Perry, Rachel 1a 2a

Birth Name Perry, Rachel
Gender female
Age at Death 100 years, 2 months, 22 days

Narrative

From Susan Perry, March 27, 2003:

I located a xerox copy of the article in the Martinsville, Indiana (Morgan County Library) genealogy file cabinet - "Perry" folder. On the bottom of the cut out xerox copy is a handwritten date: Dec. 14, 1936. The headlines read:
"Mrs. Rachel Perry Nearing Century Mark.
Indianapolis women, born in Green township (Indiana), will celebrate hundredth birthday Wednesday.
Birthday Dinner Has Been Planned.
The Indianapolis Star of Sunday contained the following that will be of interest to many Morgan County persons."

"Nearly one hundred years ago, in a humble log cabin in Green township of Morgan County, Mrs. Rachel Perry, 728 North Emerson Ave, was born.............Mrs. Perry's father was a Methodist minister of English descent and her grandmother, she says, was a cousin of George Washington.
Schools in the days of Mrs. Perry's childhood were often great distances from home and consequently only the boys were allowed to go, while the sisters obtained their education at home. Mrs. Perry's mother wove clothes for the family of ten and Mrs. Perry's first shoes were made from cloth by her mother. Mrs. Perry was married to Elzy M. Perry, Sept. 27, 1885"
(You show 1855 so I don't know if paper made error or what as I don't have other evidence yet of her marriage date).
The article continues about her life and mentions her children and that she walks about the house and yard without assistance and makes her bed every day. However, unable to read fine print and does not wear glasses but reads her bible and newspaper headlines regularly. Her only infirmity is deafness and that she has never voted. "
Mrs. Perry is the second oldest child in her family with the death two years ago of a brother, Richard who lived in a log house in Morgan County, within two miles of his birth place."
This would be correct as I also have Richard's obituary; age 88 years died ( Sept. 1934) at his home east of this city on rural route 1....the deceased is survived by three sons, Elza, James and Herman Perry of Johnson County and a sister Rachel Perry of Indianapolis.
I also have the obituary of my 3rd great grandfather; Thomas Perry Born: 1850 Died: Dec 1926...survived by one sister Rachel Perry of Indianapolis and one brother Richard A. Perry) "She is now the last surviving member of the large family. She is unable to remember even a cousin who might be living."

NOTE: I also have other sources that refer to the same Miss Rachel Perry married to Elzy Perry.

With the possibility that Rachel's mother Elizabeth Thompson's line could be the grandmother that Rachel is referring to...... I believe that Elizabeth's parents were John Wesley Thompson (B: 1786 NC and died in Morgan Co. before 1859) and wife was Mary Elizabeth Nichols died before 1843. Rachel could also be referring to her father's mother Mrs. Rebecca (Pierce) Perry. Would be interesting to discover when Rebecca (Pierce) Perry died. As I wonder if Rachel heard from this from her parents or actual living Grandmother or other family member.

I have discovered the name of Pierce in Washington's family tree. However, have still not discovered the connection. I am starting to think it may be her grandmother was a cousin by marriage through the Washington genealogy line. Have not yet researched if Nichols is in Washington's family tree....as this name is a recent new source.
Hope to hear from you in the future.
Susan Perry
PrrySus@aol.com

The newspaper article reads (Dec. 14, 1936) :

"Mrs. Perry was married to Elzy M. Perry, Sept. 27, 1885 (This year is not
correct) in Morgan County. Mr. Perry died April 12, 1914. The couple came
to Marion County when her daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Kerkhoff, with whom she
lives, was of school age. They settled on a farm near Glinns Valley in 1885,
Mrs. Kerkhoff was born four miles south of Waverley on what is now the Dixie
highway.

The Perry's had three children, two of whom are still living, Mrs. Kerkhoff
and her brother William C. Perry, 80 years old, 2824 Spann Avenue. Another
daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Stephenson of Pueblo, Col., died in August.

Mrs. Perry has lived with Mrs. Kerkhoff at the Emerson Avenue address since
the death of her husband. She has been a member of the Methodist church in
Morgan County eighty-eight years."

