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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
John H. Perry; who for forty-one years has been engaged in the printing business in Oskaloosa, has in the course of an active career kept in touch with modem methods, for development has been as marked in the "art preservative" as in any line of business or professional activity. He has found in the work-a-day world incentive for earnest and persistent effort and upon the sure foundation of indefatigable labor has builded his success. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, on the 20th of February, 1848, he is a grandson of William Perry, who was born in Maryland and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He came to Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1860, and in this county as well as in former years followed the occupation of farming. He died in 1873, when eighty-five years of age. He had seven daughters and three sons, of whom the living are: William, of Chicago; and Emily, who is the widow of Henry Walker, also of that city. Leroy S. and Sarah (Josselyn) Perry were natives of Ohio and the latter was a daughter of Ambrose Josselyn, who was a sailor on the high seas, making trips between New York and European ports. He died in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1870, at the age of eighty years, while his widow, who in her maidenhood was Miss Adams, survived him for four years. Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Perry continued residents of Ohio until their son John was seven years of age, when in 1855, they removed to Oskaloosa, where the father followed the painter's trade. He died July 25, 1874, at the age of fifty-two years, while his widow, yet surviving him, makes her home in Seattle, Washington. In their family were eight children: John H.; A. M., a resident of San Francisco, California; C. M., of Oskaloosa; Ida M., the wife of John Keating, of Seattle, Washington; Mary, the wife of A. L. Kelsall, of Seattle; F. L., of the same city; and two who died in infancy. John H. Perry acquired a limited education, for at an early age he entered business life. He learned the printer's trade and in 1865 entered the Herald office at Oskaloosa, remaining there for twenty years. In 1895 he established, his present printing business and for forty-one years he has been connected with the trade in this city. He is thoroughly conversant with the work in every department and is now enjoying a large trade as a job printer, turning out ex- cellent work. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in 1899 he was elected city assessor on the citizens' ticket for a term of four years and in the spring of 1905 was re-elected to that office an the republican ticket, so that he is the present incumbent, his re-election coming to him in recognition of his capable service during his first term. On the 10th of June, 1885, Mr. Perry was married to Miss Jennie Rinard, a daughter of Henry and Sarah Rinard, natives of Indiana, and their children are: Leighton R. and John Walter. In 1871 Mr. Perry was made a member of Tri Luminar lodge, A. F. & A. M., and he has also taken the degrees of the Royal Arch chapter and of the Knights Templar commandery. He is recognized as a reliable business man of Oskaloosa and a strong element in his success is that fact that he has continuously persevered in the department of labor in which he embarked as a young tradesman, thus gaining a thorough knowledge of the business in every department together with a proficiency which comes from long experience.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy