In the process of doing genealogy when I moved back to Minnesota I discovered that some of my Dad’s family remained in Minnesota from the 1850s to the 1980s. My Dad’s dad, while born in Minnesota, grew up in eastern South Dakota. Charles James Perry, born in Savannah, Illinois and the eldest son of James Samuel and Lydia (Smith) Perry moved up to St Paul as a young man and worked for the Minnesota Transfer Railroad. There is record in southern Minnesota that his first wife was Anna Jones who died with their young child in 1879. He married Thora Louise Thollesen in 1891 (aka Louise T). They were buried in Roselawn Cemetery in St Paul. I used to drive by the cemetery all the time and never knew there were relatives of my dad buried there.

St Paul City Directory

1887-88: Chas J. Perry switchman, Minnesota Transfer RR, boards Transfer Hotel

1888-1889: Chas J. Perry switchman, MN Tr RR, bds 1922 St Anthony

1890: Chas J. Perry switchman, MN Tr RR, bds Park Central House

1891: Chas J. Perry switchman, MN Tr RR, bds Park Central House

1892: Chas J. Perry foreman, MN Tr RR, res 1899 St Anthony Ave

1893:   Chas J. Perry switchman, MN Tr RR, res 1899 St Anthony Ave

1894:   Chas J. Perry foreman, MN Tr RR, res 1899 St Anthony Ave

1895:   Chas J. Perry laborer, res 741 N Prior

1896:   Chas J. Perry clerk, MN Tr RR, res 741 N Prior

1897:   Chas J Perry, asst ydmaster, MN Tr RR, 1818 Capital Ave

1898:   Chas J Perry, freoman, MN Tr RR, 1818 Capital Ave

1899:   Chas Perry, switchman, MTRR, 1818 Capital Ave.

1900:   Chas J Perry, switchman, MTRR, 634 N Fairview

1901:    Chas Perry, switchman, MTRR 741 N Prior Ave.

1902:    Chas Perry switchman MTRR, 741 N Prior Ave

1903:    Chas Perry asst ydmaster, 741 N Prior

1904: Chs J Perry asst ydmaster MN Tr RRm 741 N Prior

1905:   Charles J Perry, ydmn MN Tr RR 749 N Prior

1906;   Chas J Perry ydmaster 1911 W Minnehaha

1908: Chas J Perry ydmaster 1911 W Minnehaha. Chas S Perry, messenger, 1911 W Minnehaha

1909:   Chas J Perry ydmaster, 1911 W Minnehaha. Chas S Perry, student @ Rasmussen PB School, 1911 W Minnehaha

1910: Chas S Perry (Error?) clerk, 1911 W Minnehaha

1911:   Ada E. Perry, bkkpr, Cobb and Ahrens, r. 1900 Rondo

Chas S Perry clerk, 1911 W Minnehaha

Chas J ydmaster 1911 w Minnehaha

Perry, Earl H., pharmacist, Golden Rule, rms. 430 Wabasha

1912:   Chas J Perry, yrd Master Minn Trans r 1911 W Minnehaha. Chas S Perry, clk Minn Trans r 1911 W Minnehaha

1913:   Chas J Perry, ydmaster, Minn Trans, r 1911 W Minnehaha. Chas S Perry, clerk, Minn Trans, r 1911 W Minnehaha

Wm H Perry, carp. R 969 University Ave.

1914:   Chas J Perry switchman r 1911 W Minnehaha. Chas S Perry clerk Mn Trans b 1911 W Minnehaha. Gladys Perry mach opr b 155 Aurora Ave

1915:   Chas J brakeman, 1911 W Minnehaha. Chas S Perry switchtender, 1911 W Minnehaha

1916:   Fay S Perry, 1160 N Snelling Ave. (works Mpls)

1917:   Chas J and S Perry switchmen, 1911 W Minnehaha

1918:   Charles J Perry switchman r 1911 W Minnehaha

Charles S Perry switchman r 814 Margaret

Edw E Perry switchman r 814 Margaret

Gladys G Perry mach oper b 1911 W Minnehaha

1920:   Chas J Perry switchman, 1911 W Minnehaha. Gladys Perry, clerk 1911 W Minnehaha

