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Thomas J.L. Peck

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Thomas J.L. Peck

Birth
Worcester, Otsego County, New York, USA
Death
13 Jun 1940 (aged 99)
Huron, Beadle County, South Dakota, USA
Burial
Huron, Beadle County, South Dakota, USA Add to Map
Plot
Lot: Single; Block: 38
Memorial ID
View Source
Researched and compiled by the Kartchner Brothers

It must be noted that the information in the obituary may not be accurate. There were many stories told by Thomas J.L. Peck during his life that may have been "misleading". But apparently he did serve very briefly during the Civil War under an assumed name, reason unknown.

1890 Iowa census of Civil War veterans has him listed with a notation he served for 8 months and 20 days during 1863.

1932 Filed for Civil War Pension - 4 April Application #1715467 noting that Thomas J L Peck, under the alias of "Robert Peck" was claiming service with Company E of the 8th Iowa Infantry enlisting on 15 February 1862 and discharged on 1 December 1862 . There was a notation of "J-9-30" next to the application number, but no certificate number was listed, suggesting that his claim may have been denied. [Note: originally, the enlistment and discharged dates were May 1861 to May 1865, which to have been a simple clerical error.] See note below.

- "Evening Huronite", 23 April 1932 ran the following article discussing his pension:

Civil War Veteran To Receive Pension
Thomas J l Peck, a veteran of the Civil War, has just received notification from the government that he is to receive a monthly pension. Mr Peck, who served in Company E, 8th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry, only recently applied for his pension. The veteran, who is now staying at the county farm, will be 91 years old on September of this year.

In various Veteran's censuses, Thomas claimed to have been a "Private in Co E of the 8th Iowa infantry for eight months during 1863" - initially, no records could be found to support this claim, until a 1932 Pension Claim application was found for Thomas J L Peck, claiming Civil War service under the alias, ‘Robert Peck w/ Co E of the 8th Iowa infantry'. The Internet database for Civil War Soldiers was checked and a "Robert Peck" was listed with "Co E of the 8th Iowa infantry". The use of an alias would suggest that he was too young to serve - if he was born in the 1850's, he would have been between 11-13 years old. His grandson, Henry Peck, recalled that Thomas JL was a ‘tall' man and had a ‘tendency to lie', if was also true during his youth - it would suggest how he was able to enlist.

Another Internet Database for Civil War Service, offers some additional insights and contradictions:

Robert Peck (Union)
Enlisted : Feb 15 1862 / Deserted : Aug 9 1862
Biographical data and notes: Born in Ireland
Enlistment : Residing in Sedalia, MO at time of enlistment, 31, Enlisted on Feb 15 1862 as Private
Mustering information: Enlisted into E Company, 8th Infantry (Iowa) on Feb 15 1862

Deserted from 8th Infantry (Iowa) on Aug 9 1862 at St Louis, MO
Listed : POW on Apr 6 1862 at Shiloh, TN (Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6 7.
Most of Regiment captured. Men confined at Macon, Ga.; Officers at Selma, Ala., and Madison, Ga. Paroled October 18, 1862. Exchanged November 10, 1862.)
[Source : Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion]

Note: There are contradictions in this information in relation to the claim published in the Huron newspapers that he was granted a pension. First, if Thomas was taken prisoner with the rest of his unit as detailed in official records, he could not have been a deserter since the unit's personnel were not exchanged for Confederate POWs between October and November 1862. In addition, if he was a deserter, it would seem unlikely that the Federal Government would have granted his pension request. Another item of discrepancy was his age at time of enlistment, 31 - which could have been a misreading of his enlistment papers.

Thomas JL had assaulted his son, Thomas Wm with a shotgun - which did serious damage to his left arm. The following entry was found on the Internet supporting this account:

Nebraska Prison Records 1870-1990:
PECK, THOMAS J L ca1842 County: GARFIELD
Prisoner Number: 4171 /Crime: ASSAULT /Sentence: 2 years
Reel Number: RG034#3
[Source: nebraskahistory.org/databases/prisoners.shtml]

