Hamilton S. Peck

Hamilton S. Peck (October 22, 1845 – October 12, 1933) was an American attorney and politician from Burlington, Vermont. A Republican, among the offices in which he served were alderman (1883-1885), city court judge (1888-1894), and mayor (1896-1898).

Hamilton S. Peck
From the February 1900 issue of The Vermonter magazine
Judge of the Burlington, Vermont Municipal Court
In office
1929–1933
Preceded byClarence P. Cowles
Succeeded byAaron H. Grout
In office
1888–1894
Preceded byWilliam H. Hare
Succeeded byJulius W. Russell
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Burlington
In office
1927–1931
Preceded byJames Edmund Burke
Succeeded byJames Edmund Burke
In office
1910–1912
Preceded byMatthew G. Leary
Succeeded byThomas Louis Howley
Member of the Vermont Senate from Chittenden County
In office
1917–1919
Serving with Donly C. Hawley
Martin S. Vilas
Heman H. Wheeler
Preceded byHenry B. Shaw
Max L. Powell
Frank E. Blake
Elon. O. Martin
Succeeded byFrank Slater Jackson
Sherman R. Moulton
Henry W. Tracy
Martin S. Vilas
Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
In office
1896–1898
Preceded byWilliam J. Van Patten
Succeeded byElliot M. Sutton
State's Attorney of Chittenden County, Vermont
In office
1878–1880
Preceded byCornelius S. Palmer
Succeeded byMarcellus A. Bingham
Personal details
Born(1845-10-22)October 22, 1845
Royalston, Massachusetts
DiedOctober 12, 1933(1933-10-12) (aged 87)
Burlington, Vermont
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Selina A. Aiken (M. 1875-1933, his death)
Children1
EducationUniversity of Vermont
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
Branch/serviceJudge Advocate General's Corps
Years of service1900–1904
Rank Brigadier general
UnitVermont National Guard

Early life

Hamilton Sullivan Peck was born in Royalston, Massachusetts on Oct. 22, 1845, a son of Sullivan and Czarina (Davis) Peck.[1] He was educated in Royalston, and attended high school in Athol, Massachusetts.[2] He moved to Burlington, Vermont with his family in 1865,[1] and completed his high school education after becoming a resident of Vermont.[2]

In 1866, Peck began attendance at the University of Vermont, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1870.[1][2] While in college, Peck was a member of the Sigma Phi fraternity and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.[2]

Career

Peck taught school in Burlington for three years while studying law at the firm of Torrey E. Wales and Russell S. Taft, and attained admission to the bar in 1873.[1] He established a practice in Burlington became active in politics as a Republican.[1]

From 1878 to 1880, Peck served as State's Attorney of Chittenden County.[1] He served as an alderman from 1883 to 1885, and was judge of Burlington’s city court from 1888 to 1894.[1] From 1892 to 1896, Peck was secretary of the Vermont Republican State Committee, and he was president of the state Republican League from 1896 to 1898.[1] In 1900, he was appointed judge advocate general of the Vermont National Guard with the rank of brigadier general and her served until 1904.[3][4] Peck represented Burlington in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1910 to 1912.[1]

Peck served as Burlington’s city attorney from 1918 to 1918 and 1923 to 1925.[5] From 1917 to 1919 he represented Chittenden County in the Vermont Senate.[5] He served in the Vermont House of Representatives again from 1927 to 1931 [5] From 1929 to 1932, Peck again served as judge of Burlington’s city court.[5]

After settling in Burlington, Peck was long active in civic and philanthropic organizations.[1] In addition to attaining the 33rd Degree of Freemasonry, he was a member of the Shriners.[1] He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Ethan Allen Club.[1]

Death and burial

Peck died in Burlington on October 12, 1933.[2] He received Masonic honors at his funeral, which was held in Burlington’s Congregational church.[6] Peck was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.[6]

Family

On January 28, 1875, Peck married Selina Atwood Aiken of Hardwick, Vermont.[1] They were the parents of a son, Dr. Roy Hamilton Peck of Springfield, Massachusetts.[1]

References
  1. Caswell and Cross.
  2. ”Hamilton S. Peck Dies”.
  3. ”Judge Advocate”.
  4. "Legislative Notes". Barre Daily Times. Barre, VT. October 21, 1904. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ”Death Notice”.
  6. ”Funeral of Judge Peck”.

Sources

Books

Newspapers
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