republican
May 25, 1876
The following names are persons who have received certificates as school teachers from County Superintendent Edwards, dating from Jan. 1st to May 15th inst.:
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Teachers For 1877
March 22, 1877
Henry Republican
Local Correspondence - Whitefield
Miss Hattie Stowe of Henry has been engaged to teach at the Red school house this summer, and Miss Lizzie Ramsey at Sugar Grove.
Miscellaneous School News
September 5, 1878
School News
The school house on the hill has been leased by the Catholic people, who have opened a school under the charge of the sisters of mercy.
Mrs. Wm. B. Thomas has opened a seminary in Lacon, and has sent abroad for teachers, who come highly recommended. Pupils of all ages will be provided for, and instructions given in all of the sciences and languages, as well as the common branches.
LaPrairie - Miss Nettie Hill has taken the school at Forest Grove for a year.
LaPrairie - Miss Emily Hurd is to teach in District No. 4 this fall and winter.
September 18, 1879
Our School Teachers
The following list embrace the names of persons who have received certificates for school teaching, from Superintendent Edwards, in Marshall county, issued by him from October 1, 1878 to September 1, 1879, and furnished by him for publication:
Ladies
Margaret Maloney Ida Allen Mary Roche Mrs. W. C. Finney Mrs. Maria Maxwell Laura E. Henthorn Mrs. Anna L. Short Lucy Gaston Lizzie J. Grinn Jennie E. Russell Mary L. Boice Marcia Griswold Catharine Monaghan Emma A. Ross Mary J. Martin Lydia A. Gallup Abbie D. Cotton Ida Hall Jennie E. Hall Julia A. Murray Hannah Wilson Mary Downey Mrs. Melissa McGill Lizzie Ramsey Mollie E. Vernay Clara Vernay Eva Hazard Eva Hall Nellie Hade Mary Butler Kate E. Patch Rosie Spencer Lillie Disosway Maria Van Allen Martha Greenough M. Alice Jones Isabella Martin Tillie Barton Sadie Albertson Effie B. Callen Hellen F. Colter Ida Warner Mary Erskine Jennie Sparling Sadie M. Raley Belle H. Raley Anna Orr Anne Heslet Lucy Baker Ruth Chamberlain Mrs. W. A. Matthews Ida Caldwell Anna B. Thompson Florence E. Broaddus Mrs. Carrie Buckingham Maggie Merritt Charlott Holmes Laura Kinkendall Elise Helper Belie Neal Hattie Renwick Julia Dun N. J. Rogers Clara Boshell Christiana Smith Hannah M. Berry Ella Worley Jennie Monier Lessie Doran Mary Brant Ella Coffman Carrie A. Hall Grace Mateer Sarah Martin Mary M. Ball Kattie M. Holloway Fannie M. Wright Mary Smith Mollie E. Gapen Laura L. Fisher Jane A. Robson Ella B. Ford Florence J. Russell Kittie Briggs Maggie Taylor Hattie Keller Maggie Work Miriam Barney Sarah J. Henthorn M. A. Grinn Maggie Greenough Mattie Berry Mary Hutchison Mary L. Garrison Jennie M. Robbins Julia L. Madely Lucy Mateer Stella Motter Mary Tomlinson Ida Wanser Alice E. Oblinger Della Harrinton Flora Worley Gentlemen Nathan Q. Tanquary Frank Griffin Stephen E. Boots Edward R. Hannum Charles R. Vandervort William H. Taylor J. R. Eward Charles B. Cross A. E. Hayden Millard F. Bonham Isaac N. Martin Theordore Axline W. H. Kister Judson P. Durham Herny H. Judson John L. McCullough Willis E. Biggs Frank L. C. Hall Winslow Evans James A. Kreider John Richmond A. S. Wright John M. Hayes Frank Nighswonger Wilson Odell H. S. Van Patten Jesse Morgar A. G. Hoswell W. H. Harney Harrison Kerrick William Nighswonger L. B. Irwin William P. Laswell J. M. Wright Arthur F. Treakle J. L. Will Matthew Van Patten J. R. Lytle James R. Mitchell A. M. Irwin William A. Matthews Hiram V. Crossland Lewis L. Dougherty J. W. Hiett
SNYNOPSIS OF THE NEW SCHOOL LAW FOR TEACHERS
C. S. Edwards, Jr.
C. Sup't of schools
Henry Public School Notes
Taken From the Henry Republican
June 8, 1882
Names of pupils neither tardy nor absent during the month of May:
1st primary
Frankie Gates, Clifford Kelley, Jessie Gates, Bennett Fitzer, Harry Reuser, Edith Harris, Marry Morrison, Fannie Horner, Dora Wernoer, Hattie Murray - 10
2d Primary
Harry Jones, Fred Paskell, Stanley Hall, Lutie Powell, Jamie Law, John Lytle, Robbie Eckhart, Mikie Louis, Ira Brown, John Ganzer, George Verden, Fred Camery, Pattie McManus, Willie York, Lena Robinson, Hattie Ward, Jennie Hutchins, Laura Horr, Nannie Payton, Kate Verden, Fanny Smith, Bell Smith, Nina Zeirlein, Bertha Brown, Lola Bark - 25
3d Primary
Maria Wetzel, Irene McNeal, Emma Colligan, Lulu Snyder, Katie Payton, Lena Noll, Clara Helm, Harrie Perley, Maud Camery, Augusta Ponsor, Otto Ponsor, Allan Fox, Willard Anderson, Jessie Lea, Arnold Sherman, Freddie Becker, Charley Kirchman, Johnny Noll, Dennis Hartley, Alvin Brown, Ernest Ponsor - 21
1st Intermediate
Nellie McCuen, Addie Harris, Kate Colligan, Lizzie Smith, Dora Grawburg, Cora Robinson, Lizzie Flick, Stephen Snyder, George Weis, Eddie hartley, Willie Eckhart, Mike Noll, Minnie Muruane - 13
2d Intermediate
Maggie Low, Marian Hennicke, Florence Ward, Clara Hutchins, minnie Frost, Willie Hartly, Charley Spangler, Edna Albertson, Mary Ponsor, Isaac Echhart, Junina Brown, Carrie Gregory, Emma Wetzel, Leonard Kellogg, Tessie Roberts, Henry Marshall, Gustav Meier, John Moon, Hattie Shaw, Effie Stapp, Emma Smith, Carrie Snyder, Willie Harris, Larry Sutton, Vernon kline - 26