George Wilbur Peck

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]

George Wilbur Peck
17th Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 5, 1891 – January 7, 1895
LieutenantCharles Jonas
Preceded byWilliam D. Hoard
Succeeded byWilliam H. Upham
29th 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

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 Ripon and La Crosse, Wisconsin. His La Crosse newspaper, The Sun, was founded in 1874. In 1878 Peck moved the newspaper to 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 Democrat, Peck was elected despite a Republican majority in the city.[4] The state's Democratic leaders took notice and made Peck the party's nominee for the 1890 gubernatorial race. Peck won the election, beating the incumbent William Hoard, and resigned as Milwaukee's mayor on November 11, 1890. He was reelected as governor in 1892, defeating Republican 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. Greasley, Philip A. (2001). Dictionary of Midwestern Literature, Volume 1: The Authors. Indiana University Press. p. 406. ISBN 0253108411.
  3. Wisconsin. Legislature. Senate (1917). Journal of Proceedings. Wisconsin. Legislature. p. 149. george wilbur peck died April 16, 1916.
  4. Charles Rounds (1918). "George W. Peck". Wisconsin Authors and Their Works. 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. Leszczak, Bob (2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948–1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 154. ISBN 9780786493050.
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