John Mason Peck facts for kids
John Mason Peck (1789–1858) was an important American Baptist missionary. He worked on the western frontier of the United States, especially in Missouri and Illinois. Peck was a strong supporter of ending slavery. He also started many schools and wrote a lot of books and articles.
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Early Life and Family
John Mason Peck was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, into a farming family. He didn't go to school for very long, but he started teaching in 1807. He became a Christian at a church event.
On May 8, 1809, Peck married Sally Paine. They moved to Greene County, New York, in 1811. Soon after their first son was born, they joined the Baptist Church. Peck taught school and also became a pastor at Baptist churches in New York. He became very interested in missionary work after meeting Luther Rice.
Working on the Frontier
Peck and his missionary partner, James Ely Welch, received money to work in the "Missouri Territory." They traveled west and arrived in St. Louis in December 1817. Peck and Welch started the First Baptist Church of St. Louis. This was the first Protestant church in the city. They also started the first missionary group in the West.
In 1820, the main Baptist group stopped their funding. But Peck decided to stay and continue his work. He traveled around St. Louis, starting new churches. Two years later, another Baptist group hired him. The Baptists in St. Louis built a church building. They shared their meeting hall with other Christian groups.
Helping Communities Grow
Peck worked hard to set up Bible societies and Sunday School groups. He gave out Bibles, which helped people learn to read. It also spread Christian ideas like being against slavery. In 1822, Peck moved to Rock Springs, Illinois, to farm. From there, he continued to visit different communities and farms. On one trip, Peck visited Daniel Boone, a famous frontiersman, and later wrote a book about him.
In 1824, Peck's speeches helped the Illinois Governor Edward Coles stop a plan to allow slavery in Illinois. Four years later, Black Baptists in St. Louis wanted to start their own church. Peck helped them create the African Church of St. Louis. Most of its 220 members were enslaved people. Peck helped a free man named John Berry Meachum become their pastor.
Starting Schools
Peck believed that Baptist preachers needed good education. So, he started a seminary (a school for religious studies) at his farm in Rock Springs, near O'Fallon, Illinois. His first try to get the school officially recognized failed. But Peck didn't give up. He moved his new school to Upper Alton, Illinois.
In 1836, after a large gift from Benjamin Shurtleff, the school became Shurtleff College. This college later became part of the Southern Illinois University system. Peck then started the Illinois Baptist Education Society.
National Impact
Peck also influenced the creation of the American Baptist Home Mission Society in 1832. This group worked to help people on the frontier. This included settlers, Native Americans, and later, formerly enslaved people.
In 1834, Peck helped start the Illinois State Baptist Convention and became its first president. He wrote many things about farming, frontier history, and Native American issues. In 1843, he founded the American Baptist Publication Society. Peck also started a weekly religious newspaper called Western Pioneer.
Harvard University gave Peck an honorary degree in 1852. Two years later, the Illinois government asked him to write the first history of the state. Peck also founded the Western Baptist Historical Society.
Legacy
During his 40 years of ministry, John Mason Peck helped start 900 Baptist churches. He also saw 600 pastors become ordained. About 32,000 people joined the Baptist faith because of his work. He died in Rock Springs, Illinois. His body was later moved to Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.
