George Wilbur Peck

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George Wilbur Peck
Mayor of Milwaukee
In office
April 1890 – November 11, 1890
Preceded byThomas H. Brown
Succeeded byPeter J. Somers
Personal details
Born(1840-09-28)September 28, 1840
Henderson, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 16, 1916(1916-04-16) (aged 75)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeForest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee
CitizenshipUnited States
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseFrancena Rowley Peck
Parents
  • David B. Peck (father)
  • Alzina P. (Joslin) Peck (mother)
Alma materUnion College
ProfessionWriter
politician
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Union Army
Years of service1863–1866
Rank 2nd Lieutenant
Unit4th Reg. Wis. Vol. Cavalry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

George Wilbur Peck (September 28, 1840 – April 16, 1916) was an American writer and politician from Wisconsin. He served as the 17th governor of Wisconsin and the 9th mayor of Milwaukee.[1]

Biography

Peck's childhood home in Cold Spring

Peck was born in 1840 in Henderson, New York, the oldest of three children of David B. and Alzina P. (Joslin) Peck.[2] In 1843, the family moved to what is now Cold Spring, Wisconsin. Peck attended public school until age 15 when he was apprenticed in the printing trade. He married Francena Rowley in 1860 and they had two sons. In 1863 he enlisted in the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment as a private. He was taken prisoner and held at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. After he was released in a prisoner exchange, he was appointed to the United States Military Academy by Abraham Lincoln. He was promoted to lieutenant and served until the regiment mustered out in 1866.[3]

Peck became a newspaper publisher who founded newspapers in

Milwaukee, renaming it Peck's Sun. The weekly newspaper contained Peck's humorous writings, including his famous "Peck's Bad Boy" stories.[4]

In the spring of 1890, Peck ran for mayor of Milwaukee. A

John C. Spooner, but lost a third term to William Upham in 1894. He ran again in 1904 but lost to the incumbent Robert M. La Follette Sr.[3]

Peck died in 1916 in Milwaukee at age 75 of Bright's disease and was buried at Forest Home Cemetery.[5] After his death, his "Peck's Bad Boy" writings became the basis for several films and a short-lived television show, including Peck's Bad Boy and Peck's Bad Girl.[6][7]

His former home in La Crosse is located in what is now known as the 10th and Cass Streets Neighborhood Historic District.

Works

Peck's Bad Boy and the Groceryman 1883

References

  1. ^ "Peck, George Wilbur 1840 - 1916 - Wisconsin Historical Society". Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  2. .
  3. ^ a b Wisconsin. Legislature. Senate (1917). Journal of Proceedings. Wisconsin. Legislature. p. 149. george wilbur peck died April 16, 1916.
  4. ^ a b Charles Rounds (1918). "George W. Peck". Wisconsin Authors and Their Works. Madison: Parker Educational Company. pp. 397–399. Retrieved March 30, 2017. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Historical People". Forest Home Cemetery. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  6. ^ "Academic Dictionaries and EncyclopediasPeck's bad boy". Wisconsin Electronic Reader. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  7. .

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by
James Morgan
Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin
1890, 1892, 1894
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin
1904
Succeeded by
John A. Aylward
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Milwaukee
1890
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Governor of Wisconsin

1891–1895
Succeeded by