ALBERT PERRY

Few, if any, of our American families can trace their ancestral history further back through the chronicles of the dim and mysterious past through a more honorable lineage than the Perry family. It was in the year of 1653 that three brothers -- Benjamin, Edward and Samuel -- left the little rock-ribbed country of Wales to seek a home beyond the Atlantic in the new country which was just being opened up to the influences of civilization. Many of their descendants have been prominent in connection with the events which form the history of the nation. The grandfather of our subject was Jones Perry, a native of New England who loyally served in the Revolutionary army for three years. To the same family belongs the distinguished commodore Oliver H. Perry, whose immortal words, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." have become the slogan in naval circles and an inspiration to all whose service connects them with the sea. Amos Perry, the father of our subject, was a physician and a minister of the gospel, thus devoting his life to two of the most notable callings to which men direct their energies. He married Patience Cheney, and both were natives of New York, the former born in 1795, and the latter in 1798. The lady was a daughter of William Cheney, who was of English descent and who became a soldier in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war, at the early age of fourteen years. His father; Ebenezer Cheney, also served three years in the Revolutionary war.

Albert Perry, who is now living a retired life in Troy, Kansas, was born near Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, June 18, 1830, and is one of the ten children born to his parents, seven of whom are now living and are scattered through the different states of the Union. He was very young when the family removed from New York to the Western Reserve, Ohio, locating in Ashtabula county. There he passed his early boyhood, attending the district school until old enough to enter Chester Academy. He afterward was a student at Oberlin College and completed his studies at Cleveland University. When at the academy at Chester, Ohio, he was a classmate of James A. Garfield, later the president of the United States.

Mr. Perry began the study of law with John Hutchins, ex-member of congress, of Warren, Ohio, as his preceptor, and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, that state, before the supreme court. He followed the practice of his profession at Warren for two years, and in 1857 came to Kansas, first settling at Doniphan, where the land office was then located, and remained there eighteen months, during which time nearly all the land in northeastern Kansas was pre-empted. He then removed to Troy, the county seat of Doniphan county, where he opened a law office and carried on a general law business until 1896. Mr. Perry practiced in all the courts in Kansas, state and federal, and is said to have tried more cases than any other member of the Doniphan county bar. He is a man of high principles, cool-headed, just in his dealings with men, and has always had the confidence of the people. His success as a lawyer is due to these traits as well as to his thorough knowledge of his profession. With a keenly analytical mind, his broad knowledge of law enabled him to apply to the point in litigation the principles of jurisprudence which bore most closely upon it, citing authority and precedent until the strength of his case was clearly seen by judge and jury. His deductions were logical and the force of his arguments was shown in the many verdicts, favorable to his clients, which he won.

He is an indefatigable worker. His practice has been general and he is proficient in every department of the law. The litigation with which he has been connected is of a very important character; he has met in forensic combat many of the ablest lawyers of Kansas, and in the legal arena has again and again won the victor's laurels over competitors of marked ability. He is quick to note his opportunity, and he is most happy in his choice of language.

In 1860 Mr. Perry was united in marriage to Miss Mildred Leland, of Troy, Kansas. She is a daughter of Colonel Cyrus and Sarah A. (Howard) Leland, the former a graduate of Harvard College and a prominent citizen of Troy. Three children have been born of this marriage: Allen L., an attorney at law, of Troy; Warren, a physician in Fairbury, Nebraska; and Mabel, the wife of Dr. W. B. Campbell, of Troy.

Politically Mr. Perry is a Democrat and was one of the presidential electors in 1896. He was for some time one of the directors of the Kansas state penitentiary. Socially he is a member of Troy Lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M. Although retired from active work Mr. Perry superintendents the management of a fine farm, which he owns near Troy.