[2] Peery was born in Cedar Bluff, in Tazewell County, Virginia, in the far southwest portion of the state.

He attended local schools while working on his father's farm and at the family store as well as the Tazewell County Clerk's office.

[14][15] In 1922, voters in Virginia's 9th congressional district elected Peery to the United States House of Representatives.

He succeeded C. Bascom Slemp, who had not sought re-election and ths became the last Republican to serve in Virginia's congressional delegation for decades.

He was introduced by former governor E. Lee Trinkle of Wytheville, and remarked that the state park system was something good that came out of the Great Depression, and not only provided CCC jobs for those who lost them in that crisis and needed recreation space for working families, but would continue to help the local economy through tourism.

[17] After his retirement as governor, Peery joined the board of trustees of both Washington and Lee University and Hollins College.

1933; Peery was elected Governor of Virginia with 73.74% of the vote, defeating Republican Fred W. McWane, Prohibitionist Andrew J. Dunning, Jr., Socialist George C. White, and Independents John Moffett Robinson and W. A. Rowe.