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 SAAC PERISHO came to this county over thirty years ago and settled in Hickory Township, where he successfully cultivated the soil and became the possessor of a fine estate, embracing 400 acres of land. After laboring industriously and accumulating a competency, the passing years and the decline of bodily strength warned him that it would be wise to rest. He accordingly abandoned the more active labors of life, and repairing to the village, has since lived in retirement in a handsome home, where he is surrounded by all the comforts of life. Our subject is of French ancestry, his grandfather, Joseph Perisho, having emigrated from France and settled in North Carolina, forty miles south of Norfolk, on the sea coast. There he employed himself as a fisherman, conducting quite an extensive yard, and there remained until resting from his earthly labors in about 1801. The grandmother in her girlhood was Miss Nancy Sanders, also of French parentage. They reared a family of sons and daughters, among whom was Joseph, Jr., the father of our subject, who was born Dec. 25, 1785, in North Carolina, and there spent his childhood and youth. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in farming, and also operated a gristmill until twenty-six years of age. He then removed to Washington County, Ind., being one of the first settlers there, and built one of the first houses in the county. Here he was married in 1814. Six years later he removed to Monroe County, near Bloomington, settling in the timber, and clearing a farm from the wilderness. This he occupied until 1825, then sold out and came to Edgar County, this State, where he took up a tract of Government land, and remained a resident until his death, in April, 1838. He seemed to take pride in going into the uncultivated portions of the country and building up from the virgin soil a fine and fertile farm. He was prospered in his labors, and at the time of his death was the owner of 640 acres. The mother of our subject, who in her girlhood was Miss Barbara Zink, was born July 25, 1792, and was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Shelly) Zink, natives of Germany. Mr. Z. emigrated to America when a young man, and settled in Washington County, Va., where he engaged in milling on the Holston River. Thence he removed to a point near Louisville, Ky., where he followed milling and farming a number of years, and then proceeding to Salem County, Ind., was similarly occupied there until becoming a resident of Monroe County, in 1818. There he put up a saw and grist mill, which he operated until 1827, then selling out, came to Edgar County, Ill., and continuing his former employments, remained a resident of Grand View Township until his death, in 1841. His wife, Elizabeth, had preceded him to the silent land many years before, in 1819. They reared a family of nine children, three now living: Rosa, aged eighty-seven; Elizabeth, aged eighty, and Andrew F., aged fifty-seven. Barbara, the mother of our subject, died in her seventy-ninth year. Isaac Perisho, our subject, was born in Monroe County, Ind., May 2, 1818, and in common with his brothers, was reared on his father’s farm and received a limited education. When not quite twenty years of age he was married, Jan. 9, 1838, to Miss Sarah Zimmerly, who was a native of Washington County, Va. This lady became the mother of three children, of whom only one, Jacob W., survives. The wife and mother died in Jasper County, Ill., Dec. 25, 1842. Mr. Perisho was the second time married, June 27, 1843, to Miss Lavina Purlee. This lady was a native of Washington County, Ind., and after becoming the mother of one child, a son, Hiram, died on the 15th of October, 1844. The present wife of our subject, who was the widow of James Wells, was formerly Miss Rosanna M. O’Hair, a native of Wolfe County. Ky., and they were married June 12, 1845. Of this union there were born five children, four now living, namely, Emily J., John E., Mary E. and Rosa A. Mr. Perisho came to Illinois with his parents and all engaged together in farming in Grand View Township until 1825. The two families continued to live together until 1838, and then our subject removed to a farm adjoining that of his father, which he occupied until 1840. Thence he removed to Jasper County, where he improved a farm and remained three years. Then returning to Edgar County he located on a tract of land in Simms Township, which he cultivated until 1855, and then took up his abode in Seven Hickory Township, this county, where he became the possessor in due time of 400 acres and also was widely known as one of the most thorough and progressive agriculturists of that section. Since becoming a resident of Charleston he has wisely given himself his needed and well-earned rest, and in the companionship of his family and friends is beginning to feel that his last days are his best ones. The record of our subject’s children is as follows. Jacob married Miss Nancy Breeding, and they have seven children, viz., Allen, Ida, Elizabeth, Viola, William, Everet and Nancy; they reside on a farm in Edgar County. Hiram, who is farming near Paris, married Miss Eveline Morris, of Edgar County; Emily J. married O. C. Bower, a farmer of Morgan Township, and they have one child, Arthur E.; John E., who is farming in Seven Hickory Township, married Miss Aurelia Miller, and they have one child, a daughter, Edith E.; Mary E. is the wife of Otis Davis, of Charleston, and the mother of three children—Minnie R., Llewellyn and Mabel P.; Rosa A., the wife of Andy J. Newman, of Seven Hickory Township, is the mother of three children—Oliver P., George M. and Ruby R. Mr. Perisho is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and with his wife and children is a member and regular attendant of the Christian Church. |
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