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

VDII UAkY
The Honorable Thomas Russell PER-,
was born ct Glenwild, Sullivan county
New York State, on December aOth
1895. Of Quaker parents. He attende.
. school that was under Quaker super
vision in Chester county, Pennsylvania
He taught school for q period Of tim,
at Rocky Forest. New York. Befor.
entering Courtiand academy at Homer
preparatory to the study Of law at col
lege at Schenectady.
On March 18th, 1850. he sailed fol
California and landed on the Isthmus
of Panama at the mouth of the Shag.
res River where. with his party, he
took small boats as far as navigable.
He then went overland distance Of 80
miles and camped for sometime at q
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 1853. 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 claim in
Howard Center township, where 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 q member Of the first
board of supervisors and for number
Of years was chairman Of the board.
In 1868 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 at Wash
ington. While in Washington he had
the pleasure of lseeing and meeting
many Of the men Who were at 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 on
the questions then at issue.
Sixteen years ago he moved to Cres-
co and shortly after leaving the farm
for life in town his wife, who was
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, in
fact he took definite stand on all
thing for the uplift of humanity. AL
though his last years were those of
age. blindness and bodily pain he was
alert upon the questions Of the day and
at o'clock of the day on.which he died
he spoke intelligently and deplorlngly
Of the European war.
He fell asl.ep on the evening of Sep.
tember 10, 1914, at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Rutherford, while
gathered about his bed were his loved
ones. His life was a benedication to
those who had the pleasure of his ac-
quaintance and the world is better for
his having lived in it.
Beside his son and daughter he is
survived by IL grandchildren.
The funeral took place from the
home of Mrs. Rutherford on the after.
noon of Sept. 81, DR.. D. 7. Robertson
his pastor conducting the service and
laying the body to rest at Oaklawn
Cemetery.
CARD OF THANKS.
We desire to express our sincere
thanks to those who rendered assistance
during the illness and at the funeral of
our father.
H. L. Perry. Mrs. 7. J. Rutherford
and families.