by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

   To write even the interesting portion of Mr. Peck's experiences in Colorado, commencing as early as 1858, would require a fair-sized volume. Coming, as he did, at that early period, across the plains and up the Arkansas Valley, in company with fifty men and two women, with a train of fifteen wagons drawn principally by oxen, though they had a few mules and horses, he would naturally have a fund of incidents to relate. The company came for gold, and Pike's Peak was their objective point. They made their first camping-ground near the Fontaine Creek and the Garden of the Gods, which they called Red Rocks. Here he remained with the company six weeks, prospecting, but did not find what he came for, like many others who came soon after. They had been told in the East, by a Delaware Indian, of the rich gold fields in the Rocky Mountains. The Indian had a large nugget of gold with which to fortify his statements, and he was engaged to accompany the party and point out just the location where gold was to be found, but he could never be persuaded to act as guide, though he had faithfully promised to. After they arrived at the mountains, a Mexican was engaged to act in that capacity. One of the party was a Mrs. Holmes. Although there have been several first white women who have been to the top of Pike's Peak, yet they have claimed their ascent to have taken place five years or more later than the summer of 1858, when Mrs. Holmes actually stood on the highest point. For supplies, Mr. Peck was obliged to go to Fort Garland, 130 miles south. At this time, there was not a house occupied between Arkansas River and Fort Laramie, and east of the Rocky Mountains to the mouth of Walnut Creek, with the exception of Fort Lyon. After returning from Fort Garland with provisions, he abandoned the search for gold. Then, with the party, he proceeded north to the River Platte, and camped five miles south of the present site of the city of Denver. Until this time, the original company remained together. Here they separated. A portion surveyed the ground for a town site, where Denver now stands, but the survey was changed when other parties came in from the East and joined the original surveyors. Late in the fall of 1858, Mr. Peck, in company with a Mr. Middleton, wife and child, returned by the route they had traveled to the Platte, and stopped for the following winter where East Pueblo now stands. Other parties came from the East about this time, and increased their number to 100. On his return from the Platte, in company with a Mr. McClellan, he laid a rough foundation for a town site, during a driving snow-storm at both places, where Colorado City, and Colorado Springs are now situated, but never went back to them. In the spring of 1860, with a brother, who had joined him from Salt Lake City, he put in a crop of corn on what is now known as the Goodnight ranch. There he remained until February, 1865, farming and raising cattle. The following seven years, he was engaged in mercantile business in the States of New York and Massachusetts. In 1872, he returned to Bent County, locating at the old town of Las Animas, but soon after he removed to West Las Animas, where he now resides, engaged in ranching and cattle-raising. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Peck was elected Probate Judge for Bent County, on the Republican ticket. He was married to Miss Mary E. Rice in 1871; has four children – three girls and one boy. When Mr. Peck first came to Colorado, there were thousands of buffalo, elk, deer and antelope, which were easily obtained, and for days together, he lived wholly on fresh meat, the only condiment being a little salt.