From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Peyton, William T.
(born: 1852 - died: August 10, 1908)William T. Peyton was an educator and a doctor in Louisville, KY. He was born in Virginia. Beginning in 1880, he was principal of the Western Colored School in Louisville, KY. Five years later, he also served as president of the Dumas Literary Club in Louisville.
In 1889, in celebration of the emancipation of African Americans, there were plans to build a national monument in honor of the freedom. The structure was to be known as The National Emancipation Monument and it was to be erected at the home of U.S. President Lincoln in Springfield, IL. William T. Peyton was appointed agent of the state (KY) and he was to raise subscriptions from all of the colored schools and lodges. The planning group was not able to raise enough money for the structure and the National Emancipation Monument was never built.
William T. Peyton was the first graduate from the Louisville National Medical College in 1889. He would become a professor at the college. He was also still the principal at Western Colored School. In 1890, complaints of immorality toward some of the high school teachers were brought against William T. Peyton and it was requested that he be removed. After numerous letters, the Louisville School Board said that there was an investigation and no evidence was found to support the complaints.
In 1892, William T. Peyton was a member of the committee of volunteers who showed interest in developing a House of Refuge for Colored Girls. The group met with the City Court Judge and Confederate veteran, Reginald H. Thompson, who estimated that of the 15,000 African Americans in Louisville, half to two-fifths were living in unlawful cohabitation. The judge's estimation was based on the number of cases brought before his court. The group of volunteers thought the judge was overestimating the situation but also felt that there were children who should be removed from households with a bad state of morals. The volunteers were to continue to meet with Judge Thompson. The House of Refuge for Colored Girls was not built.
Four years later, Dr. Peyton was appointed the general solicitor for the Louisville National Medical College. The school was eight years old and in financial trouble. Dr. Peyton appealed to the public for help in raising a few thousand dollars to keep the school open. The Louisville National Medical College continued until 1912.
Dr. William T. Peyton did not live to see the school close. In 1908, he was to be arrested for performing an illegal abortion on Lillian Hedges who was white and 16 years old. Following the procedure, Lillian Hedges was taken to St. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital by her family for emergency medical care. When the police arrived at Dr. Peyton's home to arrest him, it was reported in the newspapers that Peyton shot himself in the head above his right eye as a police officer attempted to knock the gun away.
Dr. William T. Peyton is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Louisville, KY. He was the husband of Mary Pope Peyton, a school teacher, and father of author and teacher Atholene Mary Peyton.
Sources: "The Western Colored School." The Courier-Journal, 17 October 1882, p.6; "The Colored people." The Courier-Journal, 08 May 1887, p.10; "Emancipation Day." The Courier-Journal, 24 November 1889, p.6; "No evidence against him." The Courier-Journal, 22 May 1890, p.7; "Teachers Appointed." The Courier-Journal, 08 July 1890, p.2; "Colored House of Refuge." The Courier-Journal, 09 January 1891, p.6; "His plan approved." The Courier-Journal, 01 March 1892, p.6; "A Hospital for colored men." The World (New York), 16 August 1896, p.25; "Kills himself." The La Rue County Herald, 13 August 1908, front page; "Shot himself." Lexington Leader, 10 August 1908, front page; Directory of Deceased American Physicians by Arthur Wayne Hafner, Fred W Hunter, E Michael Tarpey.