Biographical Sketch of

Orrin Perry

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 809 - 810 - 811 


Orrin Perry who resides on section 14, is one of the most extensive land owners and an honored pioneer of 
Waushara County.  His life has been a varied and eventful one, and as he is so well known throughout the 
community we know that this sketch will be of special interest to our readers, who hole Mr. Perry in high 
regard.  A native of New York, he was born in Chautauqua County, Feb. 16, 1821, and is a son of William 
and Martha (Dewey) Perry, both of whom were natives of Connecticut.  His father was a powder maker, and 
in that business had a reputation that extended all over the country.  During the War of 1812 he furnished 
powder to the government, it being considered one of the best grades manufactured in the country.  He lived 
in Connecticut until about the year 1816, when with his family, consisting of wife and four children, he 
removed to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where four more children were born.  The eldest, Emily, became the 
wife of Frederick Foster, who died in 1849, after which she removed to Delaware County, Ohio, where he 
death occurred in 1887, at the age of seventy-nine years; William T. died in Oregon in 1884; Susan is 
the wife of L. Parker, of Akron, Ohio; Norman is a real-estate agent and paper-maker of Columbus, Ohio; 
Ann is the wife of Edwin Paxton of New Jersey; Orrin is the sixth in order of birth; Elijah D. died in 
Oregon in 1862; and Eliza is the wife of William McIntyre of Delaware County, Ohio.
 
The subject of this sketch received such opportunities for education as the district schools afforded.  
In 1833, when twelve years of age, a spirit of adventure and a desire to make his own way in the world, 
led him to seek his fortune in the then far West.  Bidding good-bye to home and friends, he went to Lenawee 
County, Mich., and thence to Branch County, where for a time he worked at the carpenter's and joiner's trade.  
He secured employment in the Michigan Central Railroad, which was built by the State, and in the fall of 
1838 crossed the Father of Waters to Iowa, going to Bloomington, now the city of Muscatine.  At that time 
there existed considerable trouble between the officials of Iowa and Missouri.  Mr. Perry engaged in 
carpentering with his brother, William T. until 1839, when he went to Burlington, Iowa, and joined a 
band of 300 men engaged in the protection of the State.  They were quartered in the State House where 
they had a gay time while the officials were seeking to settle matters amicably.  In 1841, he went to 
St. Louis, where he followed various occupations and after three years returned to New York in 1844.  
In the fall of that year, however, he again left home and went to Warren, Pa., and from there on a raft 
of lumber to Wellsville, Ohio, and starting down the river in a skiff overtook a coal boat aground on 
a bar, and after helping to get the boat off the bar, took passage on it to Memphis, Tenn., returning 
to St. Louis in the spring of 1845.  Later, in 1846, he made his way to St. Paul, then but a small Indian 
trading post, but in the month of June, of the same year, we again find him in St. Louis, whence he went 
to Bolivar County, Miss., and after making a trip to Florida, returned to Vicksburg in the spring of 1847.  
Returning to the North, he spent some time in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, and in the autumn of 1848, 
accompanied his father to Jefferson County, Wis.  The State had just been admitted to the Union, and 
many portions of it were still unsettled.  Mr. Perry followed his trade to some extent in Jefferson 
County, and engaged in rafting on the Wisconsin River.  His travels through all these fifteen years 
had been made by water, stage or on foot, as the railroad had not yet extended into Ohio, Illinois, 
Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri, and other Western States which he visited.
 
Thinking that his wandering life had continued about long enough, Mr. Perry determined to settle down 
and engage in some steady pursuit.  to this end he chose for himself a companion, and Oct. 11, 1850, 
was united in marriage with Miss Jane French, who was born in Devonshire, England, Feb. 22, 1826.  
Her parents were James and Jennie (Uglow) French.  Her father was born in America, but when a lad 
went to England, where he became acquainted with and wedded Miss Uglow, who died in Jefferson County, 
Wis., in 1871.  He survived until 1876.  He was one of the honored pioneers of Jefferson County, arriving 
in Wisconsin when Milwaukee was a small village.  One of his sons and one son-in-law settled there in a 
very early day and became prominent contractors of that city.  His family numbered eight children, six of 
whom are now living:  Elizabeth, wife of Henry Syvier; Mrs. Perry; John died in Bay View, in 1880; Tamzin, 
became the wife of Charles Warner; James, of Jefferson County, Wis.; Harriet, wife of Sam Ellis, of Eau 
Claire, Wis.; Mary A., wife of Horace Clemens, station agent, of Eagle, Wis.; and Betsy, wife of John Moys, 
of Elkhorn, Wis.
 
In 1852, Mr. Perry removed from Jefferson County to Pine Grove, in Portage County, where he erected and 
operated a mill until 1857, at which time he became a resident of Waushara County.  He entered eighty 
acres of land on section 22, in the town of Plainfield, which was still unbroken prairie, and erected 
a frame house, 20x40 feet, part of which is still standing.  He there made his home until 1865, when 
he felt that he should respond to his country's call for troops, but on offering his services was 
rejected on account of disability.  Shortly afterward he purchased 160 acres of land on section 14, 
in the town of Plainfield, where he still makes his home.  His farm now comprises 240 acres, in addition 
to which he owns land in Portage and Adams Counties, the whole aggregating 500 acres.  He has also given 
a considerable amount to his children, six in number, as follows:
 
William O., who wedded Miss Alice Walker, by whom he has two children, Orrin A. and Carrie M., is now engaged 
in farming on section 15, in the town of Plainfield; Norman J., wedded Adelaide De Voe, who died in 1883, 
leaving one child, Lois A., who resides with her grandparents, and afterward married Mrs. Mary (Stillwell) 
Clark; Lillian I., is the wife of Eugene Sparks, of Fox Lake, Ramsey Co., N. Dak., by whom she has eight 
children--Estelle I., Armina, Minnie E., Libbie S., Wendell P., Vernon E., Maggie and Harrison M.; Luella A, 
the fourth of the family married John Hanawait, of North Dakota, and they have three children--Guy H., Maud E. 
and John R.; Inez L. is at home; Frank wedded Mary Wood and has three children--Earl, Darrell and Harrell, 
twins.  As his children have left the parental roof Mr. Perry has aided them in starting out in life, fitted 
them for its practical duties by good educations, and has lived to see them become useful men and women.  He 
is one of the self-made men of Waushara County, having gained all he has by his own efforts.  Never going into 
debt, he has defrauded no man a dollar, but has been honest and upright in all his dealings, thereby winning 
the confidence and good will of those with whom he has come in contact.  He has the interests of his county 
at heart, and has labored for her welfare, taking a prominent part in the promotion of her worthy enterprises.  
The cause of education has found in him a special friend, and for twenty-five years he served as a member of 
the School Board.  He cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and since that time has been a warm 
supporter of Republican principles.
 





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