Descriptive Register Nebraska State Penitentiary:
Name : Thos. J. L. Peck / No. 4171
Date received: Jan 21, 1904 / County : Garfield
Crime : Assault to kill / Sentence : 2 yrs.
Term When Convicted : Jan. 04 / Term Expires: Jan 19, 1906
Good Time: Sept 19, 1905 / Discharged: Sept 19, 1905
Where Born : Ill.
Religion: none / Education : R & W (read & write)
Guilty or Not : Not
Social Relations : Wife - Mary G. Peck ???, Neb.
Father - Dead / Mother - Dead
Brother - One, Unknown ???
Sister - none
Age - 62
Occupation - Farmer
Height - 5' 9"
Weight - 160
Complexion - Lt.
Hair - Dk el??? / Eyes - Blue
Description : small scar 3l joint ???; small scar left thumb & index r. ; lump rear r shoulder blade; Bullet scar over r kneecap; Upper back? ??? r side gone?

OBITUARY - 99 Year Old Huron Resident is Taken
Huron's oldest resident, Thomas J. L. Peck, who just passed his 99th birthday this week, died this morning in a Huron hospital after being in ill health only two weeks.

Mr Peck, a farmer in his younger years, has been cared for during the past four years at the Beadle County sanatorium. Despite his advanced years he was in good health until his last illness, his mind was alert and he was of a happy disposition.

Funeral services for Mr Peck will be held at the Welter Chapel at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon with Rev. Alfred Trenerry officiating. Burial will be made in Riverside Cemetery.

Mr Peck was born in Worchestershire, N.Y., June 11, 1841, and later moved to Iowa where he was married to Marietta Pigg. In 1887 they moved to Burwell, Neb., and lived there until 1923 when they moved to Huron.

Preceding him in death was his wife who died in 1927. Those surviving are four sons; T.W. Peck, Pierre, Charles Peck, Brainerd, Minn., Omar Peck, Canton, S.D., and Irvin of Huron; three daughters, Mrs Robert Baum and Mrs Joe Gainor of Huron and Mrs Alice Gossett of San Francisco.

"Evening Huronite", June 13, 1940

Note:
1. The ethnic origin of his parents varies from census to census, this mother is reportedly from either Scotland or Ireland and his father from either Vermont, Delaware or Connecticut .
2. As found in various censuses and other documents, locations noted for birthplace varies as well: from at sea in an early census to Illinois in papers related to his prison time & in later censuses and his obituary, New York was noted.
3. The South Dakota State Historical Society WPA database revealed that he was buried separate from Maryetta. (G.L.K 10/10/2018)

[Researched and compiled by the Kartchner Brothers]
Researched and compiled by the Kartchner Brothers

It must be noted that the information in the obituary may not be accurate. There were many stories told by Thomas J.L. Peck during his life that may have been "misleading". But apparently he did serve very briefly during the Civil War under an assumed name, reason unknown.

1890 Iowa census of Civil War veterans has him listed with a notation he served for 8 months and 20 days during 1863.

1932 Filed for Civil War Pension - 4 April Application #1715467 noting that Thomas J L Peck, under the alias of "Robert Peck" was claiming service with Company E of the 8th Iowa Infantry enlisting on 15 February 1862 and discharged on 1 December 1862 . There was a notation of "J-9-30" next to the application number, but no certificate number was listed, suggesting that his claim may have been denied. [Note: originally, the enlistment and discharged dates were May 1861 to May 1865, which to have been a simple clerical error.] See note below.

- "Evening Huronite", 23 April 1932 ran the following article discussing his pension:

Civil War Veteran To Receive Pension
Thomas J l Peck, a veteran of the Civil War, has just received notification from the government that he is to receive a monthly pension. Mr Peck, who served in Company E, 8th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry, only recently applied for his pension. The veteran, who is now staying at the county farm, will be 91 years old on September of this year.

In various Veteran's censuses, Thomas claimed to have been a "Private in Co E of the 8th Iowa infantry for eight months during 1863" - initially, no records could be found to support this claim, until a 1932 Pension Claim application was found for Thomas J L Peck, claiming Civil War service under the alias, ‘Robert Peck w/ Co E of the 8th Iowa infantry'. The Internet database for Civil War Soldiers was checked and a "Robert Peck" was listed with "Co E of the 8th Iowa infantry". The use of an alias would suggest that he was too young to serve - if he was born in the 1850's, he would have been between 11-13 years old. His grandson, Henry Peck, recalled that Thomas JL was a ‘tall' man and had a ‘tendency to lie', if was also true during his youth - it would suggest how he was able to enlist.

