In order to learn about S.R. Peale, it is probably best to start with his family.

Doctor John W. Peale, S.R.'s father, was born at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania on June 13, 1800 to John and Mary (McClintock) Peale. After studying medicine, John moved to Hughesville and began practicing medicine.

Samuel Richard Peale was born in Hughesville on September 20, 1830.

Dr. Peale trained many medical students at his office in Hughesville, such as Edward D. Lumley and George Hill. On the first of April, 1838, Dr. Peale entered a partnership with George Hill that allowed Dr. Hill to purchase Dr. Peale's business over a six month period.

In November of 1838, Dr. Peale moved his family to Sunbury, PA, where he again practiced medicine.

In 1850, S.R. Peale graduated from Dickinson College at Carlisle, and later studied law, being admitted into the Northumberland County Bar.

In 1856, S.R. moved to Lock Haven and began practicing Law. He married Harriet Frances Altar, of Philadelphia, on September 29, 1857.

In 1859, Martha Jane Peale, Dr. Peale's daughter, sister to S.R., was married to Edward D. Lumley, a medical student who had studied under the direction of Dr. John W. Peale in Hughesville. Together, Edward and Martha Jane had four children; Joseph, Jennie, Annie and Maggie.

On July 14, 1868, Dr. John W. Peale died at the home of his son, S.R. Peale, in Lock Haven, PA.

In 1876, S.R. Peale was elected to the State Senate from the Clinton-Centre-Clearfield district where he then served one term. He declined a renomination from Democrats for a second term.

In 1881 he began purchasing coal lands in Clearfield county and the following year bought many thousand acres of coal lands on Moshannon creek, near Kylertown. This was the beginning of the town of Peale.

S.R. and Harriet had six children; Martha and Elizabeth H., who never married, Mrs. Frank Towne, Rembrandt, John and Frank. Rembrandt assumed S.R.'s coal interest in 1890 and later served on B.C.R.R. Board from 5/7/1909 until his death in November of 1934. See After S.R. for more information on Rembrandt.

S.R. Peale died in the fall of 1910 as a result of injuries from a horse riding accident. The following obituary was published in the Lock Haven Express:

Lock Haven Express

August 3, 1910

ACCIDENT TO EX-SENATOR PEALE WHILE OUT HORSEBACK RIDING PROVES FATAL

Died in Local Hospital Tuesday Evening of This Week After Suffering Intense Pain From Fractured Ribs and Internal Injuries---Deceased Was One of Lock Haven's Most Prominent Citizens

Ex-Senator S. R. Peale, of this city, died Tuesday evening of this week at 6:55 o'clock from the result of the accident he sustained while horseback riding on the Sugar Run road Tuesday morning. His death occurred at the Lock Haven hospital, where he was taken after the accident happened.

Mr. Peale suffered very much during the day and grew weaker as the day advanced from the shock he received. When thrown by his horse he sustained internal injuries, besides having four ribs fractured. While it was known that his condition was critical, his death was not expected so soon. He was conscious up to within fifteen minutes of the time when the end came, and his daughter, Miss Martha, was at the bedside of her father when he died. The other members of the family had only shortly before left the hospital for their home.

Senator Peale was a great lover of horses and had recently procured a fine new horse from Irvin W. Gleason of North Bend. It was his custom to enjoy a horseback ride when at home as often as possible, and following this custom he started Tuesday morning for a ride up the Sugar Run road. When near the farm of Joel Reish his horse reared up and then fell with Mr. Peale underneath. About this time Joseph Whitehouse was on his way to the farm of Adam Dickey, at the head of Sugar Run, riding a bicycle. He discovered Mr. Peale along the roadside, near the Reish home. He assisted Mr. Peale to sit up as best he could, and hurried to the house of Mr. Reish for assistance. He procured a chair on which the injured man was placed, and the latter requested Mr. Whitehouse to get his horse, which had jumped a wire fence and stood in the field nearby, and ride to the hospital and procure an auto to convey him to that institution. He also requested him not to notify his family of the accident until after he had reached the hospital. When Mr. whitehouse reached the hospital Mr. Calvin Armstrong was notified and at once started for the scene of the accident with his touring car, accompanied by Miss Happersett, the superintendent of the hospital.

