Thomas Baldwin Peddie
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Thomas Baldwin Peddie (February 12, 1808 – February 16, 1889) was a Republican member of New Jersey General Assembly from 1864-1865; Mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 1866 to 1869 and U.S. Congressman from New Jersey's 6th district from 1877 to 1879.
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[edit] Birth
He was born on February 12, 1808 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was a Baptist exhorter, working at trunk-making during the week and preaching on Sundays. His father died in 1832, leaving in moderate circumstances his wife and six children, whose support then depended mainly upon Thomas. Seeing little chance in Scotland of earning a living for so many dependent ones, and hearing of America as the land of opportunity, he emigrated in 1833, and, after studying the advantages offered by several towns, concluded to make Newark, New Jersey his home. For two years he worked at the bench in a saddlery establishment, and then began, in a basement on Broad Street, to manufacture trunks, not having, as he said, enough money to pay for the iron on his first trunk. When he died, his manufactory and warehouses covered nearly a block, his employees were numbered in the hundreds, and his name stood at the head of this branch of industry in the United States.
[edit] Public affairs
Besides giving close attention to his great business, Mr. Peddie was always active in public affairs. He was a member of the Assembly in 1863 and 1864, mayor of the city for four years from 1866, and a member of the Forty Fifth Congress. He helped to found the Essex National Bank, and was its vice president; he founded the Security Savings Bank, and has been its only president; he was president of the Board of Trade, manager of various city institutions, and director in insurance companies and charitable organizations. No man was busier than he; none more faithful to every duty; none more esteemed by the citizens of Newark.
The money for the Newark First Baptist Church was given by Peddie. H. J. Latham wrote:
He said to me, Now, don't mention my name in this service, but pass me by. After the service was over, we walked down Broad Street together, and he said to me, I don't think that you or any of the others quite understand me in this gift. How so? I asked. He replied, Think of it, I came to this city a poor young man. See where I am now! Look at my happy home! Think how many friends I have. Everything I've touched has seemed to prosper. Now, I believe that all this prosperity has come to me from God, and I owe all my religious convictions to the fellowship I have enjoyed all these years in the First Baptist Church. Then pausing and turning abruptly to me he said with great emphasis, I am building this church simply to express my gratitude to God.
[edit] Patent
This invention has for its object to improve the construction of trunks, valises, portmanteaus, pellesiers, traveling bags, etc., so as to adapt them to receive and carry a portfolio in such a way that while carrying it safely, it may be conveniently removed when required for use. U.S. Patent 98104 (1870).
[edit] Death
He died in Newark, New Jersey on February 16, 1889 and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark.
[edit] Legacy
The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey and the Peddie Memorial Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey are named after him.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- H. J. Latham; God in Business (1887)
[edit] External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Political graveyard info for Thomas Baldwin Peddie
| Preceded by Theodore Runyon |
Mayor of Newark, New Jersey 1866–1869 |
Succeeded by Frederick W. Ricord |
| Preceded by Frederick H. Teese |
U.S. Representative, New Jersey 6th District 1877–1879 |
Succeeded by John L. Blake |
