JUDGE G. M. PEEK.
The subject of this sketch was born at Hampton, Virginia, December
7, 1839. He is the son of Thomas Peek, who was born in February,
1803, and died in August, 1867. His mother, born in April, 1815, and
died in May, 1878, was Janet Meredith, daughter of Dr. William Hope,
who was a son of George Hope, of England, who settled at Hampton
in 1770. After attending the Hampton Academy, Judge Peek entered
the University of Virginia, which he left in the spring of 1861, to enter
the military service of his State.
In the fall of 1861 he became Assistant Professor of Mathematics
and Commandant of Cadets in Florence Wesleyan University, at Florence,
Alabama. He entered the Confederate States Army in March,
1863, and served as aide to Col. E. A. O'Neal, 26th Alabama Infantry,
commanding Rhode's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. In June,
1863, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the Confederate
States Navy, with the rank of Master, afterwards of 1st Lieutenant,
and so served until the close of the war.
After the war he returned to Hampton, taught school for one year,
then entered the law school at the University, where he took the degree
of Bachelor of Law. In September, 1867, he was admitted to the Bar
at Hampton. In the same year he was appointed by the court Commonwealth's
Attorney, to fill an unexpired term. Four years after he
was elected to that office by the people. He was the first county superintendent
of schools for his county and Warwick, under the present
public school system, and held that office until the republican party
gained control of the State in 1881. In December, 1885, he was elected
by the Virginia legislature Judge of Elizabeth City and Warwick counties,
which position he still fills. In 1881 he organized the Bank of
Hampton, of which he is the cashier. Judge Peek is an A. F. and A.
M., Knight of Pythias, a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the
Methodist Church.
In Hampton, at the residence of her mother, March 19, 1872, he
married Sarah K. Holt, who was born at Portsmouth, Virginia.
Their first-born son, John L., is now deceased, and their family consists
of two sons and two daughters, William H., Lavinia C., Janet H.
and George M. Mrs. Peek is the daughter of William Holt and Lavinia
Phillips. William Holt died at Portsmouth in 1856, and Lavinia, his
widow, died at Hampton in 1883.