The senator was carefully placed in the auto and conveyed to the hospital, where every attention possible was given him to relieve his great suffering. Dr. George D. Green, the Peale family physician, was immediately summoned and on examination discovered that four of Mr. Peale's ribs were badly fractured. He also sustained internal injuries and the shock he received was too much for a man of his advanced years to overcome.

The death of Mr. Peale removes from this community one of its most prominent citizens. He had been a resident of Lock Haven for 54 years and during this more than a half century took a deep interest in the welfare and advancement of the town. He keep in close touch with the commercial, club, social, church and educational life of this city. He also was identified with politics, not as an office seeker or for political preferment, but for the good of the city, state and nation.

He came to Lock Haven when 26 years of age and at once began the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar of Northumberland county a short time before coming to this city. He became one of the most famous land and railroad attorneys in this section of the state, being contemporaneous with Senator William A. Wallace, Judge John H. Orvis and other celebrated attornies.

In 1857, a year after he removed to Lock Haven, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet F. Alter, of Philadelphia, and their beautiful home in this city, known as "Hillside," on North Fairview street, has been the centre of attraction to a host of friends during all the years of their happy married life. In September, 1907, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by their twenty-one children and grandchildren. One of the features of the occasion was the informal reception held in the afternoon, when scores of our citizens called to pay their respects and extend hearty congratulations to the couple whose lives have been an inspiration to the people of this community. They have resided at "Hillside" for nearly 50 years.

Samuel Richard Peale was the son of Dr. John W. Peale, a practicing physician, and was born at Hughesville, Lycoming county, Pa., September 20, 1830. The family lived at Hughesville until the subject of this sketch was ten years of age, when they removed to Sunbury, where the father practiced medicine. In 1850 S. R. Peale graduated from Dickinson college at Carlisle and later studied law and was admitted to the Northumberland county bar. He located in Lock Haven in 1856 and began the practice of his profession. In the following year he was married to Miss Harriet Frances Alter, of Philadelphia.

In 1876 he was elected to the state senate from the Clinton-Centre-Clearfield district and served one term with distinction.

He declined a renomination from the Democrats, on which ticket he had been elected. His successful career as a land attorney brought him into prominence throughout this section of the state.

In 1881 he began purchasing coal lands in Clearfield county and the following year bought many thousand acres of coal lands on Moshannon creek, near Kylertown. Subsequently he interested with himself Hon. John G. Reading of Philadelphia, and afterwards the Hon. William A. Wallace, of Clearfield, and Hon. J. M. Gazzam, of Philadelphia, in his coal transactions. The late William H. Vanderbilt was later led to purchase a half interest in the lands and also with the building of the Beech Creek railroad, with which project the deceased was so intimately connected, to open up the new Clearfield bituminous coal fields. Mr. Peale was the general solicitor of the new road from 1882 until 1895. He had charge of the purchase of the right of way for the Beech Creek railroad. He was instrumental in organizing large and prosperous coal interests affiliated with the New York Central lines.

Deceased was of Scotch-Irish descent, his ancestors having settled in Cumberland county, Pa., at the close of the eighteenth century. He had been an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal church of this city since 1860 and served as superintendent of the Sunday school of that church for some time. He also taught a Bible class in the Sunday school for years. He was the senior warden of St. Paul's church and had been since the death of the late Paul S. Merrill in 1892. He is survived by his widow and six children, as follows: Rembrandt, of the well known coal firm of Peale, Peacock & Kerr, of New York city; John, also of New York city, and Frank, who resides at Summit, N.J. but has law offices in New York city; Mrs. Frank B. Towne, of Holyoke, Mass., and the Misses Martha and Elizabeth, at home.

The funeral will take place Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Episcopal church. Interment will be made in Highland cemetery and will be private.

