| Notes |
- The Morning Herald, Gloversville and Johnstown, N.Y., Saturday, June 3, 1933
Asa B. Peake, Last of Pioneer Family, Dies Very Suddenly
News of Death of Fulton Co. Commissioner of Jurors Whose Useful Life
Was Great Factor in Progress of City Will Be Received With
Shock by His Many Friends in Glove Cities
Asa Bassett Peake, Fulton County Commissioner of Jurors, the last descendant of one of the pioneer families of Gloversville, dropped dead in the bathroom of his home, 53 Prospect avenue, yesterday afternoon at 5:30 where he was discovered by Mrs. Frances Whitaker, the housekeeper. She summoned Dr. Homer H. Oaksford, but Mr. Peake was dead when the physician arrived and he notified Coroner Dr. Robert L. Ellithorpe, who rendered a verdict that death was caused by heart trouble. News of Mr. Peake?s death spread rapidly through the city and was received with a shock by his many friends in the community and the county.
FOUND LYING ON FLOOR
Mr. Peake was about the city yesterday doing business as usual and greeting friends. He had been out for a short auto ride with friends during the afternoon and returned home a short time before he was taken with the fatal attack. He went to his room after he entered the house. Mrs. Whitaker said she heard a noise when he fell in the bathroom adjoining his room, but did not think anything about it at the time. A few minutes later she called him to dinner and when he died not respond she entered his room and discovered him lying on the floor.
Asa Bassett Peake was born in the Village of Gloversville on August, 27, 1859, the son of Dr. Marcus T. Peake, well known physician, and Mrs. Sophia (Bassett) Peake. His father was born in Delhi, N.Y., in 1803. His father and his mother were both descendants of early New England families who moved to New York state. His father was admitted to the practice of medicine in Delhi in 1830 and later took a post graduate course in the Albany Medical college. An older brother, Dr. William Peake induced Dr. Marcus Peake to vist Gloversville. Dr. Peake visited the village in 1856 and was so favorably impressed with the community that he purchased a lot on East Fulton street for his residence and another on North Main street for business purposes. Dr. William Peake was located in Kingsborough at the time and later settled in Johnstown where he carried on the practice of medicine until his death.
BROUGHT FAMILY HERE
A little later Dr. Peake brought from Delhi his family, comprising three sons and two daughters. He had a three story brick building erected on the North Main street land he purchased and in that building conducted the first drug store to be started in the village. He died in 1865. There is a portrait of him done in oil in the Nathan Littauer hospital at the present time. The store property is at present a part of the Kresge property, while the Peake residence on East Fulton street is now the parish house of St. Mary?s Catholic church. Dr. Peake?s widow survived him by 27 years. Their children all lived to mature ages and passed away without leaving any descendants. The death of Mr. Peake yesterday brings to and end the genealogy of the family.
Mr. Peake was educated in the Gloversville schools and his friends knew that his education and culture thus acquired grew and broadened through constant and serious reading, study and travel. His business career began several years before he reached his majority when he entered the employ of Kent & Stevens, predecessors to Booth & Company, now the Surpass Leather company. He served for some time as clerk in the store. His close study of those he served in the store soon enabled him to speak German, French and Italian fluently.
He engaged in the boot and shoe business from 1878 until 1883 and later he was employed with G. Levor & Company for two years. From 1886 until 1893 he was a member of the firm of Peake & Levi, shoe dealers in the Littauer block. Later he spent two years in Rochester and upon his return to Gloversville he re-entered the boot and shoe business and continued in that line for 11 years.
Some time later the firm of A. J. Beach & Company, manufacturers of sporting goods, was organized and he became active in the concern and was with its successor, the late Ralph Bradford. He was associated with the business until a few years ago when he became engaged in public service.
ONE OF ORGANIZERS
In 1877 at the age of 18 he was one of the organizers of the famous Neptune Hose company and in 1892 he was one of the organizers of the Gloversville lodge, 226, B.P.O. Elks and served as the fist exalted ruler of the lodge. Mr. Peake was a member of the group of 15 men who organized the Eccentric club. He was the last survivor of the group which organized the Eccentric club and for several years past has been one of its honorary life members.
In 1900 Mr. Peake became captain of the recently organized Company G, now Company H, 105th Infantry, New York National Guard. He continued as captain for a period of 12 years and it was largely through his persistent efforts that the armory building on Washington street was erected.
Mr. Peake like all the members of his family was an earnest and steadfast member of the Republican party. He served as the representative of the Third Ward in Gloversville in the Fulton County Board of Supervisors from 1926 until 1931 and was named chairman of the board for one term. In 1931 he was named Commissioner of Jurors. He also served for years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Gloversville Free Library. Mr. Peake has been affiliated for many years with the First Congregational church. He was a very active member of the Johnstown Historical society.
As a lifelong resident of Gloversville Mr. Peake was thoroughly acquainted with its history and frequently was called upon to recount it at public gatherings. He was one of the principal speakers at the banquet in the Kingsboro Presbyterian church at the dedication of the memorials to Rev. Elisha Yale and Horace Sprague. As a citizen he was at all times active and greatly interested in public affairs. His sudden death is a great shock to the community and it removes one of the city?s outstanding residents.
ONLY ONE SURVIVOR
The only survivor in Gloversville is his second cousin, Mrs. James Ridley, formerly Miss Katie Neff.
The funeral arrangements were not complete last evening and will be announced later.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1859 - 1933 (73 years)