W. J. Peak, physician, surgeon and druggist, Oakland; born in Warsaw, Gallatin Co., Ky., April 3, 1836, where he devoted his whole attention to his studies until he attained his majority, the last four years exclusively to the study of medicine, graduating from the St. Louis Medical College in the winter of 1860; he immediately commenced the practice of medicine at Warsaw, Ky., for a short time, when, in the spring of 1861, he located in Johnson Co., Mo.; during the summer, and in the fall of the same year, he went to Texas, where he was placed, from force of circumstances, in charge of the rebel hospitals at Ozark and St. Francisville, Ark., where he remained until the spring of 1862, when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Union hospitals at Fayetteville, Ark., where he remained one year, when he received the appointment of Surgeon of the 14th Regiment, Kansas Cavalry, which position he held until the close of the war, being mustered out of the service at Lawrence, Kan., in the summer of 1865; he then returned to Johnson Co., Mo., where he remained a short time, when he removed to Coles Co., Ill., and located in Morgan Tp. in the winter of 1866, where he followed his profession until 1876, when he removed to Oakland, and engaged in the drug trade, still giving his whole time and attention to his very extensive practice which he has built up in this and adjoining counties, his drug store being in charge of a very careful druggist. His marriage with Mary Burr was celebrated Dec. 2, 1869; she was born in Momence, Kankakee Co., Ill., Aug. 6, 1852; they have one child by this union-Maud, born Nov. 19, 1871. Mr. Peake has taken a deep interest in the cause of education, having filled the office of School Director for several terms; contributes liberally to the churches, and is a member of the Wabash Valley Æsculapian Society.
