At the age of 16, she was already a contributor to magazines and periodicals. She taught in a public school in New York (1853–54), and her private school in
Irvington, New Jersey (1855-1859). On May 17, 1860, she married Rev. George Hewson Peeke (1833–1915). In the later part of the decade, he served as pastor of the
Dutch Reformed Church in
Rock Island, Illinois. She set aside her writing career for fifteen years to focus on family life and parish responsibilities. Later, when poor health required her to slow down, she returned to creative work, sending poems and short stories to a range of literary magazines. In 1876, the family moved to Chicago,
Illinois. Till 1882, Peeke was a part owner and served as associate editor of the
Alliance, of Chicago. Her letters drew attention to her favorite summer resort in the
Cumberland Mountains, and a little pamphlet entitled "Pomona" was her reply to many requests for information. This was followed by a serial story, "The Madonna of the Mountains", and other serial sketches of that region. Peeke's short biography of
George Lansing Raymond appeared in an 1890 volume of
The Magazine of Poetry. Her college novel, titled
Antrobus written while her son was in college in
New England, was purchased by the
Detroit Free Press and published as a serial in 1892, preparatory to a more permanent book form. She was involved in a work connected with the
pygmies of America and the origin of the race; it was issued under the title
Born of Flame (
Philadelphia, 1892). During this time in her life, she also taught Bible classes. Later, Peeke became a leader of the Martinist movement in the U.S., giving her entire time to this work.
Zenia, the Vestal, a story of Occult Life (1893; section edition, 1897), received a poor review in the British magazine,
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research. "The Mission of Practical Occultism To-Day" and "The Psychic and the Spiritual" were published in
The Arena, in 1895. "Occult Truths Taught in the Mystic Land where 'Silence is Written on Everything'" and "True Magic. An Important Paper of a Practical Character on this Little Understood Subject" were published in 1901 in the
Star of the Magi. Beginning in the same year, Peeke taught "Lessons in Practical Occultism. By Correspondence." By decree of the Supreme Council of the Martinist Order, the post of Sovereign Delegate General for the United States was abolished in 1902. It was replaced by a post of Inspectress-General of the Order, and this post was confided to Peeke, living at the time in
Sandusky, Ohio. At the time, she was the sole member of the Order in the U.S. possessing the Grade of Rosy-Cross of the Martinist Order.
Numbers & Letters: Or, The Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom was published in 1908. ==Death and legacy==