WILLIAM PERRY . - The gentleman whose sketch it is our pleasure to present to our readers, was born in Cooperstown township, at the present home of his father, March, 1844. His father, James Perry, was born on Powel's river, in Tennessee, in 1808, coming to Illinois in 1830.

William Perry was reared to farm life, and was well educated in the common schools, teaching several terms after finishing his education.

His marriage occurred, in 1866, when he was only twenty-two to Miss Mary E. Grover, daughter of W. P. Grover, and his wife, a Miss Patterson, both natives of Ohio, but residents of Brown county.

Mr. and Mrs. Perry first rented the old home farm, and in 1876 bought eight acres for $3,200, which he sold two years later, buying his present farm of eighty acres on section 32, paying the same price for it.

By this marriage Mr. Perry had six children, one of whom died when an infant. Mrs. Perry died in 1878, leaving three sons and one daughter, namely: Oscar, twenty-four; Elmer, twenty-two; Scott, eighteen, and Hattie, fourteen. He was again married in 1882, to Miss Anna Whitehead, of this county, daughter of Dr. John and Mary (Gilford) Whitehead. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have one living child, Orpha, aged six.

Mr. Perry was Town Collector, at twenty-two years, and served as Assessor for two years, from the time he was twenty-three until he was twenty-five. He next served as Township Treasurer for twelve years. Until 1876 he was a Democrat, but since that time he has been an advocate of reforms, being now a member of the Farmers' Alliance, or People's Party.

Mr. Perry carries on general farming on his beautiful farm, where he resides, surrounded by his children and his loving wife; and if ever a man had cause to be proud of his past life, it is the subject of this sketch, William Perry.