Charles Edward Peers

HON. CHARLES E. PEERS. The true and authentic history of a nation is best told in the individual lives of the most prominent people of that country. The legal profession in all lands is duly recognized as the most prominent exponent in the leveling of the differences of opinion by civil and national conclusion. The gentleman whose biography is here presented is one of the best known in eastern and southwestern Missouri, and ranks high both as an attorney and a states7nan. Warren County can boast of no man who has a firmer hold upon the respect of the masses than Judge Peers. He traces his lineage to the Old Dominion, but for several generations the fauiil_v has been identified with the history of Kentucky, the slate whose charms have been recounted in song and story', and the chivalry of whose sons has long been told in the annals of the United States.

Judge Peers is a native of Lincoln County', Mo., and was born in Troy May 2, 1844. He is the youngest in the family of four sons born to the union of May. Edward J. and Cytha (Stone) Peers. His only surviving brother, John V., the eldest of the number, is a resident of Reno, Nev., where he is engaged in business. Major Peers was born in Prince William County, Va., and there remained until twelve years old, when he went with his parents to Paris, Ky. Thence he came to Lincoln County in 1820. He was a graduate of West Point, a gentleman of brilliant mind and rare intelligence. During the Mexican War he held a Major's commission under General AVool, and Judge Peers still lias the papers in his possession. He participated in the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista, and was in the line of march into Mexico when that city was evacuated by Gen. Santa Anna. He was also a Brigadier-General of the State Militia of that portion of Missouri now included in the counties of Warren, Lincoln and St. Charles. In early life his political sympathies were with the old-line Whigs. Later he entered the ranks of the Democracy and was an exponent of Jeffersonian principles.

The wife of Major Peers was a daughter of Capt. John Stone, a southern planter residing in Bowling Green, Ky. She received a common-school education, and possessing natural ability, combined with amiability of disposition, she was fitted for the duties of wife and mother. In religious belief she was a Presbvterian, which was also the faith of the Major. She passed away in 1858, and four years later was followed to the other world by her husband. Their son, the Judge, has erected a beautiful monument above the spot where they were laid to rest.

At the age of twelve years the subject of this sketch became an apprentice in the office of the Troy Gazette, where he remained for two years. He then entered the office of the old Missouri Republican, where he remained until the age of about eighteen. Then going to St. Charles, lie secured a position as a laborer on the farm of John Ball, with whom he spent the two ensuing 3'ears. On his return to Troy, he worked at an.)' occupation whereby he could earn an honest dollar. During that time his bent of inclination was the legal profession, and he borrowed law books from Henry Quigle, an attorney and a gentleman of noble heart, who was ready to aid a poor boy when he saw that the boy was determined to make a success of life.

Judge Peers is truly classed as a self-educated man in every sense of the word. His schooling was limited to three 3'ears' attendance at the public schools of Troy. His diligent individual application has made him the successful practitioner he is to-day. He continued in his individual line of study in the law until he came to Warrenton, JUI3' 14, 1865, when he walked to this place from Troy. Here he found an old wreck of a newspaper, known as the Warrenton Banner. He purchased the plant, resurrected the paper, brought order out of chaos, and in August, 1865, issued the first number of the newspaper, wliicii is still in existence. In order to purchase the plant and commence publication of the paper, he was obliged to borrow money, but fortunately was enabled to secure the necessary amount from an old fiieud, who would take no security but his word of honor. During the time that ho pul)lished the paper he continued his legal studies, and in 1866 he was admitted to practice at the Bar of Missouri, since which time he has had a large and remunerative clientage.

November 6, 1866, Judge Peers married Miss Mary C Humphreys, a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., "the City of Churches." Unto them were born three sons and one daughter, of whom two sons are yet living. Frank C. is a graduate of the St. Louis Pliarmaceutical College in the Cl.ass of '91, and is also a graduate of the Central Wesleyan College in the scientific department. Edward Porter, for some time a student in the Central AYesleyan College, is in partnership with his brother in the drug business at Warrenton, the Peers brothers being classed among the leading business men of the place. jNIrs. Peers was born September 1.5, 1848, and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Morris) Humphreys, natives of Wales. She received an excellent education in Brooklyn and Chicago, and is an accomplished lady, popular among her acquaintances.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

D. G. Jones, the Republican candidate, and James

E. Yocum, the independent candidate. During his service of two years he was Chairman of the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, and a member of the Judiciary Committee. He was also Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Local Legislation, the work of which devolved almost entirely upon him, owing to the fact that Mr. Wilson, the Chairman, was in very delicate health and could not attend to the business with dispatch.

