Perry, Ichabod MAGA © 2000-2014
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS, SCHUYLER and BROWN COUNTIES, Illinois - 1892

Chicago: Biographical Review Publishing Co.

Page 241

ICHABOD PERRY, one of the early settlers of this county, residing in Mount Sterling, was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, July 18, 1815. His father, Edmond Perry, was a native of North Carolina and served in the war of 1812, receiving a land warrant for 160 acres; but it is not known that this was ever located. His father came from the same State, and removed form there to Claiborne, Tennessee, where he purchased land and carried on farming until 1831, when he came to Illinois. He spent his last years in Brown county. The maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Yarberry, also a native of North Carolina. She died in Brown county also. Their son, Edmond, was a natural mechanic, but never learned a trade, and as he was very fond of hunting, he put in a good deal of time in that way. He resided in Tennessee until 1831, when, with his parents and others and wife and ten children, he emigrated to Illinois, and after four weeks overland travel landed in Morgan county. He rented a log cabin, three quarters of a mile from Jacksonville, and there spent the winter, and in the spring of 1832 came to that part of Schuyler that has been included in Brown county. He settled on a tract of vacant land in what is now Cooperstown township, and at once built a log cabin in the usual manner of the settlers, with rough hewn logs and puncheon floor. He lived in that place for about a year when he found out that he had built his house on the wrong land. He then moved to the adjoining quarter and put up a log cabin there, and later purchased this land, paying therefor $200, mostly in property. It was military land. This included the southwest quarter of section thirty, and he turned his attention to the improvement of the land, and resided in this locality until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Rachel Bridges, daughter of William and Sarah Bridges, who moved from Tennessee to Missouri in 1831, and spent the rest of their days there.

Ichabod was sixteen years old when he came to Illinois with his parents. The country was sparsely settled and but little improvement has been made anywhere. For some years the people lived on the produce of their farms and on the wild game that abounded in the forests. His mother used to card, spin and weave, and dressed her children in homespun made by her own hands. The father, being a skilled hunter, used to kill a great many deer. He dressed the skins, and in the winter the boys used to wear pants made of that material. Ichabod received his early education in the public schools of Tennessee. These were taught on the subscription plan, each family paying according to the number of children sent. He made the best of his opportunities, and in later years has improved his mind by extensive reading. He remained with his parents until he was twenty one and then began life for himself. In 1836 he went to the Territory of Iowa. At the time of his marriage he located on wild land in section 24, of Mount Sterling township, which he occupied for fifty-three years. He bought other tracts of land at various times, and at one time was the owner of 800 acres. He has assisted each of his children to homes, and now lives with his daughter, Mrs. Ward.

In 1838, he married Martha Bell, born in Kentucky, January 1, 1818, daughter of Robert and Jennie Bell. She died January 7, 1892. He has four children living: Oliver H., married to Martha McMillian; Lewis C., married first to Columbia Sharon, and for his present wife, Julia Dennis; Ethan Allen, married Delia Sharon; and Mary, married to William Ward. Mr. Perry is an ardent supporter of Republican principles. In 1846, etc., when he was a Democrat, he was Justice of the Peace two terms.


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