Lock Haven Letter

Published August 7, 1910 (no mention of which Lock Haven newspaper this article was published in)

LOCK HAVEN LETTER - Deep Sorrow Over the Death of Senator Peale.

LAWYER AND BUSINESS MAN

The death of ex-Senator S.R. Peale, as a result of injuries received in a fall from a horse, was followed with expressions of deep regret and sorrow by all the people of Lock Haven, where the distiguished gentleman had resided for so many years, and where he was regarded as one of the foremost citizens. It is sad that the pastime of horseback riding in which Senator Peale engaged daily and to which he attributed his good health, his robust constitution and his activity, though he was in his eightieth year, should be the means of ...

TEXT MISSING

...The son was graduated from college, Carlisle, in the class of 1850. The father had hoped that Samuel would follow in his footsteps and become a physician, but after studying medicine for a time, the young man's inclinations were towards the law, and he soon became a disciple of Blackstone, and after being admitted to, and practicing law before the Northumberland county bar, he came to Lack Haven in 1856, as one of the pioneers of the village. The following year, Mr. Peale took unto himself a helpmeet in the person of Miss Harriet Frances Alter, of Philadelphia, and the couple have resided here ever since in a cosy home with beautiful surroundings overlooking the city. As an attorney he had an extensive clientage, and had no peers in this section at that time, when law books and printed decisions were scarce and practicing attorneys were thrown largely on their own resources. He achieved a wide reputation as a "land lawyer" and won many notable cases.
In 1876 Mr. Peale was elected to the State Senate on the Democratic ticket, the district then comprising the counties of Clinton, Centre and Clearfield. After serving one term, he declined a renomination.
About this time Mr. Peale became aware of the great possibilities in the undeveloped coal lands in the Clearfield district, and giving up the practice of law, he in conjunction with W.H. Vanderbilt, of New York; John G. Reading and J.M. Gazzam, of Philadelphia, and the Hon. William Wallace, of Clearfield, purchased thousands of acres of land underlaid with vast beds of bituminous coal along Moshannon creek in Clearfield county. The development of these coal properties, the organization of the different coal and coke companies and the construction of the Beech Creek, Clearfield and Southwestern railroad, now the Beech Creek division of the N.Y.C., to market the coal and coke, is history. Mr. Peale was a stockholder and general solicitor of the company, and on him developed the difficult task of securing the right of way and settling with the many claimants. He was also a stockholder and president of some of the large corporations affiliated with the N.Y.C. railroad.
Mr. Peale was one of the oldest and most active members of St. Paul's Episcopal church and was senior warden since 1892. In politics he was a Democrat, and took an active interest in the affairs of his party, frequently taking the stump in advocating Democratic principles and candidates and presiding at county conventions. He was a staunch advocate of clean politics and always denounced underhanded, dishonorable methods. As a citizen, he was looked up to as one of our foremost men and although all his business interests were outside the city, he took much pride in the place of his residence. He was jovial, and good natured, enjoyed and could tell a witty story; was charitable and forgiving; abhorred immorality, intemperance and wrong-doing, and was the personification of integrity and uprightness. Were all men to emulate his example, the world would be far better off than it is to day.
Deceased is survived by his widow, three sons, Rembrandt R., of New York, head of the noted coal firm of Peale, Peacock & Kerr; John W. of New York, and Frank, a practicing attorney of New York, who resides at Summit, N.J., and by three daughters, Mrs. Frank Towne, of Holyoke, Mass., and the Misses Martha and Elizabeth Peale, at home. Simple funeral services were conducted over the remains at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon in St. Paul's Episcopal church, by the rector, the Rev. Lewis Nichols, and private burial was made in the family plot on the apex of Highland cemetery. Many prominent men in the business world and legal profession from far and near were present to pay a final tribute of respect to deceased.
An hour previous to the conducting of the last rites the Clinton County Bar Association met in the Court House. In addition to the members of the local bar, attorneys from Lycoming, Centre, Clearfield and other counties, who were associated or acquainted with Mr. Peale, were present to give expression to their sorrow. The meeting was presided over by C.S. McCormick, Esq., nestor of the local bar and president of the association. Mr. McCormick delivered an eulogistic address, in which he paid a fitting tribute to the high character of Mr. Peale. In response to the invitation extended, other short addresses, giving glimpses of the inner life of the man and demonstrating some of his noble traits were given by W.C. Kress, Esq., of the Clinton county bar; J.J. Reardon and P.D. Bricker, Esqs., of the Lycoming county bar; D.F. Fortney and Clement Dale, Esqs. of the Centre county bar, and W.C. Cole, Esq. of the Clearfield county bar. Resolutions expressing the loss sustained by the bar and the community by Senator Peale's death, were adopted. Those present then marched in a body to St. Paul's church to hear the final rites conducted over the remains of their departed friend and fellow counselor.
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The following letters, handwritten on stationary marked Peale & McKee, Attorneys at Law, in the upper left corner and Bellefonte, PA before the date, were written by S.R. Peale to his wife:

