MR. and MRS. CLARK D. PERRY, CLARK, D., J. W. and WILLIAM PERRY, Smith County, TX ********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Peggy Brannon - peggybrannon@hotmail.com 8 June 2001 ********************************************************************** MR. and MRS. CLARK D. PERRY, CLARK, D., J.W. and WILLIAM PERRY "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Foster Perry, father of Clark D., J. W. and Wm. Perry was born in South Carolina in 1822. He was a brother of Gov. B. F. Perry, who was at one time governor of South Carolina. Foster Perry married Miss Elizabeth Davis. She was of a prominent family of the Palmetto State. Clark D. and J. W. Perry removed to Smith county in 1854, William Perry one year later. The Perry brothers were prominent people and helped to make up a good citizenship. I will take each of the Perry brothers in order. The second year after Clark D. Perry became a citizen of Smith county he returned to South Carolina and married Miss Amanda Jones, a very accomplished young woman of that State, and returned immediately to Texas accompanied by his young bride. They had one child. Mrs. Perry and child died the second year after this marriage. Clark D. Perry's second marriage was with Miss Sallie Kendrick, a member of a prominent Smith county family. When a boy, I have seen this couple and regarded them the finest looking couple I had ever seen. They had born to them eight children--Frank, Judge, John, Lizzie, Kittie, Hattie, Fannie and Nellie. Frank Perry married Miss Eliza Kemp. They have five children--four girls and one boy. Frank holds a good railroad position and he and his family reside at Cheyenne, Wyoming. Judge Perry married Miss Anna Williamson. They had one child. Mrs. Perry and child are both dead. Judge is connected with the railway service, and resides in Tyler. John married Miss Emily Parker. They have three children--one boy and two girls. John is a farmer and doing well. Miss Lizzie Perry married John Norton. She died in about one year after her marrriage. Miss Kittie Perry married Ed Walters, who died several years ago. He was a number one man and citizen. They had two children, (both about grown), Miss Lizzie and John. Miss Hattie Perry married Julius Williamson. They have three children, two boys and one girl. Their residence is at Cleburne, Texas. Miss Fannie Perry married Clayton Hamilton. They had one child. Mother and child died the second year after their marriage. Miss Nellie Perry married Charlie Porter. They have three children--all girls. Clark D. Perry was a prominent citizen of Smith county up to his death, which occurred the 29th of November, 1890, to the regret of all who knew him. His widow lives three miles east of Tyler. He served in Col. John C. Robertson's Texas regiment, making a good soldier as he had a citizen. He was a leading farmer as well as a leading citizen. He was buried by the Masonic lodge--he having been a member for a number of years. J. W. Perry married Miss Caladonia McBraye. They had one child. J. W. Perry was a gallant Confederate soldier, serving one year in the Third Texas regiment and was discharged at Corinth, Mississippi. Returning to South Carolina, he there joined a regiment from that state and did service in Virginia. J. W. Perry is now living near this city with his adopted son, Charlie Perry, who married Miss Alice Miller. They have three children--two girls and one boy. Wilbur Perry has made a good citizen, devoting his life to that of a farmer. William Perry, the third brother who lived in Smith county, married Miss Mary Lamance. They had one child; all three are dead. William Perry served through the civil war in Company K, 3rd Texas Cavalry, Ross' Texas Brigade, and saw much service. He lost a leg at the battle of Rome, Ga., in 1854, which wound was directly the cause of his death. The three Perry brothers came from an old South Carolina family, the ancestral family numbering eleven children. The Perry's were prominent people of the Palmetto State, and the three brothers-- Clark, Wilbur and William, were "chips off the old block." Proud of their native State, leading citizens, up-right, moral and honest, they were prominent in Smith county and their descendants are of prominence in social and business life. The young men hold good positions and the girls have married well and their husbands occupy front seats in business. Of the three brothers, Clark is the only one having any living children. He and William are dead and Wilbur is now living. Each have played a good part in life.