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Draft:Thomas Peacock Adirondack Guide


Thomas Peacock (1853-1942) was a skilled American hunting and wilderness guide in the Adirondack Mountains, living in Saranac Lake for most of his life.

History

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Early Life

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Thomas Peacock was born on March 5, 1853 in the young settlement of North Elba, NY. His parents emigrated from England and came to the area in 1847 to live as pioneer farmers in the Adirondack wilderness.[1]

Thomas' father, William, worked shares on John Brown's farm, and young Thomas would often help him in the fields. The two Peacocks were reportedly present when Brown left the area for the last time to plan his ill-fated raid on the federal armory in Harper's Ferry, WV in 1859.[2] He later provided detailed historical accounts of these events for Alfred Donaldson’s landmark book, A History of the Adirondacks and is cited in the book's prologue and index.

Career As a Guide and Woodsman

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Peacock began guiding hunting and fishing parties as a teenager, and at age 18, he blazed the first trail from Middle Saranac Lake to Ampersand Mountain. He often worked out of Paul Smith's Hotel, and his reputation for strength, endurance, and navigation were legendary, making him a preferred guide for prominent figures,[3] including:

He was also a key guide in the Saranac Lake region for surveyor Verplanck Colvin during the monumental 1870s survey of the Adirondacks[4], which ultimately led to the creation of the Adirondack Park and the "forever wild" Forest Preserve.[3]

Notable Feats and Events

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  • Roosevelt’s Midnight Ride: In 1901, Peacock was among the guides who assisted Vice President Theodore Roosevelt in his urgent descent from Mount Marcy following the assassination attempt on President William McKinley.[3]
  • Radio Debut: In 1939, at the age of 74, Peacock was featured on the CBS national radio program We the People in New York City, where he shared stories of his life in the Adirondacks with a listening audience of millions.[3]

Personal Life and Legacy

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A skilled carpenter, Peacock built several "cure cottages" in Saranac Lake to accommodate patients seeking treatment for tuberculosis. He was also noted for his personal character, raising his three grandchildren, including Tom Stainbeck (future president of Paul Smith's College), as his own after the death of their parents.[5]

Peacock remained an active woodsman into his late 80s, continuing to hunt and fish until shortly before his death. He died on June 14, 1942, and is buried in Pine Ridge Cemetery in Saranac Lake. His former home and workshop in Saranac Lake remain preserved today.[6]

References

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  1. ↑ Brumley, Charles (1994). Guides of the Adirondacks. New York: North Country Books. ISBN 978-0925168368.
  2. ↑ Donaldson, Alfred L. (1921). A History of the Adirondacks. New York: The Century Co. ISBN 978-1432635251. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  3. 1 2 3 4 DeSormo, Maitland L. (2002). Summer On the Saranacs. New York: North Country Books. ISBN 978-0932052872.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ↑ Thacher, Tom (February 22, 2015). "The Triangulation of Verplanck Colvin". Adirondack Explorer.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ "Tom Peacock". Historic Saranac Lake Wiki.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ Lombardi, Louis. "Thomas Peacock Biography". High Peaks Cottage, Thomas Peacock Home.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Sources

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  • DeSormo, Maitland C. Summer On the Saranacs. North Country Books. New York. 2002
  • Donaldson, Alfred L. A History of the Adirondacks. The Century Co., New York. 1921
  • Brumley, Charles. Guides of the Adirondacks: A History. North Country Books. New York. 1994
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