Stephen Peak, c.1780's-1824, Amite County>Marion County MS

My paternal 4th great-grandfather, Stephen Peak, was born c. 1780-1790.  He married Elizabeth Ann May, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth May, on 21 November 1911 in Amite County, Mississippi.  He was in Marion County, Mississippi in the early 1810's as he is listed as a witness on various land and property transactions and other court matters.  The Orphan's Court for Marion County was held in the home of Stephen Peak numerous times.  He was also granted a tavern license in Marion County.  

Stephen Peak enlisted as an Adjutant in the 13th Regiment of the Mississippi Militia under Nixon's command during the War of 1812.  His first muster date was 06 January 1815 and discharge date was 05 February 1815.  He was listed on the 1816 Mississippi State & Territorial Census in Marion County.  On the 1820 federal census of Marion County, Mississippi, Stephen Peak had the following in his household:  8 males under age 10, 1 male age 16-25, 1 male age 26-44, 1 female age 16-25, 1 female age 26-44, and 11 slaves.  

Stephen Peak died c. 1824.  His widow, Elizabeth Ann, later married Henry Henniger.  

Children of Stephen Peak and Elizabeth Ann May:

i.    Thomas May Peak, married Lenora Cooper

ii.    Alonzo John Peak

iii.   Elexander Peak, married Luecynde Smith- This is my line.  Thomas Peak, who married Elizabeth Boyte, was the son of Elexander Peak and Luecynde Smith.  There are probably more children, but they remain unknown at present.

iv.  Elizabeth Ann Peak

v.   Stephen F. Peak

There were probably more children but they remain unknown at present.  If anyone has more information about the Stephen Peak family, please contact me, Thanks!

Thomas Peak, 1849-1913, Marion County MS

My paternal great-great grandfather, Thomas Peak, was born 01 July 1849 in Marion County, Mississippi, the son of Elexander Peak and Luecynde Smith.  

On 06 January 1870, Thomas married Elizabeth Louise Boyte (Boyette, Boyd) in Lawrence County, Mississippi.  She was born 22 September 1852 in Mississippi, the daughter of Hugh Boyte and Nancy Delilah Reeves.  The couple were enumerated on the 1870 federal census, Marion County, Mississippi.  

1870 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Pg 3

A decade later, Thomas and Elizabeth are again enumerated in Marion County, Mississippi.  By then, they were parents of four children- Ellar (Ella), age 8, Simeon, age 6, Corah (Cora), age 4 and Simson (Simpson), age 8 months.  

1880 Federal Census, Marion County, MS, Red Creek & Wolf River, Dist 157, Pg  6

On 30 June 1892, Thomas Peak filed for homestead exemption on 40 acres located in the "Southwest quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section thirty one in Township three North of Range thirteen East of Washington Meridian in Mississippi".

Homestead exemption certificate-
Thomas Peak

In 1900, twenty years after the last available census, Thomas and Elizabeth still resided in Marion County, Mississippi.  Their daughter, Ella Lucinda, had married James Ross Dunaway in 1891 so she no longer resided with them.  Their son, Simeon, had married Ludonia Beard in 1897 so he had moved out as well.  Their children Cora and Simpson remained in the household along with younger siblings Sophia, age 15, Alberna (Alberny), age 12 and Mary, age 8.  The census record also shows that Thomas and Elizabeth had been married 30 years and they were parents of 7 children, of whom all were still living.  Thomas was a farmer and his son, Simpson, was a farm laborer.

1900 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Beat 3, Dist 78, Pg 12

In 1910, Thomas and Elizabeth had only one child remaining in their household- daughter Mary, age 17.  The rest of their children had all married and moved out.  Their son, Simeon, and his family lived next door.

1910 Federal Census, Marion County, Beat 3, Dist 0103, Pg 35

Thomas Peak died 01 September 1913 in Marion County, Mississippi.  He was buried in Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, Marion County, Mississippi.  His wife, Elizabeth, died 24 March 1930.  She was buried next to him.

Children of Thomas Peak and Elizabeth Louise Boyte:

i.    Ella Lucinda Peak (1871-1951), married James Ross Dunaway
ii.   Simeon A. Peak (1873-1952), married Ludonia Beard
iii.  Cora Ann Peak (1874-1958), married John Harvey Dunaway
iv.  Simpson Peak (1879-1952), married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Miller
v.   Sophia N. Peak (1885-     ), no further info
vi.  Alberny Roselli Peak (1887-    ), no further info
vii. Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Peak (1891-1997), married Lee Webster Morgan

See also:
Tombstone Tuesday: Thomas and Elizabeth Peak

Simpson Monroe Peak, c. 1879-1952, Marion County MS

Simpson Monroe Peak, my paternal great-grandfather, was born c. 1879 in Mississippi, the son of Thomas Peak and Elizabeth Boyte (Boyette, Boyd).  He was listed in the household of his parents on the 1880 and 1900 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi.  

1880 Federal Census, Marion County, MS, Red Creek & Wolf River, Dist 157, Pg 6

Note the discrepancies in age for Simpson between the 1880 and 1900 census.  The 1900 census states Simpson was born Sept 1882, which is incorrect because he was born before the 1880 census was taken.  I have said it often- the errors in census records never cease to amaze me.  

1900 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Beat 3, Dist 78, Pg 12

Simpson married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Miller on 21 August 1902 in Marion County, Mississippi.  She was born c. 1886 in Marion County, Mississippi, the daughter of Claiborn Miller and Frances M. Smith.  By 1910, Simpson and Lizzie are shown together on the federal census in Marion County, Mississippi with two daughters- Iva, age 3 and Eva, age 2.  The record shows Simpson and Lizzie had each been married once and they have been in the current marriage for 5 years.  They were parents of 3 children with 2 presently living.

1910 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Beat 3, Dist 0103, Pg 37

According to his World War I Draft Registration card, Simpson was born 28 Sept 1880, which is also incorrect because he was born before June 1880 when he was enumerated on the federal census that year.  The registration card also shows that Simpson resided in the Cheraw area of Marion County and his occupation was cutting wood, a common occupation during that period in rural Mississippi.  It was this record that identified his middle name- Monroe.

WWI Registration Card, 12 Sept 1918

The 1920 federal census shows that Simpson and Lizzie remained in Marion County, Mississippi.  Their family had grown to include three additional children- son James, daughter Iner (Ina) and son Kelley.  Daughters Iva and Eva remained in their household.  

1920 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Beat 4, Dist 116, Pg 7

A decade later, the 1930 federal census shows that Simpson and Lizzie had two more children- sons Hezzie and Freddie (Fred).  Their daughters Iva and Eva had married and moved out.  This record also shows that Simpson was 22 years old and Lizzie was 16 years old when they first married.  

1930 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Beat 3, Dist 7, Pg 31

In 1940, Simpson and Lizzie's household had diminished greatly, having only one child remaining at home- their son Fred, 11 years old.  Simpson was about 60 years old then and continued working seasonally in the paperwood industry.  That is a physically demanding job, even for a younger adult.  The census record shows Simpson worked 26 weeks and earned $186 for the year 1939.  The record also shows the highest grade of school completed was 4th for Simpson and 5th for his wife Lizzie.  Education was not a priority among rural families in the south.  Most had no formal education and worked on farms or logging industry by the time they were teens.  That was their way of life and they learned to labor on the farms, fields and forests from a young age.  

1940 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi, Dist 46-17, Pg 32

Residing next door to Simpson and Lizzie Peak in 1940 was their son Hezzie and his wife, Ethel Mae.  Hezzie and Ethel Mae were a young couple, he was 18 and she was only 15 years old.  On the other side, their son Kelly resided with his wife Beulah and their children.  A couple of houses below was their daughter, Ina Mae, who had married Robert Lewis Smith.  

Simpson died 05 April 1952.  It is unknown when his wife Lizzie died.  I have been unable to locate their grave sites.  

Children of Simpson Monroe Peak and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Miller:

i.    Iva Louetta Peak (1905-1980), married (1) Willie Furr  (2) Lewis Edward Stogner
ii.   Eva Mae Peak (1908-1988), married Dudley Alford
iii.  James Peak (1912-1996), married (1) Vera Mae Ratliff  (2) Della Mae Sanders
iv.  Ina Mae Peak (1916-1985), married Robert Lewis Smith
v.   Kelly Peak (1917-     ), married Beulah Sanders
vi.  Hezzie D. Peak (1923-1964), married Ethel Mae Whitehead
vii.  Fred Lee Peak (1930-2006), married Sylvia Maxwell

Iva Louetta Peak, 1905-1980, Marion County MS

Iva Louetta Peak Stogner

Iva Louetta Peak, my paternal grandmother, was born 14 October 1905 in Marion County, Mississippi.  She was the daughter of Simpson Peak and Lizzie Miller. She is shown in the household with her parents on the 1920 Federal Census, Marion County.

She married first Willie Furr on 10 April 1924 in Marion County, Mississippi. From their union, a daughter was born- Annie Mae.

Lewis Stogner & Iva Peak
Marriage Certificate

She married second Lewis Edward Stogner on 07 June 1926 in Marion County, Mississippi.  From their union, five children were born- Velma Jean, Hollis, Jewel Mason, Charles Laverne and Shelby Ray.  Ivy and Lewis were married 54 years before her death.  She died on 24 September 1980 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi, following a lengthy illness.  She was buried in the Foxworth Cemetery, Marion County, Mississippi.

Iva P. Stogner Death Certificate

Obituary for Iva P. Stogner

I spent a great deal of time with my Grandma Ivy while I was young.  During summer breaks from school and holidays, I usually visited her.  I have written a few memories about my memories of her in my Sharing Memories posts.  

See also:
Tombstones: Lewis Edward & Iva Louetta Peak Stogner