Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Perry, Manson P. 1825 - 1887 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 26, 2006, 8:06 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) MANSON P. PERRY. Money and humane interest in one's fellow-being will procure for the sick attendance. Interested motives may be worked upon to procure many of the good things of life, but only love gives freely of the best that it has. The biographical sketch given below, in which is chronicled salient features in the life history of one now deceased and also his virtues, is meant as a memorial made by his widow with loving instinct to preserve a record for his children and friends that cannot but interest them. Manson P. Perry was born in Avon, N. Y., October 23, 1825. He was a son of Edmund and Mercy (Martin) Perry, and when an infant in arms was brought by his parents, in 1826, to Genesee County, Mich. The Perry family settled upon the farm that the widow of our subject now owns and were among the first pioneers to open up a way to to [sic] the West and to locate in Grand Blanc Township. Manson P. Perry was the youngest son of Edmund Perry and he was here reared to manhood, gaining a sturdy independence amid the scenes of early settlements. Life was hard at that time and pleasure was dearly purchased, but was all the more enjoyed because of this. As he grew to manhood he gave his father a great deal of assistance in the development of the farm and took his place among the enterprising young men of the locality. As a lad he received a good common-school education. Mr. Perry was a man of excellent judgment, having a large fund of common sense. He remained on a farm until his death, which occurred June 22, 1887. He was highly respected by all who knew him. Aware of the power that the schools are to be in the economical issues of the future, he was an advocate for every advantage that general education could offer to the citizens of the United States. He was a stanch supporter of the Republican party and a co-worker with every cause that promised to be of advantage to the locality in which he lived. Mr. Perry was instrumental in getting the railroad through the village of Grand Blanc, which is of inestimable value to the farmers about the locality. He was enterprising and public-spirited, having great force and energy of character. The marriage of Mr. Perry to Mary P. Fairchild occurred March 23, 1848. Mrs. Perry is now a resident of the farm of which her husband made her mistress. It comprises one hundred and eighty-two acres of land which is excellently cultivated. The widow is one of the representative pioneer women of Grand Blanc Township. She is a native of Buffalo, N. Y., where she was born September 17, 1826. She is a daughter of Nathaniel and Harriet (Hughes) Fairdhild, [sic] her father being a native of New Jersey and the mother of New Hampshire. The paternal ancesters were said to have come from Scotland. Mrs. Perry was reared in her native county and State where she remained until 1837. She was then in her twelfth year, when with her parents she emigrated to this State and located in Genesse County, coming via the lakes to Detroit and from the latter city south by wagon to Genesee County. The Fairchild family settled in Atlas Township, where they were among the first settlers. Her father located on a portion of the present site of the village of Goodrich and took up eighty acres of Government land, paying for it $1.25 per acre. They erected a log cabin and began the work of clearing the place, being content to live in pioneer style. Her father died in 1854 and the mother passed away in 1874. They were the parents of five children, four of whom live at the present time. Sarah A., who is the wife of D. T. Hartwell of Hadley; next came Mrs. Perry; then Elizabeth who is now the widow of D. C. Davison of Flint; and Nathan M. who lives in East Saginaw. Mrs. Perry was reared to maturity in Atlas Township and receiving a good common-school education. For several years after completing her course she was engaged in teaching school, her experience in this direction dating from seventeen years of age. Since her marriage and during her husband's life, she was his efficient helpmate and counselor. She is now in the prime of life and is thoroughly fitted to enjoy the comforts with which she is amply provided. She is well known for the gracious hospitality that she dispenses in her beautiful rural home. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/perry50nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb