My Genealogy Hound

PERLEY, HENRY P. engineer C. & A. R. R. for the past eleven years; was born at Waterville, Maine, in 1841; at fourteen he entered the employ of the Androscoggin and Kennebec R. W. Co., afterward known as the Maine Central, remaining there through the years ‘59, ‘60 and ‘61; during the Spring of 1861 he enlisted in Company G, 3d Maine Infantry, under the command of Col. O. O. Howard; a participant in the famous battle of Bull Run; he served three months and received an honorable discharge from the service; he returned to Maine, where he again entered the employ of the Maine Central as a locomotive fireman on the Kennebec Road and became a very skillful engineer. In 1867 Mr. Perley came west and entered the employ of the St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago Railroad, afterward leased to the C. & A. R. R. On this road Mr. Perley was freight engineer one year. In 1868 he took up his residence at Mason City, Mason Co., Ill.; in 1871 moved to Jacksonville, where he run passenger engine No. 42; in 1872 he was running a passenger between Alton and Jacksonville; moving to Roodhouse, then just beginning to come into prominence, Mr. Perley shortly after built a substantial dwelling. He is well known for his generosity and is a very superior mechanic, April 24, 1863, he was united in marriage to Ann E. Morrill, of Maine, There are five children: John M., George P., Henry W., Anna R. and Francis C. As a railroad engineer Mr. Perley has been the actor of many stirring scenes, although owing to his skill as an engineer but very slight accidents have occurred on his route. Mr. Perley owns 80 acres of land in Kansas.