Perin, Mrs. Sarah G.

PERIN, PECK, NIXON, RICE, ANKENY, GIBBON, LAMB, BONNEY, STAR, BERTON, VOSBURG, SCOTT, SEAMAN, COY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/28/2003 at 19:26:08

MRS. SARAH G. PERIN
There is probably no woman in Clinton more widely known or is held in higher regard than Mrs. Perin, who has made her home here since pioneer days. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, on the 20th of February, 1812, a daughter of John B. and Nancy (Peck) Nixon. In early life she met and married Noble Perin, a native of New York and a son of John and Rachel (Rice) Perin, who removed to Indiana at an early day.
When a young man Noble Perin learned the blacksmith's trade at Connersville, Indianan, where he was married, and in 1837 came to Iowa, which was then a territory, and purchased one hundred and thirty-six acres of land where the city of Clinton now stands. The only families in this locality at that time were the Marlins, Buells, Hogans, Bartletts, Wares, Harrisons, Smiths and Deeds. The Indians were far more numerous than the white settlers, and would beg and steal, but otherwise were not troublesome. Lynx, bears, wolves and deer were often seen, and all kinds of feathered game was plentiful, furnishing many a meal for the early settlers.
Mr. And Mrs. Perin came west by steamboat to Clinton, then called New York, bringing with them a small quantity of household goods and one cow. Until a hewed log house could be built for their accommodation they lived with Mr. Bartlett. Their first home was on the site of Young's mills, in Clinton, and they moved in before the floor had been laid. It was a primitive affair with only one door and bunks for beds. Mr. Peins's father arrived here in time to help finish the house. Here the young couple began life in true pioneer style, and experience many of the hardships and privations incident to such a life. It was five years before Mr. Perin could pre-empt his land after locating here. In the spring of 1844 he started to St. Louis to get material for blacksmithing, and was killed at Quincy, Illinois, by the bursting of the boiler on the steamer, Patosic, on which he was a passenger. He was then thirty-seven years of age, being born in 1807.
Eight children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Perin, namely: (1) Valeria married Augustus L. Ankeny, and to them were born seven children: Helen Burce, Harry and Belle, all now deceased; Maud, wife of A. Gibbon; Molly, wife of D. Lamb; and Margaret, wife of Charles Bonney. (2) Samuel T. first married Melvina Star, by whom he had six children: Lulu P., Powell, Ellwood, Marian Al, Annie and Noble. For his second wife he married Nellie Berton, and they have seven children: Earl, Edna, Nellie, Bruce, Samuel, Verna and Beatrice. (3) Nancy married Ed Vosburg, and to them were born three children: Emily, Paul and Valeria. (4) Mary married T. W. Miller, and they had nine children, three of whom are deceased, the others are: Sadie Olds, Charles, Harry, Harriett, T. Warren and Robert. (5) A son died in infancy. (6) Elizabeth Jane married W. A. Scott. By his union one child was born, Ellen, now the wife of H. Seaman. (7) Noble is deceased. (8) Rachel.
For her second husband Mrs. Perin married Shubel Coy, of Lyons, by whom she had two children: Francis, deceased; and Edgar L. Mr. Coy died at the age of seventy-seven years. Our subject has since resumed the name of Perin. Although now in her ninetieth year she is wonderfully preserved and has a retentive memory, which enables her to relate many interesting incidents of pioneer life when this region was all wild and unimproved. Her circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county is extensive, and she is held in the highest respect and esteem.  
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.