Bio, Charles W. Perry 
 
CHARLES W. PERRY, Biography / Grant Twp, Clare Co, MI 
 
Submitted for use by USGENWEB Clare County, Michigan November 2002 
wilkinschw@aol.com 
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Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan. Chicago: Record 
Publishing Co., 1895. 
 
CHARLES W. PERRY is President of the Clare County Savings Bank, which was 
organized under the state laws in July, 1891, with a capital stock of $20,000. It is 
the only institution of the kind in the village of Clare, and its average deposits are 
about $70,000. From the first it has been meeting with success, has regularly 
paid its dividends, and now has a surplus of $6,000 or over. The building in which 
the bank is located is owned by the corporation, and Mr. Perry's office, which is 
over the bank proper, was fitted up and arranged especially for him, and is by far 
the finest office in the place. As he has been engaged in legal practice here since 
June 19, 1877, he is the oldest attorney in this locality. In his pleading of a case 
he makes no pretentions to oratory, but confines his arguments to facts, backed 
up with the best precedent and authority. 
 
Edmund Perry, our subject's grandfather, was born in Rhode Island, and came 
from the same branch of the family as did Commodore Perry, the noted naval 
officer. With his family, Edmund Perry removed to New York and thence to 
Michigan, where they were the first, with one exception, to settle in Genesee 
County, and indeed there were few families nearer than Pontiac. He improved a 
half-section of land, and was actively engaged in farming until shortly before his 
death, at the age of eighty-five years. When a resident of New York State he was 
interested in woolen and flouring mills. His wife's demise occurred some years 
previous to his own. Eight of their children grew to maturity, and Edmund, Jr., the 
father of our subject, was born in 1814. In boyhood he came to this state, and 
though he was then a frail youth, while the other members of the family were 
robust, the active life which he has led has prolonged hs days up to the present 
time, and he is now in his eighty-first year. His wife was a Miss Clarisse G. 
Wilson, a native of Marshfield, Vt. They were married in Atlas, Genesee County, 
Mich., in January, 1841, and have since resided in that county. For half a century 
their home has been on one farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of 
well improved land, on which stands their substantial residence. The mother was 
born in April, 1822, and by her marriage had seven children: Clarinda K., wife of 
Joseph Hobart, a farmer near Atlas, Genesee County; Charles W., of this sketch; 
Florence E., who is still living at home; Carrie A., wife of Dr. George G. Gordan, 
of Detroit; S. Wilson, who is unmarried and at home; Frank M., now operating the 
old homestead on which his grandfather settled in Genesee County; and one 
who died in infancy. The father has held many township offices and is a stanch 
Democrat. 
 
Born in Genesee County, Mich., April 11, 1846, C.W. Perry was reared on the 
farm. He received a common-school education, to which he added by home 
study. After teaching school for several winters, he took up law by himself, and 
subsequently entered the University of Michigan, graduating from the law 
department in 1877. In June of that year he came to Clare, which has since been 
his field of labor. An active Democrat, he takes a leading part in political 
campaigns, though he has never been an aspirant for public office. However, his 
fellow-citizens induced him to serve as the first Mayor of Clare. His principal 
attention is given to civil cases, and he has the reputation of being the owner of 
the finest law library in the county. It was in March, 1885, that he became 
associated with C.H. Sutherland and William Wolsky in the organization of the 
Clare County Bank, a co-partnership which was superseded by the Clare County 
Savings Bank, upon its organization in 1891. He owns a good farm, which he is 
interested in improving. The Clare Woodenware Company was organized in the 
fall of 1890, and incorporated with a capital of $30,000. Mr. Perry was at once 
made President of the concern, a position he has since held. The factory, which 
was built in this place, is devoted to the manufacture of tubs, pails and other 
articles of woodenware, and about fifty hands are afforded employment. 
 
In 1879 Mr. Perry married Mrs. Lizzie A. Merrill, whose maiden name was 
Hawkins. She was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1844, and is a lady of good 
education and social qualities. She presides over her home with rare dignity and 
grace and takes especial pleasure in entertaining her many friends.