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth 1836-12-16 Morgan County, IN    
Death 1937-03-07 Marion County, IN    

Age: 100y 2m 19d

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father Perry, Nathan1810after 1887
Mother Thompson, Elizabeth18141887-08-25
    Sister     Perry, Mahala 1834
         Perry, Rachel 1836-12-16 1937-03-07
    Sister     Perry, Elizabeth 1839-07-03 1910-07-16
    Brother     Perry, James 1841-11-00
    Sister     Perry, Mary Jane 1842
    Brother     Perry, Richard Ankrum 1845-12-20 1934-09-21
    Sister     Perry, Francis Frankie 1848-02-02 1850-10-17
    Brother     Perry, Thomas L. 1850-11-00 1926-12-00
    Brother     Perry, Amos 1855
    Brother     Perry, Jonas 1858

Families

Family of Perry, Elzy Mitchell and Perry, Rachel
Married Husband Perry, Elzy Mitchell ( * 1835-08-00 + 1914-04-12 )
   
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage 1855-09-27 Morgan County, IN Religious Marriage  
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
Perry, William Carver1856-10-081938-01-04
Perry, Mary Ann18681968-12-27
Perry, Elizabeth Jane1936-08-00

Source References

  1. FROM INDIANAPOLIS NEWSPAPER DATED DEC.
      • Source text:

         

        FROM INDIANAPOLIS NEWSPAPER DATED DEC. 16, 1936: Nearly one hundred years ago, in a humble log cabin in Green township of Morgan county, Mrs. Rachel Perry, 728 North Emerson Avenue was born. Andrew Jackson was president of the United States then. There were only 21 states in the union and Indian wars were frequent. A business panic had its grip on the country, communications and transportation systems were embryonic and there was no thought of civil war. Mrs. Perry's father was a Methodist minister of English descent and her grandmother (Rebecca Pierce), she says, was a cousin of George Washington. Schools in the days of Mrs. Perry's childhood were often great distances from home and consequently only the boys were allowed to go, while their sisters obtained their education at home. Mrs. Perry's mother wove clothes for the family of ten and Mrs. Perry's first shoes were made from cloth by her mother. Mrs. Perry was married to Elzy M. Perry, Sept. 27, 1855, in Morgan county. The couple came to Marion county, when her daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Kerkhoff, with whom she lives, was of school age. They settled on a farm near Glenns Valley in 1885. Mrs. Kerkhoff was born four miles south of Waverly on what is now the Dixie highway. Mr. Perry died April 12, 1914. The Perry's had three children, two of whom are still living, Mrs. Kerkhoff and her brother, William C. Perry, 80 years old, 2824 Spann Avenue. Another daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Stephenson of Pueblo, Colorado, died in August. Mrs. Perry has lived with Mrs. Kerkhoff at the Emerson avenue address since the death of her husband. She has been a member of the Methodist church in Morgan county 88 years. Mrs. Perry walks about the house and yard without assistance and makes her bed every day. While she is unable to read fine print, she does not wear glasses, and reads her Bible and the newspaper headlines regularly. Her only infirmity is deafness. She has never voted. Mrs. Perry was the second oldest child in her family an d with the death two years of a brother, Richard, who lived in a log house in Morgan county, within two miles of his birthplace, she is now the last surviving member of the large family.

  2. OBITUARY 1936
      • Source text:

        The deceased Rachel Perry, daughter of Nathaniel Perry and Elizabeth Perry, was born on the 16th day of December in the year of our Lord 1836. She was a real pioneer of Indiana, being born in Morgan County and lived all her life in the state. Her childhood days were spent in a log cabin. Her father was a Methodist Minister of the Gospel. Her father's grandmother, Rebecca Pierce was a first cousin of George Washington, the first President of the United States. She was the second child of a family of five daughters and three sons. Her brothers and sisters have all preceded her in death. In 1855 on September 27, she was married to Elzy M Perry. (both of them having the same last names before marriage, but not related). This union was blessed with two daughters and one son. Later she came with her loved ones to Marion County, settling on a farm near Glenns Valley in 1875. Her husband, Elzy Perry preceded her in death on April 15, 1914. On December 16, 1936 she celebrated her 100th birthday with her children, grand, and great-grand children, representing five generations. After a brief illness, she was called to her eternal rest March 7, 1937, and at that time she had reached the remarkable age of 100 years, 2 months, and 21 days. Her eldest daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Stephenson of Pueblo, Colorado preceded her in death last summer. She is survived by a son William C Perry, and a daughter Mrs. Mary Ann (Perry) Kerkhoff. ----- also a Son-in-Law Frederick W. Kerkhoff of 728 N. Emerson Avenue of Indianapolis with whom she made her home. Six grandchildren, Elzy Perry of Cleveland, --Bessie Cunningham, of Indianapolis, --William and Edward Stephenson, of Pueblo, Colorado, --Meda Andes of Rye, Colorado, and Herman Kerkhoff of 329 N. Wallave Street, Indianapolis.