In 1876 the Judge was made the ijermanent Chairman of the Democratic State Convention, and at the same time was put on the electoral ticket which nominated Hon Samuel J. Tilden for President on the Democratic ticket. While an elector he made a formidable canvass of the state of Missouri in the interest of his party, making fifty speeches during the campaign. At St. Joe, in company with Gov. John S. Phelps, he opened the campaign, both making effective speeches.

The Democratic State Convention of 1880 was held in Moberly, JIo., where a special building, known as the "wigwam," had been erected to accommodate the vast multitude in attendance. Gov. B. Giatz Brown was the President of the convention, and so very enthusiastic was the audience that he could not control it and called upon Judge Peers to take the gave. The Judge at once responded. As he apjnoached the rostrum, he noticed seated on the platform an old gentleman with a cane in his hand that iiad a head as large as a man's fist. The Judge grasped the cane, mounted the rostrum, and, facing the turbulent throng, brought his improvised gave down with characteristic force and energy, and demanded in stentorian tones that the audience come to order at once. Such was his personal magnetism and power that order was at once restored.

In 1884 Governor Crittenden appointed Judge Peers one of the State Managers of the lunatic asylum at Fulton, Mo., one of the largest institutions of its kind in the state. For four years he discharged the duties of the office with that fidelity, care and attention which have characterized all his actions. In February of 1887 Judge Lewis resigned the Judgesiiip of the St. Louis Court of Appeals, and Governor Morehouse telegraphed our subject to accept the appointment. This he did, and held the ohice until the election in 1890, when he declined further service. The duties of the position were very arduous, and he received some of the highest compliments from the metropolitan press of St. Louis upon the manner in which he discharged those duties, and the Bar of St. Louis gave him a banquet at the Mercantile Club upon his retirement from the Bench.

At the Democratic State Convention held in the Standard Theatre, St. Louis, in 1892, he was for the third time made permanent President of the assembly, this being the only instance on record in the history of Missouri where a man has held that important office three different times. As a parliamentarian he has no peer in his own state, and so thorough is his information in this line that he has never received a criticism on his parliamentary action. In May, 1894, he was nominated for State Senator from the Tenth Senatorial District, composed of Callaway, Monlgomery, Warren and St. Charles Counties. He is a gentleman whose career as a jurist and a man of honor and integrityis irreproachable, and his distinguished services in the interest of his party have made him one of its most popular leaders.

In the practice of law Judge Peers is associated with William L. Morsey, the firm of Peers & Horsey having been in existence for fourteen 3'ears. The professional history of the firm is not surpassed by any other in eastern Missouri. Tiiey have one of the most extensive law libraries in the state, consisting of the most recent text-books upon all departments of jurisprudence. Their practice extends over a large area of county. Judge Peers is attorney for the Wabash, and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroads. Socially he is a member of Warren ton Lodge No. 231, A. F. & A. M.; Troy Royal Arch Chapter No. 82;Tancred Commandery No. 2.5, at Moberly; and Mola Shrine of St. Louis. He holds official position in the commandery. His wife is a member of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church, and while he is not identified therewith, he is liberal in his contributions to its maintenance, as well as in all church benevolences worthy- of his consideration.

Judge Peers commenced at the bottom of the ladder a poor boy, with no education and no one to aid him in obtaining a foothold, but by dint of industry and perseverance he has risen to a high place in his profession. He has always been a liberal-minded gentleman, and many a poor man can trace to his timely assistance the commencement of his prosperity. His purse-strings have ever been looked to all worthy persons and projects, and Warrenton owes much of its progress to his energy and influence.

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren counties, Missouri (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.