November 11, 1881

My Dearest Wife

I am here on my circuit, and shall remain until tomorrow evening. I am feeling better. New business opportunities have opened up to me within a few days, but I cannot yet say what they will bring forth, but I think I shall make some money. Next week I shall work for Mr. Pardee and hope to make a big fee or rather complete the work for which he has offered me $10,000. If no unexpected misfortune affliction or bereavement overtakes us we may now look forward to less care and more comfort. From certain Railroad movements that I have learned about, the property owned by Mr. Reading and myself is going to turn out unusually profitable. I should not be surprised if it would make us quite rich. We have refused $500,000 for it. It cost $250,000. Here would have been a profit to me of --$62, 500.00 but we think by holding it for two years we can make twice or thrice as much. The way to make the most out of it is to get Railroads into it and then lease it out by the ton - say 15 cts. per ton. Now we have 21000 acres. It will mine 6000 tons per acre or - 126,000,000 tons which multiplied by 15 cts. = $18,900,000.00. Of course it would take 50 to 75 years to get all the coal out, but our children and grandchildren would get the benefit. My share would be $4,725,000.00. My object in writing this is simply to instruct you about the possibilities of the property in case I do not live to work this scheme out. My whole interest I shall never part with, but would be satisfied to sell the greater part of it for say from $100,000 to $200,000 profit over cost, in order that we may have some ease in our day. I owe the one fourth of $250,000 cost, plus, possibly by the time we get everything fixed, $20,000 for expenses making up in all $270,000.00. This is payable in ten years with interest. I hope to make nearly enough in that time to pay it. But the future no one knows. I must be economical and try.

Use your own judgement about Minnie, but it seems that she was all right and needed only a brace. What are you going to do with the new brace Kolbe made? You ought to have gone to Dr. Agnew and told him what you desired to do. Kolbe will tell him and then he will lose his good opinion of your courtesy at least. My object in sending you and the children to Philadelphia was that you might move in your own word indistiguishable and do what you thought wisest. You know you do not often think that your husband is right in his judgements until about one year after. Now you have my permission do as you please in every thing. But do not fuss and frettes away your time. Decide what you are going to do, then do it. Your difficulty about ready money is not greater than two words indistiguishable every day. It shall not last long. With much love I am your --

Husband S.R. Peale

In the margin of the last page of this letter is written "Week after next I hope to get to Philadelphia."

