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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
BENJAMIN R. PERDUE. Prominent among the old settlers of Mahaska County, and a gentleman who, for upward of thirty-seven years, has resided within its boundaries and witnessed its development and growth, and who has done his share toward its advancement, is he of whom we write. He is a retired blacksmith, and ex-Mayor of Oskaloosa, and at present residing in that city, where he is passing the sunset of life in peace and quiet retirement. Mr. Perdue has been a resident of this connty, with the exception of a very short time, since 1849. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, July 15, 1820, and is a son of Bennett and Hannah (Hale) Perdue. His father was born in Loudoun County, Va., and the family were among the early colonists of that State. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a surgeon in Washington's army, and the Perdue family comes of genuine old colonial stock. Benjamin H. Perdue was brought up in his native State, and early in life learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he has worked for upward of forty years. He was married in Stark County, Ohio, April 7, 1844, to Miss Catharine, daughter of David and Mary Shriver. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in October, 1822, and has borne our subject eight childrenÄfive sons and three daughtersÄsix of whom are living at this writing. The children were all born in Ohio: Dallas M. is married, and lives in Rose Hill, Iowa; David is married, and resides in Beloit, Kan.; Mary E. is the widow of Henry Leighton, and is living in Oskaloosa; John T. is married, and is Clerk of the Court of Wapello County; Pierce married Emma Davis, is a printer by vocation, and resides in Des Moines; Catharine died at the age of twenty-five years; Clementine is the wife of W. C. Carter, of Orange City, this State, and Emerson died when five years old. In 1849 Mr. Perdue, accompanied by his family, came to this county and located at Oskaloosa, the date of their settlement being in October of that year. They continued to reside in this city until the spring of 1850, when he returned to Ohio, and in May, 1862, came back to Oskaloosa, and has made this his home ever since. He carried on blacksmithing, together with wagon and plow manufacture, in this city for upward of twenty years, meeting with signal success. He was Mayor of Oskaloosa during 1883Ä84, and was a member of the City Council three or four times. In politics he is a Democrat. His religious views coincide with the tenets of the Unitarian Church. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the 32d degree. he was a charter member of the Commandery of Oskaloosa. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, of which latter order he is High Chief, and Deputy Grand Chief of the State of Iowa.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy