HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis
Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, 
Vol. III, pp. 1232-33. [Full page photograph of Mr. Peak included with bio.]
[Jefferson County]

J. HUNTER PEAK, M.D.--The city of Louisville, with it flourishing
industrial activities and rapid development, has attracted within it
confines men of ability and high character in the various professional
lines and in this way progress has been conserved and social stability
fostered.  He whose name introduces this review has gained recognition as
a scientist and as one of the able and successful surgeons of the province,
and by his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterling
characteristics has justified the respect and confidence in which he is
held by the medical fraternity and by the public at large.
     J. Hunter Peak was born near Bardstown, Kentucky, June 14, 1865, the
son of John and Sarah (Coy) Peak, both native born Kentuckians.  John, the
father, was born near Lebanon, Marion county, Kentucky, in 1843, and died
in 1878.  The mother of this subject was born near New Haven, Kentucky, in
1844, and died in 1870.  She was the daughter of John and Dolly Coy.  In
1872 the elder Peak moved the family to Texas, where he died, and it was
in that state that Dr. Peak was reared to manhood. He received his literary
education at Garden Valley Institute, Texas, where he was graduated in
1887, and which prepared him to take up the practical and responsible
duties of life.  He began teaching in Ellis county and taught there four
years and then taught two years in Young county.  His choice of a life
work fell upon the medical profession, and while teaching school he read
medicine and in 1891 he matriculated in Louisville, Kentucky, Medical
College, where he was graduated in 1894.  He then took a post graduate
course at the Kentucky School of Medicine.  He then located in Louisville
and engaged in the practice of his profession, where an energetic nature
and strong mentality has enabled him long since to pass from the ranks of
the many and stand among the successful and prominent few.
     In 1895 Dr. Peak was elected a member of the Louisville General
Council from the Third ward, and after serving almost two years in that
body resigned to accept a position as United States pension surgeon, which
position he held for four years.  In 1899 he was appointed special United
States pension surgeon, which position he resigned in 1903 to look after
his private practice, as he preferred to concentrate his energies upon
his professional work.  After Dr. Peak resigned from office he turned his
entire professional attention to surgery, and has made it an exclusive
specialty ever since.  In the fall of 1909 he was elected to represent the
Fourth and Fifth wards of the city as a member of the Louisville School
Board, which position he now holds and will be a member of the last
board under the present law.
     Dr. Peak is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, the
Kentucky State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.  He
is a member of the masonic order, belonging to Preston Lodge, No. 281,
F. & A. M., Louisville, Kentucky, and to Scottish Rite Consistory,
Southern Jurisdiction.
     The Doctor's religious convictions are evidenced by his connection
with the Methodist Episcopal church, being a member of the same, chairman
of its Board of Trustees, chairman of the Sunday-school Board and past
superintendent of the Sunday-school.  In politics he is a Republican but
is non-partisan in local affairs.
     Dr. Peak married Estella Thurman of Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter
of Sanford H. Thurman, of the Kentucky family of that name, who married
Mary Jane Irvin, of the old Kentucky Irvin family.  To the Doctor and wife
two children has been born, as follows: Maricita, aged thirteen years, and
Calena, aged fourteen years.
     The record of Dr. Peak's life is an upright and straightforward one,
his success has been achieved along the lines of legitimate activity
and unfaltering energy and he has well earned the uniform regard that is
extended to him by the professional as well as business men of the state.

Peak Coy Thurman Irvin
=
Bardstown-Nelson-KY Lebanon-Marion-KY Ellis-TX Young-TX

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/peak.jh.txt