Los Angeles County
Biographies
EDWARD ELISHA PECK
PECK, EDWARD ELISHA, Mining, Los Angeles, was born in Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York, April 3, 1864, the son of Elisha S. Peck and Melvina A. (Mynard) Peck. He married May Kelly Goold at Petoskey, Michigan, May 10, 1887.
Mr. Peck’s early life was one of considerable hardship, and his success in attaining a position among the leading mining men of the West is due entirely to his own efforts. His father was killed in battle during the Civil War and the son was denied the advantages enjoyed by other boys. When he grew old enough he went to the country schools of his native town and later worked on farms nearby for his board and a chance to go to school, the acquirement of an education being at that time his chief ambition.
He continued as a farmer until 1881, when he went to work as clerk in a store at Petoskey, Michigan, and remained in that capacity for about two years. In 1883 he embarked in business for himself as proprietor of a lapidary shop, where he conducted a thriving business in the cutting and polishing of stones found by tourists and others at Petoskey. He devoted himself to this until 1886, when he went into partnership in the hardware business with Olin M. Goold, whose daughter he married a year later. They moved their stock to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Mr. Peck then continued to aid in the management of the store for about three years.
In 1889 Mr. Peck turned his attention to the café business in Grand Rapids, and in 1895 opened a café of his own in that city. By his own personality he built up a prosperous business within a short time, but when his success seemed assured, he was caught, in 1897, in a financial panic, and was compelled to suspend business He lost all the money he had invested in the establishment, and in addition was heavily in debt, but he spent little time in regrets, and, instead,
accepted the first position that presented itself, that of clerk in a grocery, and in that capacity started to work to rebuild his fortunes. For the next six years he was engaged in the grocery business on a salary, but in that time he saved his money conscientiously and finally paid off all that he owed.
With what he had left, Mr. Peck went to Los Angeles, and, turning back to his old profession as a lapidist, obtained employment with the California Gem Company. He remained with this concern only a short time, however, organizing a business of his own with William Burkhardt, as the firm of Peck & Burkhardt. They were successful from the beginning of their operations, and Mr. Peck, with his share of the profits, purchased a tourquoise (sic) mine at Mineral Park, Arizona. Shortly afterward he sold a part of this property at a price sufficient to pay for the entire mine and used the proceeds for development work. He gave a great deal of his time to this mine, but he also continued his interest in the firm of Peck & Burkhardt, and in 1906 they reorganized the business as the Los Angeles Gem Company, capitalized at $60,000. Later he purchased the interest of Mr. Burkhardt and has been practically in complete control of the company since that time, holding office of President and General Manager.
In 1908 Mr. Peck purchased two more mining properties, both gem deposits, in Nevada, and since that time he has been an active factor in mining operations of the West. He organized the International Mines Development Company in 1910, this being capitalized at one million dollars, and as President and General Manager, he has been the directing force in its work. The company owns a valuable gold and silver property in Northern Arizona, known as the George Washington Mine, and although the operations have been somewhat limited, the ore showed a value of $245 per tone. The ore shoot of this property is considered one of the richest in the country and in the early stages of development indicates a tremendous depth. It is the plan of Mr. Peck and his associates, some of whom are well-known business men of the Southwest, to install modern machinery and work six claims on a large scale.
Aside from the properties mentioned, Mr. Peck also has valuable holdings in British Columbia and several mines in the San Gabriel Canyon of Southern California.
Mr. Peck is devoting himself almost exclusively to mining, his conduct of the Los Angeles Gem Company being subsidiary to his gem mining.
He takes an active interest in the work of the Los Angeles Chamber of Mines and Oil. Aside from this organization, his only other membership is in the Knights of Pythias.
Transcribed 7-4-10
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 478, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2010 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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BIOGRAPIES