George W. (George Wilbur) Peck

Born in Henderson, New York, on September 28, 1840, George Wilbur Peck moved with his family to Wisconsin as a child. He trained as a printer and built a career in newspapers, working in Watertown, Madison, La Crosse, and Milwaukee before founding Peck’s Sun in 1874.

Peck became widely known as the author of humorous books including Peck’s Bad Boy and His Pa, Peck’s Sunshine, and Peck’s Compendium of Fun. His comic writing drew on everyday family life and the antics of a mischievous boy, helping establish his reputation as a popular American humorist.

He also served in the Union Army during the Civil War and entered Wisconsin politics after returning to newspaper work. Peck was elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1890 and served as the Democratic governor of Wisconsin from 1891 to 1895. He died in Milwaukee on April 16, 1916.