Russell Wright Perham (1816 - 1883)

Born 10 Jan 1816 in Belvidere, Lamoille, Vermont, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Charlotte W. (Newton) Perham — married 17 Dec 1843 in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 14 Dec 1883 at age 67 in Maquoketa, Jackson, Iowa, United States

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Biography

Russell was born in 1816 in Belvidere, Vermont. His parents, Joel Wright and Orpha (Chaffee) Perham, moved to Ohio when he was very young. His father died there and his mother then moved to western NY. In 1836 he went to Buffalo and in 1842 he engaged in teaching there and was Principal of one of the public schools for six years. In May 1849, he came to Clinton County, Iowa and located just west of Delmar where he engaged in farming for nine years. He then removed to Maquoketa and engaged in the mercantile and milling business. He held the office of J.P. and other town and school offices in Maquoketa. (From "History of Jackson Co. Iowa" (1879).)

Russell married Charlotte Newton in Buffalo, New York.

"The town (Maquoketa) grew rapidly until 1857, but felt keenly the loss of money and failure of the air line (railroad). Crops were good but prices for farm produce was very low; it was a sight to see the piles of corn taken in by merchants in exchange for goods; ten cents a bushel for shelled corn, and the accumulation was so great that Mr. Perham conceived the idea of getting a small steamship to navigate the Maquoketa River, and thus giving the merchants transportation for the vast accumulation of grain, enabling them to turn it into money and replenishing their stock of goods. It was a gala day when the "Maquoketa City" blew her whistle at the confluence of the north and south forks. All were glad and believed the question of transportation was satisfactorily solved with her advent, but the water was too shallow and the river too changeable to make a profit on her trips. Poor "Maquoketa City"! the last time I saw her was at Vicksburg, Mississippi, where she was working for "Uncle Sam", like the rest of us, trying to put down the rebellion." (from "The History of Jackson County Iowa" by James Whitcomb Ellis, 1910, p. 603: "Reminiscences of Fifty Years Ago by a Former Maquoketa Boy")

Russell's occupation was listed as steamship captain on the 1860 census.

Russell and his brother-in-law Joseph Willey built the Willey and Perham Flouring Mill near Maquoketa, Iowa in 1867. The mill shut down after an accident in 1870:

"An accident occurred at Willey & Perham's Flouring Mill which came very nearly fatally injuring Mr. Perham...The loss is a serious one for the mill, as the burr cannot be replaced for less than five hundred dollars." (Jackson County Sentinel newspaper, Dec 1870)

The mill, also known as the Oakland mill, was sold in 1876 to Seneca Williams. One hundred years later it was used as an artist's studio known as Costello's Mill.

Obituary:

"Jackson Sentinel, June 21, 1883.

DIED-

PERHAM-In this city, Thursday, June 14, of heart trouble, Mr. Russell Perham, aged 67 years.

Mr. Perham’s death was very sudden, although he was known to be in bad health. He had risen from the dinner table, lighted his pipe, and ensconced himself in a chair, when all at once the pipe fell from his mouth, his body drooped, and he passed away about as a man would fall asleep, without the least demonstration of pain or suffering. Deceased had been at the point of death several times of late years and more than once he passed into a comatose condition, from which he rallied, but his system was completely worn out by these repeated sick spells and death was expected soon by the family, but not in such a manner as it came.

Mr. Perham was born in Belvidere, Vermont, January 10, 1816. With his parents he went to New York when 7 years old. December 27, 1842, he was married to Miss Charlotte Newton of Hamburg, New York. He taught six years in the public schools at Buffalo, and in 1849 came to Iowa settling on a farm in Bloomfield Township, Clinton County, whence he moved to this city in 1859. He took an active interest in the navigation of the Maquoketa River at this early day and bought a steam boat at Pittsburg, but the venture proved unprofitable. He then followed the mercantile trade for several years. He held the offices of alderman, city clerk and justice of the peace at different times. He was a temperate, kind hearted gentlemen, of good literary taste, and a fine education. He leaves a wife and three children (a daughter and two sons) who mourn his loss.

The funeral took place at the residence of the deceased in this city Saturday afternoon, the Rev. E. L. Briggs, Universalist, preaching the sermon.

Deacon J. R. Twiss, at the funeral of Russel Perham, Esq., counted ten old settlers present, whose ages were as follows: 80, 76, 72, 72, 76, 82, 72, 73, 71 and 70, the latter being a female. This would make the average about 74 ½ years. Will these ten aged people all be present at a funeral again?"

Sources

• [1] History of Jackson County, Iowa (1879)
• History of Jackson County, Iowa by James W. Ellis (1910)
• Census records (ancestry.com)
• Jackson Sentinel newspaper, 8 Dec 1870: accident at Willey and Perham Flouring Mill; and March 1876: sale of Oakland mill due to court order against owner Russell Perham in favor of Seneca Williams