Biographical Sketch of

Charles Perry

Transcribed by Barbara Voss


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 447 - 448

Charles W. Perry, deceased, was for many years a leading merchant of Markesan, and one of the prominent citizens of 
Green Lake County. He was born in Charleston, N.H., October 14, 1814 and died in California in May 1885. His parents, 
Samuel and Phoebe (Wescott) Perry, had a fine family of children, as follows: Charles W., Roswell, Samuel, Jane 
(widow of Charles Howard, of Tomales, Cal.), George and Henry. Both Mr. and Mrs. Perry were members of the Methodist 
Church and in the community where they resided they were widely and favorably known. They came to Green Lake County 
in 1852, where both passed to their final rest.

Our subject was fitted for the duties of life by a liberal education acquired in his native State and that advantage, 
combined with natural business ability, perseverance and energy, made his career a successful one. He first embarked 
in business in Bloomfield, N.Y., where he engaged in general merchandising. Aside from the fact that it witnessed his 
first venture into commercial circles, it was also connected with his life from the fact that he there became acquainted 
with and married Miss Harriet Chamberlain, a most estimable and accomplished lady, who proved herself a true helpmate 
to him. Her parents, M. and Clarissa (Puffer) Chamberlain, were married in Albany, N.Y., but shortly afterward removed 
to Livingston County, where five children, two sons and three daughters, blessed their union. Alvin, the oldest, a man 
of marked ability and fine oratorical powers, was honored by his district with an election to the General Assembly of 
New York; in 1887 he removed to Los Angeles, Cal., where he died two years later. Elsie became the wife of Hazzard 
Webster, and died in California in 1877; Clarissa married Jacob Kelsey, who died in 1877, and now makes her home in 
Los Angeles, Cal.; Harriet is the widow of our subject; and Lauren, who completes the family, is deceased. The father 
died in Livingston County, after which the mother came to Green Lake County, where her death occurred.

Mr. and Mrs. Perry began their domestic life in her native county, he continuing in the mercantile business until 1854 
when he emigrated to the West and located in Markesan. Immediately after his arrival he again engaged in that line of 
business as a general merchant for a year and a half. At the expiration of that time he returned to this county, and 
laying aside all commercial pursuits, turned his attention to farming. He purchased land in the town of Green Lake, the 
farm now owned by Mr. Friday and for a number of years devoted his energies to its cultivation, but in 1879 he went to 
California, where his death occurred as above stated, in May 1885. He was a man of strict integrity and great up 
rightness of character and on account of his sterling worth, affable manners and gentlemanly deportment made friends 
wherever he went. His loss was deeply mourned by all who knew him, especially in Green Lake County, where he had 
endeared himself to many.

Mrs. Perry is still living in Markesan and three children share in her deep loss. Frank W., the only son is now in 
Spink County, S.D.; Hattie is the wife of Prof. Eugene Little, of Pomana, Cal., who graduated from the State University 
of Wisconsin and now holds the position of Assistant Superintendent of schools of Los Angeles, Cal.; and Clara is the 
wife of Ezra Frank Kyser, one of the prominent business men of Pomana, Cal.






Back to the Marquette Pages Menu