Edward Perrin Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 964

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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EDWARD PERRIN, a prosperous farmer of Hanson township, Brown county, 
has passed through many pioneer experiences, and is at present 
proprietor of one of the fine estates of that region. He was born in 
Oxfordshire, England, October 4, 1841. 

The father of our subject, Thomas Perrin, was born and raised in 
England, and was a gardener by occupation, as was also his father, 
William Perrin. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of 
Sarah Holtin, was born and raised in England. Her father was a veteran 
of the battle of Waterloo, and was a sergeant in the doctors' corps. 

In a family of five children our subject was the youngest and at the 
age of sixteen was apprenticed to learn what was called in England the 
whitesmith's trade, a business similar to plumbing, including some 
carpenter work, forge work, etc. He served four years as an apprentice, 
and then plied his trade seven years in London. He went to Canada in 
1872, and settled at St. Thomas, Ontario, where he worked at his trade 
in the railroad shops ten years. He went to Brown county, South Dakota, 
in the spring of 1882, going by train to Groton. He chose the northeast 
quarter of section 35, township 122, range 61, on which he erected a 14 
x 14 shanty of rough boards, and in that structure the family resided 
until better quarters could be provided. He dug into a side hill for a 
shelter for his stock, consisting of one horse, one cow, a pig, and a 
few chickens. He worked among the neighbors and took their labor in 
return as his pay, and for the first two years the family subsisted 
chiefly on milk and corn meal. He raised sod corn and potatoes the 
first year on five acres of land and in 1883 had twenty-five acres of 
wheat, which yielded well. He rented additional land in 1885 and became 
interested in stock raising, but later when the land was taken by 
settlers he disposed of his cattle. He purchased one half-section of 
land in 1887, and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, 
after giving two of his sons each one quarter of land. He has enlarged 
his dwelling, and erected a substantial and commodious barn in 1898, 
and all of the improvements of the place are in keeping with the fine 
appearance of the main buildings. He has all necessary machinery, and 
has made a most decided success of the vocation to which he has devoted 
his attention. 

Mr. Perrin was married at the age of twenty years to Jane Cronk. Mrs. 
Perrin died in 1863 leaving one son, Edward K. Mr. Perrin married Miss 
Mary Ann Griffin, who was of English descent, about 1868, and Mrs. 
Perrin died in Canada in 1885, leaving seven children, as follows: 
Emily, Frederick C., Eliza, Arthur, Ann, Walter and Ernest. The four 
oldest were born in England, and the three other children were born in 
Canada. Mr. Perrin takes an active part in the affairs of his township 
and county, and lends his influence for good local government. He has 
served his community in various positions, including member of the 
township and school boards, and has gained the respect of all who know 
him. He is energetic, and his prosperity is directly due to his own 
efforts. He went to Dakota during its early settlement, but no labor 
tired or danger appalled him, and he now enjoys a comfortable 
competence.