The Perrin Family of Clark County, Ohio

The members of the Perrin family have ever been worthy of respect and regard, and John Perrin possessed a character that commanded the esteem and good will of all with whom he came in contact and for many years was classed among the valued and representative citizens of his community. He was born in Springfield township, Clark county, April 15, 1812, on the farm now occupied by his family, and was a son of John Perrin, whose sketch is given above. He was reared upon the home farm, pursuing his education in a log schoolhouse, and he remained with his parents until their death, when he inherited the old homestead. He continued to reside upon that place until his death, which occurred June 27, 1888. In the meantime he had erected a fine brick residence, had built good outbuildings and had greatly improved his farm, making 1t one of the valued and attractive country seats of the locality. His birth occurred in a log house which stood upon the site of the present home of the family. The latter was erected in 1870 and is the fourth house which had occupied the same site on the Perrin farm. The Perrin homestead comprised twelve hundred acres of land, owned by his father, John Perrin. The first house built here was of rough logs and after a time it was replaced by a more substantial and comfortable residence, built of hewed logs. The third house was built of brick. In 1870 John Perrin, of this review, remodeled the building and improved it as we see it to-day. At the time of his death he owned over six hundred acres of land. He was a representative and energetic farmer, and everything about the place was kept in good condition. He used the latest improved machinery in operating his land and was untiring in his work, so that he was, enabled to provide his family with a good living. On the 9th of March, 1853, Mr. Perrin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dunn Roush, who was born in Berkeley county, West Virginia, on the 2d of February, 1825, her parents being Martin and Margaret (Patton) Roush. Her paternal grandparents were natives of Germany and on leaving that country crossed the Atlantic to America. The grandfather was quite well-to-do and became the owner of a good plantation and a number of slaves in Virginia. It is thought that Martin Roush was born at the old family home in that state. He, too, was a planter and slave-holder, and he continued to conduct his plantation until 1847, when he sold out and came to Ohio, residing in Madison county for about twelve months. On the expiration of that period he removed to Springfield, purchasing a farm near the town, now known as the Slaughter farm. Upon that property he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1877, when eighty-six years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Patton, was born in Greencastle, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. She, too, passed away and was laid to rest by the side of her husband in Ferncliff cemetery.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. John Perrin were born seven children: Margaret Amelia; Ellen Nora, the wife of Dr. James E. Studebaker, a resident of Springfield; John Martin; Mary Belle: Ida Lavina, who died November 28, 1897, and was buried in Ferncliff cemetery; Minerva Cooper; and Catherine McKee, who died December 23, 1864, at the age of seven years and five months. Mr. Perrin, the father, was interred in the old family cemetery, within two hundred yards of where he was born, but on the 12th of October, 1898, his remains were removed to Ferncliff cemetery. While he led a quiet life, his attention being given to his farm, he was a man who possessed many sterling traits of character. He was prompt and honest in all of his business dealings, was energetic in carrying on his work, was true to his duties of citizenship and devoted to his family.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM PERRIN, farmer; P. O., Springfield. This well-known and respected farmer was born in a log cabin in Springfield Township, Jan. 22, 1815, and is the son of John and Amelia (Ingram) Perrin, natives of Washington Co., Md., both of whom were born in the year 1778, and were the parents of six children, as follows: Edward (deceased), Joseph I. (deceased), John, William, Minerva E., and Emery (deceased). In 1806, he and family came to Springfield, and he bought the whole of Sec. 3, upon which was a log cabin and a small clearing, but by constant industry he added much to his first purchase, and at his death owned over 1,200 acres of land; he died Dee. 16, 1848, his wife having passed away June 8, 1847. William grew up under the parental roof, receiving but a limited education and making farming his life vocation; he was married March 25, 1849, to Dorothy Sturgeon, daughter of Jeremiah and Phoebe Sturgeon, natives of Ireland, where Mrs. Perrin was also born, coming to America when she was about 20 years of age. Of this union was born one son, John E., Oct. 4, 1850, who graduated in 1868 at Gundry & Hol. lingsworth’s Commercial College of Springfield, and who now resides at the homestead. Mrs. Perrin was a member of the United Presbyterian Church all her life, and died firm in that faith Oct. 27, 1878, dying as she had lived, an humble and devoted followed of Christ. Mr. Perrin lived in the cabin of his birth until about 1849, at which time he moved to the place where he now resides, and, having remodeled the house, has now one of the handsomest houses of Springfield Township; he has always been industrious and saving, and is the owner of 550 acres of first-class land; to public benefits and improvements he has ever been friendly, and in the affairs of his native county has always taken a deep interest; politically a Republican, he was a stanch opholder of the Union in the rebellion, and has ever been known as an obliging neighbor, an honest man, and a useful, enterprising citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN M. PERRIN, who is a representative of one of the prominent old families of Clark County, has always lived on the old Perrin farm in Springfield Township, on which he has been engaged in general farming since 1903. He was born on this farm August 30, 1859, and is a son of John and Mary (Dunnroush) Perrin.

The father of Mr. Perrin was born on the present home farm, where he died June 27, 1888. He was a son of John Perrin, who was born in Maryland and made his first visit to Clark County on horseback in 1803. At that time he returned to Maryland, but he came back in 1806 and invested in a section of land, this farm being a part of the same. His son, John Perrin, also owned a number of valuable tracts of land in different sections and for a number of years entrusted all of his business to his son, John M. He married Mary Dunnroush, who died August 14, 1907, aged eighty-two years. They had the following children: Margaret Amelia; Elnora, who married Dr. Edgar Studebaker; John M.; Mary Belle; Mina: and Lavinia and Katherine, who are now deceased. In 1902 John M. Perrin was married to Minnie Cox, who is a daughter of David Cox, and they have one son, to whom has been given the family name of John. Mrs. Perrin died January 20, 1908. Mr. Perrin is identified with the Knights of Pythias.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.