A Very Efficient Constable

In the last blog I wrote about George Peck a pioneer in the Chico area of California, this blog is about his son James Allen Peck.

The following comes from pages 488-491 of the book: "History of Butte County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have beenidentified iwth its growth and devlepment from the early days to present" by George C Mansfield, 1918

Chico Record, 22 Aug 1918

JAMES A. PECK - A native son of Butte County, and the very efficient constable of Chico Township, James A. Peck was born at Cana, June 4, 1865. His father, George Peck, was a native of Saratoga, N. Y., and was a man who stood six feet four and one-half inches in his stockings. He came across the plains in 1859, with ox teams, arriving in October of that year in Butte County, where he engaged in mining and later became a teamster. He hauled freight from Chico Landing, on the Sacramento River, to Idaho, using mule teams, later hauling lumber to the valley. He returned to live at Chico and there his death occurred, June 26, 1917, at the ripe age of eighty-four. He married Harriett Allen, born in Canada and a daughter of David Allen, of New York birth. She traced her lineage to Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga. Grandfather Allen brought a large family across the plains and located in Butte County, where he mined and raised stock. He lived for a time in Sonoma County, later returning to Chico, where he died. He nicknamed James A., "Teddy," by which name he is familiarly known in Butte County. Mrs. Harriett Allen Peck died about twenty-five years ago, the mother of seven children, five now living: Alice, who married F.M. Mecum, of Chico; Frank, who is in Washington (he is six feet eight inches tall, the tallest man in the county); Laura B., who is Mrs. Arnold, of Chico; James A., of this review; and Georgia, who married Hans Petersen of Chico. "Teddy" Peck was educated in the public schools at Chico, and was reared on a farm. He obtained a teacher's certificate but did not avail himself of the privilege. He followed lumbering and ranching, then spent five years as a member of the Chico police force, and later was special agent for the Diamond Match Company eleven years, having charge of their watchmen and of their fire-protection system. During this interval no serious fire occurred nor was any material stolen. In 1914, Mr. Peck was a candidate for constable of Chico Township and was elected by a two-to-one vote over his opponent, for a four-year term. He gives his entire time to the duties of his office. Mr. Peck was married, in San Francisco, to Miss Clara M. Blasingame, a native daughter. Mr. Peck is a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B.P.O. Elks, and an active member of the Exempt Firemen, having been a member of Deluge Hose company, of Chico. In politics he is a Republican. He resides at his home, 1542 South Broadway, Chico.

courtesy of J - Find A Grave