The last place in Minnesota that James Perry lived was Winnebago City, MN. James was a tailor who also sold Singer sewing machines. Business must not have been very good, or the number of children that he and Lydia had surpassed their means, as they defaulted on their mortgage. Their two youngest children died in 1866, within 3 months of each other, so perhaps medical and burial expenses were too much to cover. Soon after this, James left his family and moved to Illinois with Jennie Elwell Roper, a new widow, and her son. He was remarried in May of 1870 in Pontiac Illinois.

Some day I would love to find out why James left, if he got a divorce, and where Lydia died.

Winnebago City, Faribault County MN

Indenture made 26 April 1865. James S. and Lydia M. Perry to James Latimer. Warranty Deed. In Presence of Joseph Weir and Martha Arnold. Lydia was illiterate, as she made her mark but did not sign.

Book J of Mortgages Page 7

Sheriff’s Certificate on Foreclosure

James S. Perry by Sheriff to Samuel Randall and Smith.

Made 20 March 1869 between Harlow, Sheriff of Faribault County and Samuel Randall and Smith of Blue Earth County.

Whereas James S Perry by a certain indenture of mortgage bearing date the 28th of Sept. AD 1868 for the purpose of securing the payment of the sum of $46 plus interest according to the condition of one certain promissory note bearing date of on the 28th of Sept AD 1868, mortgage to F. Harlow his heirs and assigns.

The mortgage contained a power of sale: “but if default shall be made in the payment of said sum of the money or the interest or any part thereof at the time hereinto for specified grant to sell at public auction…”

The notice of sale was posted at the front door of the Collins House in Winnebago on 20 March 1869 at 10 A.M. and published for six successive weeks at least once in each week in the Free Homestead, which is Winnebago’s paper.

The property was sold at public auction at the front door of the Collins House on 20 March, 1869.