Biographical Sketch (1912):47, v. 2, p. 749-750. "Ruthven O. Peck, for many years a farmer and stock raiser of Porter county, Indiana, whose post office address if Valparaiso, R. R. no. 5, is a highly respected citizen and a representative of a family which has been identified with this county for a period of more than half a century.

Mr. Peck is a native of the Keystone state. He was born near Erie, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1842, son of Orrin and Almira (Bartram) Peck, natives of Connecticut. In 1853, thinking to better his condition by a westward move, Orrin Peck came with his family to northern Indiana and established a pioneer home in Porter county. Here he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, the chief improvement on which was a log house with a large fireplace made of sticks standing endwise, daubed with mud. The barn, built of poles on end, with straw-filled cracks and straw roof, served as a shelter for his stock. Here in the early days he and his wife and children endured the hardships of frontier life and passed though varied experiences, all of which tended to the development of sturdy characters. In time a comfortable home took the place of the primitive cabin, a substantial barn and other farm buildings were erected, and fruit trees and shrubbery blossomed and bore. The children in order of birth of Orrin Peck are Electa, John, Zolman, David, Etsel, Claretta, Caroline, Ruthven O. and Bratan, who grew up and occupied useful positions in life.

Ruthven O. Peck remained at home, assisting his father with the farm work, and after his marriage, when event occurred when he was twenty-one years of age, he continued to reside on the old farm for three years. This was during the Civil War period. Young Peck, as a volunteer in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Regiment, was mustered into the Union service at La Porte, Indiana, and with his command was sent to Nashville, Tennessee. After the expiration of his first term he re-enlisted, and remained on duty until the war was over and he was honorably discharged in July, 1865, when he returned home. During his service in the south he suffered a sun stroke and fell unconscious to the ground. His comrades carried him about eighty rods and laid him down by his tent, saying: ‘ Peck’s ready for his wooden overcoat.’ Soon afterward, however, he revived, and was able to do service as ward master in hospital, in which capacity he was employed up to the time of his discharge.

Returning home, he rented a farm and for several years carried on farming operations on rented land. Success attended his efforts, and subsequently he purchased the farm on which he has since lived, in section 27, Union township.

On New Year’s eve, 1863, Ruthven O. Peck and Miss Elizabeth Frame were united in marriage. Sons and daughters to the number of eight were given to them: the first and second born, Electa and Mabel, died in infancy; Grant, who is engaged in farming near the old home, married Mae Rackett and has five children, Reid, Earl, and Mearl (twins), Margaret and Howard; Orinda died in 1896, at the age of twenty-two years; Celesta, now residing near Westville, Indiana, is the wife of John Coulter and has three children, Ruth, Revia and Glenn; Mary, wife of Otto Schultz, a farmer, has three children, Florence, Mary and Luella; Eugene is at the old home; and Almira, the youngest, died in infancy. . . . Mr. Peck is identified with the Baptist church at Valparaiso. Politically he is a Democrat; fraternally, a Mason."

1860 U.S. Census:1516 Ruthven Peck enumerated in the household of his father Oren Peck in Union Township, Porter County, Indiana as a male, age 18, farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. Other household members included his mother Almyra, age 50; siblings, Zalmon, age 22, David, age 20, Caroline, age 15, and Braton, age 8.

1886 Pension Application:2558 Ruthven O. Peck attested to the father's pension applicaion of his father-in-law
William Frame based on the death of John Q. Frame. "State of Indiana. Lake County. On this 8th day of February 1886 personally appears William Frame who being sworn according to law says he is the father of John Q. Frame who enlisted in the month of January 1865 in Co. "B" 151 Ind. Vols. and was discharged from the service about the 22nd day of June 1865. That his said son was discharged on account of disability, he returned home immediately on his discharge suffering from general debility, chronic diarrhea and lung disease contracted in the army and said disabilities resulted in his said son's death in Porter County, Indiana on the 24th day of September 1865 after his discharge. That this affiant was dependent on said son's labor when he enlisted. That this affiant married to Jane McCarian in Porter County, Ind. on the 12th day of September 1839, that this affiant's wife died in Porter County, Ind. in January 1877. That the said John Q. Frame was unmarried and that this affiant hereby makes application for a dependent father's pension hereby appointing Chas. H. Young of Crown Point, Ind., his attorney to prosecute his claim that he has never before made application for pension. That his Post Office address is Palmer, Lake County, Indiana. (Signed: Wm. Frame). Also personally appears Zalmon E. Peck and Ruthven O. Peck who on oath say they are personally acquainted with the above named applicant, that they saw him sign his name to the foregoing application, and they have every reason to believe he is the identical person he represents himself to be and they have no interest herein."

1925 Tombstone:66, Mosier Cemetery, p. 9. Mosier Cemetery, Union Township, Porter County, Indiana. (The stone contains a Masonic emblem).
Ruthven O. Peck
1842-1925