Jared Valentine Peck

Jared Valentine Peck (September 21, 1816 – December 25, 1891) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1853 to 1855. He was born in Port Chester, New York, on September 21, 1816, in what was then part of the town of Rye in Westchester County. Peck attended the local common schools, receiving a basic formal education typical of the period, before entering commercial life in his native region.

After completing his schooling, Peck engaged in business enterprises centered on the growing construction and building trades of mid-nineteenth-century New York. He became involved in the lumber, brick, hardware, and building-material business, activities that tied him closely to the economic development of Westchester County and the surrounding area. His business experience and local standing led to early involvement in public affairs. In 1844 and 1845 he served as auditor for the town of Rye, overseeing local financial accounts and contributing to the administration of town government.

Peck’s first significant state-level political role came with his election to the New York State Assembly, where he represented the 2nd District of Westchester County in 1848. As a member of the Assembly, he participated in the legislative work of a state experiencing rapid growth and increasing political contention over national issues. His service in Albany helped establish his reputation within the Democratic Party and provided a platform for further political advancement.

Building on his state legislative experience, Peck was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third Congress, representing New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1855. During his single term in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process at a time of intensifying sectional tensions and national debate over slavery, expansion, and economic policy. As a Democratic Party member representing his New York constituency, he participated in the democratic process and worked to represent the interests of his constituents in the House of Representatives. Peck chose not to be a candidate for renomination in 1854, thus concluding his congressional service after one term.

Following his departure from Congress, Peck returned to private life and resumed his earlier business pursuits in the lumber, brick, hardware, and building-material trade. His experience in both commerce and public office, however, soon led to another important public appointment. In 1859, Governor Edwin D. Morgan appointed him warden of the port of New York, a position of considerable responsibility in what was then the nation’s principal commercial harbor. Peck took up residence in New York City in connection with this post and served as warden of the port from 1859 until 1865, a period that included the Civil War and heightened federal and state interest in port security, customs, and maritime regulation.

During his years in New York City, Peck was also active in civic and political circles beyond his formal office. He was one of the founders of the Union League Club, an organization established during the Civil War era to promote Union loyalty, support the national government, and encourage civic reform. His role in helping to found the club reflected his engagement with the broader political and social issues of the time, as well as his connections within the city’s business and political communities.

In his later years, Peck returned to Westchester County and settled once again in Rye, maintaining his ties to the community where he had begun his public career. There he continued to serve in local government, including as a member of the town board of auditors, returning to the kind of fiscal oversight responsibilities he had first undertaken in the 1840s. He remained a respected figure in local affairs until his death.

Jared Valentine Peck died in Rye, New York, on December 25, 1891. He was interred in Greenwood Union Cemetery, a burial ground serving the surrounding communities of Westchester County. His life encompassed significant roles in business, local and state government, and national politics, including service in the New York State Assembly, a term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a key administrative post as warden of the port of New York during a critical period in the nation’s history.