Thomas H. Peacock, engineer at the Masonic Temple, Grand Rapids, was born in Stoughton upon Tees, in the county of Durham, England, on 8^th of August, 1847. He is a son of Isaac and Jane (Smith) Peacock, natives of the same place.

Isaac Peacock, the father, a machinist by trade, remained in his native country until about 1853, when he came to America. For a number of years he was in the employ of the New York & Eric railroad, and was also engaged in business on his own account at Canandaigua, N. Y., where he remained for several years and prospered. He is now connected with the machinery and plumbing department at the Masonic home in this city, at the age of eighty years. In the spring of 1872 he came to Greenville, Mich., bought a foundry and machine shop, and did a prosperous business until December, 1873, when the plant was destroyed by fire. He rebuilt the following spring and remained there until the spring of 1876, when he sold out and went to Reed City for a time.

Thomas H. Peacock and his father were business partners in their various enterprises, the firm being I. & T. H. Peacock. At Greenville and Reed City, they started a machine shop, a foundry and a small grist mill, and later went into sash and door business, continuing in all lines named. They were very prosperous until the entire plant and stock was destroyed by fire in August, 1894. While at Reed City, they did 100,000 feet of lumber planing daily. The fire left the firm practically helpless, and not having sufficient resources to rebuild, Thomas H. Peacock came to Grand Rapids, where, in 1883, he purchased his father’s interest in the planing mills and lumber business while his father continued in the foundry and machine shop. On the first of January, 1896, the subject assumed charge of his present duties, and now has general control of the machinery, elevators, etc., at the Masonic temple.

The family of Thomas H. Peacock comprised two brothers and one sister, the eldest being Joseph, a machinist now working at Avon, N. Y. He was a soldier in company H., One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York infantry, during the Civil War. The other brother Isaac, Jr., was a member of the Fourteenth United States infantry, and was killed near City Point, Va. The sister is Sarah, wife of Frank Jessup, a machinist and millwright at Brockport, N. Y.

Mr. Peacock had a very limited education advantages and is practically self-educated in the school of business. At the age of seventeen, on September 6, 1864, he enlisted in company K., Second New York cavalry, and was promoted sergeant soon after, drawing

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pay as such from the date of his enlistment. He served with the army of the Potomac, under Gen. Custer, as brigade commander, and P. H. Sheridan as commander-in-chief. He participated in all the general engagements of the cavalry forces, and was with Sheridan at the final capitulation at Appomattox. He also took part in the famous battle of Cedar Creek with "Sheridan twenty miles away," and was mustered out of service at Alexandria, Va., in June, 1865. Then followed the experience in the business above mentioned.

Mr. Peacock was united in marriage October 19, 1882, at Hastings, Mich., to Miss Eugenia J. Cole, a native of Waterloo, N. Y., and a daughter of John and Jane Cole, also natives of New York; she accompanied her parents to Hastings, Mich., in her childhood, and was there educated. Two children have blessed this union, viz: Thomas I., aged seventeen, and a student in the high school, and Florence May, a little miss of thirteen years, also in school.

Mr. Peacock is prominently identified with the leading fraternal orders; was past post commander of Steadman post, No. 198, G. A. R., at Reed City, and is now a member of Custer post, at Grand Rapids, of which he is senior vice-commander; is a charter member in Reed City lodge, No. 363, F. and A. M.; Reed City chapter, No. 112, R. A. M.; Reed City lodge, No. 316, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand, and Fitz James lodge, No. 95, K. of P., at Alma, Mich. He has been very active in all society work, serving in various official capacities. He was D. D. G. M. of the I. O. O. F., organized a number of lodges, and also was an organizer of G. A. R. posts. He has always been a public spirited citizen, active and energetic in every good work.

Mr. Peacock has always been a stalwart republican, as were also his father and brothers. He has held various official positions in Reed City and elsewhere, and receives a pension by reason of frozen limbs and general disability, incurred in January, 1864. His business and social relations have brought him into contact with a large circle of acquaintances, and among them he has many warm friends. His success is most creditable, resulting from well directed and honorable efforts, and he well deserves his prosperity and the regard in which he is held.