December 7, 1881

My Dear Wife

I am here at Court and have been hard at work trying causes. Have not lost any yet. Hope to get loose before the end of the week. Must go to Clearfield one day. If it were possible I should love to come down on Friday night and leave on Sunday Night, but I do not see that it is possible. Court begin in Lock Haven on Monday next and I have so much to do that I do not know what to do first. Besides I have two engagements in Clearfield during the week. I am quite well now, but not strong. I need rest and cannot get it. As to money I must save up, for I am nearly out of ready cash. My movements take money. If Mr. Pardee comes word indistiguishable I shall be all right if not, not. I have gained my Snow Shoe Suit with Mr. Humes. So that I probably shall get some money there before long. I think I can sell out my coal interest there for $10,000.00 profit. Then I have an interest in the word indistiguishable worth say $5,000.00. Then I have a fee of five thousand ($5,000.00) making a total of $20,000. This has nothing to do with the lands held by Mr. Reading. But I am getting short of ready cash. The children will want $150.00 in the next week, etc. So I must save and scratch. I cannot take any rest or recreation until I get some of these things closed out. My expenses are fearful.

Oh how I wish I could get down if only for a day. Will hope on ever.

Fondly Your Own
Richard

The following letter was written to a Mrs. Barrows on September 24, 1907.
The stationary this letter was written on has a central heading of:

The Central Trading Corporation
Wholesale Only
No Goods at Retail
Main Office and Warehouses
Philipsburg, PA

The right, top corner of the stationary displays:

All orders must be confirmed
by purchasing agent before
shipment.

All bills payable between
the 6th and 10th of the
month following their
dating; subject to
discount

The left, top corner of the stationary displays:

S.R. Peale, President
Lock Haven, PA

Retail Branches as follows:
Bloomington Dep't Store
Glen Richey Store
Rathmel "
Winburne "
Munson "
Victor "
Emeigh "
Penn Run "
Central Market

Under the date is typed "Address all letters to Philipsburg Office."

The body of the letter states:

Dear Mrs. Barrows

I forgot to write the data you requested, last evening, therefore I do it now. I do not enjoy excessive mention in the newspapers. Have never allowed my picture to be printed and shall not now. But it is only fair to my children and others who hold me in esteem that I give data for prudent use at this golden sunset.

I was 77 last Friday. Mrs. Peale was 73 last March 20th. I settled in Lock Haven May 1856. Practiced law 52 years retiring at 75 years. I had generous patronage in my profession, and without to become a specialist I became known as a Land Lawyer, and latterly a Railroad Lawyer, and in each seemed to be valued. I was fortunate in winning the love and hand of Miss Harriet F. Alter of Philadelphia and she became my wife on the 29th day of September 1857. She has been my guiding light in all the intervening years, and on the golden anniversary 3 sons and 3 daughters and one grand daughter and ten grand sons gather at her knee to do her reverence. It is not for me to speak of capacities, gifts, or character, Mrs. Peale and I must stand by the records we have made, but it is due to my dear Mother's memory to say that I have been true to the lessons of uprightness in business which she instilled into me. I say this to you, but do not publish anything that must necessarily have come from me.

My principal achievement for the public good was the conception and execution the scheme for building the Beech Creek Railroad, and the introduction of the NYC&HRRR into the soft coal region of Central Penna. Great results have followed, and now cars marked NYC RR may be seen west of the Allegheny Mountains bearing coal to the Eastern Seaboard. Towns have sprung up, thousands of working men have found employment, and the hundreds of thousands of idle acres have become sources of prosperity.

As a Senator I am concious of having secured my constituency with fidelity and having brought back my honor unstained.

If through all the years I have preserved the respect of my neighbors, I am content. The evening shadows deepen but behind the shadows I see a gentle light, which sweetly glows upon two old faces, and we draw even closer, in loving gratitude for our last good night.

Affectionately,
S.R. Peale
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In 1890, Rembrandt Peale, son of S.R. Peale, assumed his father's coal interests. Rembrandt served as a Director of the Beech Creek Railroad from May 7, 1909 until his death in November of 1934. From 1882 through 1957, this was the longest tenure of a BC Director with the exception of Harold S.Vanderbilt, who served over 30 years.

Rembrandt was married to Eudora B. Batcheler, well known as "Minnie" and together they had four sons; John, Richard, known as "Dick," Vanhorn, and Rembrandt Jr., known as "Remmie." At this time, P.R.F. has no further information of any other children born to Rembrandt and Eudora.

