PERVIANCE, Alfred James: Died 1901

PERVIANCE, NAYLOR, JOHNSTON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/25/2015 at 10:51:38

A.J. PERVIANCE.

Alfred James Perviance was born at Smithfield, Ohio, Nov. 9, 1819, and died at his home in Keokuk, Iowa, Sunday morning, Dec. 8, 1901, aged 82 years and 29 days. His ancestors came to this country with Lafayette, during the Revolutionary war. Mr. Perviance cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison for president, being first a whig and afterwards a republican. In 1843 at Smithfield, Ohio, he was married to Miss Sarah Naylor who survives. Ten children were born to them, one of whom was the late Mrs. Ben Johnston, of Keosauqua. Five children are yet living. Mr. Purviance superintended the construction of the high trestles over the deep ravines just west of Mt. Zion on the first line of the Rock Island road, which was changed to the present deep cut route many years ago. About the second year of the civil war he built a large hotel at Mt. Zion, which he operated for several years, and which he sold to Washington Miller in 1866, when he moved to Keosauqua. A few years later this hotel was burned. From 1866 to 1875 he resided in Keosauqua and while living here he built the second and last dam across the Des Moines river at Bentonsport. Mr. Purviance was an active business man until his health failed. He was a man of large constructive ability and was one of those who helped to develop and perfect the early reaping machine and had much to do with its first introduction into Van Buren county. The funeral was held at Keokuk Tuesday of this week, and was largely attended by those who had known this respected citizen for many years.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 102, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA