Doctor Edgar Fenn Peck, a one time resident of Brentwood, helped explore and develop this tract of wilderness which would late be established as Modern Times.  Dr. Peck was born on September 20, 1806 in Amenia, New York.  During his earlier life he grew up in Washington County, New York where he attended the Washington Academy in Salem during his early years.  At age twelve his parents moved back to Sharon, Connecticut where his thirst for knowledge continued and he was enrolled in several of the area schools.  Dr. Peck began his medical education studying under his cousin Dr. Clark Chapman and continued his education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Fairfield, New York in 1823.  While attending medical school he became interested in Temperance and the effect of liquor on the human body.  In 1830 he was licensed to practice medicine and entered practice with Dr. H. Sherrill, the president of the Dutchess County Medical Society.

In 1831, Dr. Peck moved to New York to be closer to the College of Physician and Surgeons.  Soon he had the opportunity to meet one of New York City’s leading doctors.  Through this acquaintance he was selected to head the medical ward formed on Twelfth Street during the outbreak of the Asiatic Cholera in 1832.  It was during this time he that is popularity grew and he was  respected by the Mayor and citizens of the city of New York for his medical expertise.  By 1834 he had received his Doctor of Medicine from the Barclay Street College of Physicians and Surgeons and a Honorary Degree from Rutgers College.

In December 1834, Dr. Peck married Margaretta, whose father was the Reverend John F. Jackson of Harlem.  The Peck’s had two daughters, one who died at a young age and another who died at 17.

In the Spring of 1841 the Peck’s moved to Smithtown with their older daughter, after the death of their younger daughter Emma Louise.  Soon afterwards Dr. Peck rented a horse and buggy and rode through Hauppauge where he came upon a camp where workmen were cutting away the forest to grade a railroad bed.  Dr. Peck continued to visit this site which was later known as Thompson Station after the railroad had been completed.  Dr. Peck wrote in his journal about the many forest fires that were started by the trains traveling through this area.  He worked tirelessly to promote this area, later known as Brentwood. He published an article to convince agricultural societies and others that the Long Island Plains known as the barrens was really a very fertile land.

Dr. Peck purchased over 400 acres of land in the area part of which was later known as the site of the Ross Sanitarium.  He built a home on this property and planted an experimental orchard.  Known as the first horticulturist and real estate promoter of Brentwood he eventually sold this property to Josiah Warren and Stephen Pearl Andrew who founded the community of Modern Times.

Dr. Peck died of a stroke at the age of 81 on June 21, 1887 in Brooklyn, New York leaving this area now known as Brentwood as a legacy and he will be remembered by many generations to come for his foresight to see the potential that lied in this area and assisted in the founding and exploration of what was later to become known as Brentwood.

` M. Koferl   July 2006