Reverend Ebenezer Steel Peake first preached in the Dakota Territory at what is now known as Valley City, in August 1879. He held services in Christian Anderson's store. Mr. Anderson was an early postmaster in this village and a member of the county commissioners which organized Barnes County.
In 1882, Rev. Peake became the first appointed rector of All Saints Episcopal Church which is the oldest church still serving Barnes County as it was built in 1880. He retained this position until 1885 at which time he was appointed Chaplain of Shattuck and Saint Mary's Episcopal schools in Fairbault, Minnesota. Rev. Peake and his wife, Augusta Peake, had four children, two who survived. Their daughter, Fannie, married Dr. Edgar Pray of Valley City. They raised six children there and were one of Valley City's most prominent families. Their son, Amasa Peake, attended numerous military schools throughout the United States before settling in Valley City at age 19 in 1880. Amasa first worked in a general store owned by Mr. Parkhouse and later at the Farmers and Merchants Bank for Mr. Herbert Root. In time, he worked into his own* business of real estate, insurance, mortgages, loans and collections. During the period, he purchased his office building which later became the T. S. Henry Law Bldg., on Central Ave., in the heart of the Valley City business district. He was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and donated the Temple to his Lodge. He was one of the organizers of Company "G", National Guard of North Dakota, and held the rank of Brig. General when he retired. He was a patron and board member of the Valley City Normal School and the All St's Episcopal Church.
In 1887 he married Annie Teal] Hollister from Detroit, MI, and seven children were born to them in Valley City. The children were, George, Esther, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Parker, James and Dorothy.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 190