Rembrandt Peale was born in Lock Haven in 1858 died in November of 1934:

Lock Haven Express, November 12, 1934

REMBRANDT PEALE DIES IN NEW YORK

Brother of Misses Martha and Elizabeth Peale is Victim of Heart Attack

Rembrandt Peale, 76, a widely known coal operator, and brother of the Misses Martha S. and Elizabeth H. Peale, died early this morning at his Park Avenue apartment, New York, after a brief illness with a heart attack. He had suffered with a heart condition but yesterday had appeared in his usual health.

SON OF SENATOR PEALE

He was the son of the late Senator and Mrs. S.R. Peale and was born and reared in this city, attending the training school and later the Central State Normal School, now the Lock Haven State Teachers College. He also attended Chambersburg Academy and after his graduation in 1883 from Lehigh University he studied law at the University of Pennsylvania.

Coal lands had been discovered and developed in Clearfield County by the late Senator Peale and after the entrance of the Beech Creek branch of the New York Central Railroad into Centre and Clearfield counties, leading to the development of the coal lands TWO WORDS MISSING Mr. Peale entered the coal business.

He greatly enlarged the Peale holdings, acquiring coal lands in Cambria and Indiana Counties and developing Rembrandt Peale & Co., a large organization of which he was a former president. He was president of Peale, Peacock & Kerr, Inc., miners and shippers of coal, and was an official of about a dozen other concerns engaged actively in mining or allied industries. Form many years his companies have been the largest shippers over the New York Central lines of coal mined in the Clearfield district.

WAS GOVERNMENT ADVISOR

During the Wilson administration and the World War, he served the government as an advisor to the Fuel Administration and in 1919 was a member of a commission appointed by the President to investigate working conditions of bituminous miners.

For a time he was located in Philadelphia but for many years had resided chiefly in New York.

He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church. Other survivors are his wife and three sons, John Richard and Rembrandt Jr, New York; a brother Franklin D., New York and another sister, Mrs. Frank B. Towne, Holyoke, Mass.

Mr. Peale's wife, the former Minnie Eudora Batcheler of this city, was with him when he died in the apartment at 510 Park Avenue, where they had gone some weeks ago from their Cambria County home at St. Benedict. Their sons, Richard of Clearfield, John of St. Benedict, and Rembrandt of New York, have been associated with their father TWO WORDS MISSING coal enterprises.

FUNERAL WEDNESDAY

Mr. Peale was a member of the Metropolitan and University Clubs of New York. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church of this city, where funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in charge of the Rev. Frank D. Daley. Burial will be made in the family plot at Highland Cemetery.

The body, accompanied by the Peale family, will arrive here tomorrow evening.

END OF ARTICLE

Vanhorn Peale died in France during World War I as a result of pneumonia.

John Peale died some time between his father's death in 1934 and his brother Remmie's death in 1975.

In 1933, Dick and Remmie took over their father's coal interests. Dick was a superintendent with the Grassflat Coal Co., a Peale, Peacock & Kerr subsidiary, the company most often associated with Rembrandt Peale. G.C.C. operated the former Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp. Knox Run Mine, located between Viaduct and Grassflat.

Dick was born October 14, 1889 and lived in Clearfield, PA. He passed away in February of 1976.

Remmie was born on July 18, 1895 in Staten Island, N.Y. He passed away on July 27, 1975 at Greenwich, CT.
Remmie was married to Helena J. Daly.

Remmie Peale, a 47- year resident of Greenwich, died Sunday, July 27, 1975 at Greenwich Hospital at the age of 80.
He lived at 295 Round Hill Road with his wife, Helena J. Daly Peale.
Born in Staten Island, NY, July 18, 1895, he was a son of the late Rembrandt and Minnie B. Batcheler Peale.
With his father and brother, he operated a coal business with mines in Pennsylvania and offices in New York, under the name of Peale, Peacock & Kerr.
Remmie was a veteran of World War I, having served with Sqaudron "A" of New York.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother, Richard Peale, of Clearfield, PA.