Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-09-25
OBITUARY

OBITUARY
The Honorable Thomas Russell Perry
was born ct Glenwild, Sullivan county,
New York State, on December s0th.
1926. Of Quaker parents. He attended
school that was under Quaker super.
vision in Chester county, Pennsylv ania.
He taught school for q period Of time
at Rocky Forest. New York. Before
entering CORTLAND academy at Homer,
preparatory to the study Of law at col
lege at Schenectady.
On March 18th, 1850, he sailed for
California and landed on the Isthmus
Of Pansma at the mouth Of the Shay
res River where. with his party, he
took small boats as far as navigable.
He then went overland q distance OF so
miles and camped for sometime at .
point now on the Panama Canal. At
one time on this trip the party was
lost for several days.
They took sailing vessel on the
Pacific and after 81 days, 70 Of them
never seeing land, they landed at San
Francisco.
He engaged in farming and mining
about Sacramento for period of three
years and returned to New York State
in 1858. In 1854 he was united in mar.
rage to Eunice Couch and the follow
ing year they came to make their
home in Iowa and took up a claim in
Howard Center township. whers they
lived for several years.
There was born to this union three
children, one died in infancy and the
others, son and daughter survive
him, the son living on the old home
farm and the daughter. Mrs. Elsie
Rutherford living in Cresco.
Mr.. Perry held many offices Of trust
in the formative years Of Howard
county. He was member Of the first
board of supervisors and for number
of years was chairman Of the board.
In 1863 he was elected to the Legis-
lature of the State Of Iowa and after
serving one term he was appointed q
clerk in the war department ct Wash
ington. While in Washington he had
the pleasure of seeing and meeting
many of the men who were 1t the head
Of affairs in those trying days, such
men as Lincoln, Chase, Stanton, Seward
and Justice Harlan. He also met many
of the war Senators and was privileged
to hear some Of the ablest debaters or
the questions then at issue.
| Sixteen years ago he moved to Ores.
co and shortly after leaving the farm
for life in town his wife, who was q
woman of talent, was called from his
side by death,
/ Mr.. Perry was member Of the Con-
gregational church of Cresco and was
q staunch advocate of temperance, il
fact he took definite stand on al
thing for the uplift of humanity. Al
though his last years were those Of
age, blindness and bodily pain he VA
alert upon the questions Of the day ant
at A o'clock of the day on.which he dick
he spoke intelligently and deploringl!
of the European war.
! He fell asl .ep on the evening of Sep
TENDER 10, 1914, at the home of hi
daughter, Mrs. Rutherford, while
gathered about his bed were his lovet
ones. His life was benedication t.
those who had the pleasure Of his &C
ouaintance and the world is better fol
his having lived in it.
Beside his son and daughter he il
survived by II grandchildren.
The funeral took place from tn
home of Mrs. Rutherford on the after
noon of Sept. 81, DR.. D. T. Robertson
his pastor conducting the service ant
laying the body to rest at Oaklawl
Cemetery.
CARD OF THANKS.
| We desire to express our SINGER
thanks to those who rendered assistanc
during the illness and at the funeral 0
our father.
| H. L. Perry, Mrs. T. J. Rutherfor
and families.
Scholarships for Young Men.