1921:   Chas J Perry, switchman, Minn Trans, r 1911 W. Minnehaha

Chas S Perry, sec. Ada E. Gregory, Inc. r 1911 W Minnehaha

Gladys Perry, clerk, Minn Trans, b 1911 W Minnehaha

1924:   Chas J Perry switchman, 1911 W Minnehaha

Chas S Perry grocer 1819 W Minnehaha, res same

Gladys Perry clerk,, 1911 W Minnehaha

Grace M Perry, laborer, Armour & Co, 439 Rondo

1925:   Chas J Perry switcmn 1911 W Minnehaha

Chas S Grocer, 1819 W Minnehaha, res same

Gladys Perry, clerk MTRR 1911 W  Minnehaha

Grace M Perry, helper, 439 Rondo

1940: Louise T. Perry, Oliver H and Ann Perry (Oliver is Switchtender, Mn Transf RR)  1911 w. Minnehaha, w/ Gladys (Clerk MN TR RR),

Charles S Perry w/ Helen A, grocer 1819 W Minnehaha, resid. 1811 W Minnehaha (intersection of Fairview and Minnehaha)

1941        Charles S Perry w/ Helen A, grocer 1819 W Minnehaha, resid. 1811 W Minnehaha

Gladys (typist Mn Tr RR), 1911 W Minnehaha, w/ Louise

**Oliver moved to Everett WA.

1942:   Gladys G Perry typist 1911 W Minnehaha

Charles S and Helen A Perry grocer 1819 W Minnehaha, resid. 1811 W Minnehaha

1944:   Charles S and Helen A Perry grocer 1819 W Minnehaha, resid. 1811 W Minnehaha

Gladys Perry, clerk MN TR RR, 1911 W Minnehaha, w/ Louise T.

1946:   Charles S and Helen A Perry grocer 1819 W Minnehaha, resid. 1811 W Minnehaha

Gladys G Perry (Clerk for MN TrRR) and Louise T Perry, 1911 W Minnehaha

1948:   Charles S and Helen A Perry grocer 1819 W Minnehaha, resid. 1811 W Minnehaha. Roy Lance boards

Louise T, Gladys G (typist) and Grace M Perry 1911 Minnehaha

1949:   Louise T, Grace M Perry 1911 W Minnehaha

Charles S and Helen A Perry resid. 1811 W Minnehaha

1950-51:          Charles S and Helen A Perry, resid. 1811 W Minnehaha (Roy Lance at same address). No longer a grocer.

Louise T Perry and Grace M Perry 1911 W Minnehaha

1955:   Chas S Perry 1811 W Minnehaha

Lydia [probably Louise] T Perry, 1911 W Minnehaha, w/ Grace

1963:   Chas S and Helen retrd 1811 W Minnehaha

1968:   Chas S and Helen Perry 1811 W Minnehaha

1970:   Chas S and Helen, same address

1981:   No Chas S, possibly a Helen

His obituary Obit from 12/15/38 St Paul Pioneer Press.

“Charles J Perry, 85 years old, 1911 Minnehaha St. who  died Tuesday in a Mankato hospital will be buried Friday. He was a St Paul resident for 70 years. born in Savannah Illinois in 1853, he came to Minnesota with his parents in 1863, settling in Blue Earth County. At 15 Mr Perry was employed by the Minnesota Transfer Railroad and remained with the company for 50 years. He was retired in 1926 on a pension.
Mr Perry was a former member of the Odd Fellows, the Independent Order of Foresters, and a past Treasurer of the Switchmen’s Union. He is survived by his widow, Louise, two sons Charles S and Oliver H, 2 daughters, Grace M and Gladys G, all of St. Paul, a brother George H of Payette Idaho, and a sister, Mrs. Fred Johnson of St Paul.
Funeral services will take place at 1:30 in the AE Henry Funeral Chapel, 538 Snelling Ave. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.”

What is interesting to note is no mention of other siblings who predeceased him. And like many obituaries, the state hospital in St Peter became a hospital in Mankato. According to Probate records, Charles J. Perry was committed to the state hospital, probably sometime after he retired.