U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Peck, Melville (b. 1855) ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History of Barbour County, West Virginia, From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time by Hu Maxwell The Acme Publishing Company, Morgantown, W.Va., 1899 Pages 431, 432, and 435 Melville Peck (autobiography). The first sentence in David Copperfield is, "I am born." This was my introduction into the world, as I am informed, on January 3, 1855, in that beautiful and fertile portion of Barbour County, Virginia, (now West Virginia), known as Elk district, on Isaac's Run, one-half mile west of the Ebenezer Church. A small mansion house still marks the place. I received a limited education in the free schools, and the West Virginia College, began teaching at the age of eighteen, taught eight schools, entered the mercantile business as a clerk in February 1877, became the acting member of the firm of Crim and Peck in 1879, sold out the business in 1880, was admitted to the bar in December 1881, located at Clarksburg, entered the law department of the West Virginia University, September 1882, received the degree of LL. B., June 1883, located in Philippi, July 4, 1883, where I still live and practice my profession. With J. H. Knapp, Esq., as a partner, on May 9, 1889, we issued the first number of The Tygart's Valley Star, a weekly newspaper, at Philippi. After a time Mr. Knapp retired from the firm, and his place was taken by my wife who superintended the office, and did much of the writing, till the plant was sold in 1891. This paper was aimed to be a leader, not a follower, of public sentiment. In 1892, I was elected Prosecuting Attorney of this county, and held the office four years. During this term the two famous murder trials of Russell and Chambers were had in our circuit court, resulting in the acquittal of the former and the conviction of the latter. Twice it has been my lot to be Mayor of Philippi, and during my first term I was arrested by a constable, the only time in my life, for moving a saw-mill off the street. My course was fully vindicated by the courts from the two justices who tried me to the Supreme Court of Appeals. The second term was resigned because a majority of the councilmen held different views from me on the liquor question in the town. In the beginning of my law practice, I recorded deeds at twenty-five cents each, by the kindness of L. C. Elliott, Esq., Clerk of the county court, held the office of commissioner of accounts, and later commissioner in chancery, all of which were in due time given up for an increasing law practice. My grandfather, on the paternal side, Josiah Peck, was born in Virginia, January 31, 1778, was married to Sarah Smith, a Virginia lady, January 24, 1808, served as a captain in the War of 1812, died in Roane County, West Virginia, about the year 1874. Of this union five daughters and two sons were born. Nelson Peck, the elder son, married Hannah Means, of Logan County, Ohio; lived and prospered there to a ripe old age and died without children. Josiah Peck, Jr., was born in Augusta County, Virginia, June 13, 1819, was married to Laura A. Matheney, daughter of William and Jane (Grim) Matheney, and grand daughter of John and Elizabeth Grim, October 12, 1846, and to them were born nine children in the following order: Nelson, Henderson, George Washington, Melville, Columbus, Marcellus Ethelbert, Chesley R., Ira Aldus, and Estella Maud, wife of Samuel A. Moore. Two of the sons, Columbus and Ira A., are dead, two are ministers of the Gospel, two are physicians, and two are lawyers. Our mother was born January 24, 1829, and is still living. Father died April 13, 1880. On August 4, 1876, I was united in marriage with Cora May Crim, only daughter of Hon. J. N. B. Crim and Almira J. (Hall) Crim, of Elk City, this County. On the paternal side my wife is the granddaughter of Michael Crim and Catharine (Strickler) Crim, and the great granddaughter of Peter Crim and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Crim, of Rockingham County, Virginia. On the maternal side, she as the granddaughter of Hon. John N. Hall and Harriett (Rightmire) Hall, and the great granddaughter of Samuel Hall and Elizabeth (Owens) Hall, and was born in Philippi, October 31, 1859. We have two sons and one daughter: M. Wood Crim, Herbert Cromwell, and Edna Gay, all of whom have completed their second year in college, this June '99, the sons at the West Virginia University and daughter, at R. M. W. C., Lynchburg, Va. We are members of the M. E. Church, South, at Dogget Chapel, Philippi. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Barbour County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/barbour/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------