Another Internet Database for Civil War Service, offers some additional insights and contradictions:

Robert Peck (Union)
Enlisted : Feb 15 1862 / Deserted : Aug 9 1862
Biographical data and notes: Born in Ireland
Enlistment : Residing in Sedalia, MO at time of enlistment, 31, Enlisted on Feb 15 1862 as Private
Mustering information: Enlisted into E Company, 8th Infantry (Iowa) on Feb 15 1862

Deserted from 8th Infantry (Iowa) on Aug 9 1862 at St Louis, MO
Listed : POW on Apr 6 1862 at Shiloh, TN (Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6 7.
Most of Regiment captured. Men confined at Macon, Ga.; Officers at Selma, Ala., and Madison, Ga. Paroled October 18, 1862. Exchanged November 10, 1862.)
[Source : Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion]

Note: There are contradictions in this information in relation to the claim published in the Huron newspapers that he was granted a pension. First, if Thomas was taken prisoner with the rest of his unit as detailed in official records, he could not have been a deserter since the unit's personnel were not exchanged for Confederate POWs between October and November 1862. In addition, if he was a deserter, it would seem unlikely that the Federal Government would have granted his pension request. Another item of discrepancy was his age at time of enlistment, 31 - which could have been a misreading of his enlistment papers.

Thomas JL had assaulted his son, Thomas Wm with a shotgun - which did serious damage to his left arm. The following entry was found on the Internet supporting this account:

Nebraska Prison Records 1870-1990:
PECK, THOMAS J L ca1842 County: GARFIELD
Prisoner Number: 4171 /Crime: ASSAULT /Sentence: 2 years
Reel Number: RG034#3
[Source: nebraskahistory.org/databases/prisoners.shtml]

Descriptive Register Nebraska State Penitentiary:
Name : Thos. J. L. Peck / No. 4171
Date received: Jan 21, 1904 / County : Garfield
Crime : Assault to kill / Sentence : 2 yrs.
Term When Convicted : Jan. 04 / Term Expires: Jan 19, 1906
Good Time: Sept 19, 1905 / Discharged: Sept 19, 1905
Where Born : Ill.
Religion: none / Education : R & W (read & write)
Guilty or Not : Not
Social Relations : Wife - Mary G. Peck ???, Neb.
Father - Dead / Mother - Dead
Brother - One, Unknown ???
Sister - none
Age - 62
Occupation - Farmer
Height - 5' 9"
Weight - 160
Complexion - Lt.
Hair - Dk el??? / Eyes - Blue
Description : small scar 3l joint ???; small scar left thumb & index r. ; lump rear r shoulder blade; Bullet scar over r kneecap; Upper back? ??? r side gone?

OBITUARY - 99 Year Old Huron Resident is Taken
Huron's oldest resident, Thomas J. L. Peck, who just passed his 99th birthday this week, died this morning in a Huron hospital after being in ill health only two weeks.

Mr Peck, a farmer in his younger years, has been cared for during the past four years at the Beadle County sanatorium. Despite his advanced years he was in good health until his last illness, his mind was alert and he was of a happy disposition.

Funeral services for Mr Peck will be held at the Welter Chapel at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon with Rev. Alfred Trenerry officiating. Burial will be made in Riverside Cemetery.

Mr Peck was born in Worchestershire, N.Y., June 11, 1841, and later moved to Iowa where he was married to Marietta Pigg. In 1887 they moved to Burwell, Neb., and lived there until 1923 when they moved to Huron.

Preceding him in death was his wife who died in 1927. Those surviving are four sons; T.W. Peck, Pierre, Charles Peck, Brainerd, Minn., Omar Peck, Canton, S.D., and Irvin of Huron; three daughters, Mrs Robert Baum and Mrs Joe Gainor of Huron and Mrs Alice Gossett of San Francisco.

"Evening Huronite", June 13, 1940

Note:
1. The ethnic origin of his parents varies from census to census, this mother is reportedly from either Scotland or Ireland and his father from either Vermont, Delaware or Connecticut .
2. As found in various censuses and other documents, locations noted for birthplace varies as well: from at sea in an early census to Illinois in papers related to his prison time & in later censuses and his obituary, New York was noted.
3. The South Dakota State Historical Society WPA database revealed that he was buried separate from Maryetta. (G.L.K 10/10/2018)

[Researched and compiled by the Kartchner Brothers]


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