HISTORY OF KENTUCKY, by Lewis Collins, and J.A. & U.P. James, published 
1847.  Reprinted by Henry Clay Press, Lexington, Ky., 1968, pp. 123. 
[Jefferson county].

THE REV. BENJAMIN ORR PEERS was born in Loudon county, Virginia, in the 
year 1800.  His father, the late Major Valentine Peers, of Maysville, (a 
soldier of the revolutionary army) emigrated to Kentucky in 1803, when 
the subject of this brief notice was only three years old.  Mr. Peers 
received the first rudiments of an academical education in the Bourbon 
academy, and completed his scholastic course at Transylvania university, 
while under the administration of Dr. Holley.  He studied theology at 
Princeton.  After completing his course in that institution, he 
connected himself with the Episcopal church, having previously belonged 
to the Presbyterian.  He located in Lexington, where he established the 
Eclectic Institute, which became, under his supervision, one of the most 
valuable institutions of learning in the west.  During the time he as at 
the head of the Eclectic Institute, and subsequently, he spent much 
time, labor, and money in the cause of common school education, and was 
instrumental in arousing the public attention to the importance of the 
subject - the present common school system of Kentucky being the result 
of the popular will thus brought to bear upon the question.
        Mr. Peers, while at the head of the Eclectic Institute, was chosen 
president of Transylvania university, which position he accepted, in 
opposition to the advice of many warm friends, and which he held but a 
very brief period.  At the time of his decease, in the year 1842, in 
Louisville, he was editor of the Episcopal Sunday School Magazine in New 
York, and, also, editor of the Sunday School publications of the church.  
He was distinguished not only for his zealous devotion to the cause of 
general education, but for his sound learning and ardent piety.  His 
published writings were not extensive - the work on Christian Education 
appears to have been his favorite.  He fell early, but fell at the post 
of duty.

Holley Peers
=
Bourbon-KY Lexington-Fayette-KY Loudon-VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/peers.bo.txt