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.
Perry Family Tree 