John Mason Peck (1789–1858) was an American Baptist missionary to the western frontier of the United States, especially in Missouri. In 1818, he organized the First Baptist Church of St. Louis and the first missionary society in the West-the United Society for the Spread of the Gospel. In 1820, the Triennial Convention discontinued his missionary support, but he refused to move back East, and he continued his church-planting efforts independently. Two years later, the Massachusetts Baptist Mission Society employed him at $5.00 a week. The American Baptist Home Mission Society was organized in 1832 under his influence with Jonathan Going as the first secretary. This society, like Peck, directed its efforts toward the people of the frontier: settlers, Native Americans, and former slaves. He was also influential in the establishment of Rock Spring Seminary, the Illinois State Baptist Convention, the Illinois Baptist Education Society, and the Western Baptist Society. During his forty year ministry Peck contributed to the establishment of 900 Baptist churches, saw 600 pastors ordained, and 32,000 were added to the Baptist faith.
