Richard Perrin

RICHARD PERRIN is one of Winona County's well known agriculturists, who in his business career has won success, and in all the relations of life has gained the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has been brought in contact. He carries on general farming and stock-raising on section 15, Saratoga Township, where he owns valuable property, comprising two hundred and forty acres of rich land, which is improved with good buildings and all the accessories of a model farm.

Mr. Perrin was born in Yorkshire, England, on the 13th of August, 1825, and is a son of John and Emma (Wilkest Perrin, who were also natives of the same country. By occupation the father was a farmer, and followed that business through life. The family numbered eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom Richard is the eldest. Sarah and Elizabeth aie both deceased. Thomas and John follow in order of birth. Mary Ann has also passed away. Priscilla is the youngest living; and one died in infancy.

When a child of five years, Richard Perrin left his native land and was brought by his parents to America, the family crossing the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, which after a voyage of six weeks dro]ipcd anchor in the harbor of New York. The family located in Monroe County, N. Y., near Rochester, and there Richard was reared to manhood. His education was acquired in the district schools, which he attended at intervals until aliout sixteen years of age. Reading, experience and observation, however, have made him a well informed man. His father was in limited circumstances, and, as he was the eldest child, he remained at home and gave to his parents the benefit of his services until twenty-five years of age. He then started out in life for himself, and began by renting land. This he did for five years, making his home in New York until the spring of 1855, when he emigrated to the West. The journey was made by way of the rivers and lakes to Beloit, Wis. Near that city he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and for two years carried on farming, but on the expiration of that period he removed to Waupun, Wis., where he rented a farm until 1866. In that year lie came to Winona County, and has since been numbered among the agriculturists of Saratoga Township. He bought eighty acres of partially improved land on section 15, where his home now stands, and began the development of a farm that has become one of the most desirable places of the neighborhood. As his financial resources have been increased he has extended its boundaries, until it now comprises two hundred and forty-eight acres of rich land, which yields to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestow upon it.

On the 3d of April, 1849, Mr. Perrin was united in marriage with Miss Jane Drake, a native of New York, who was born in 1829. They have two children. Emma became the wife of Peter Bratt, a farmer of.Saratoga Township, and they have three children: Joan. Ilarrv and Ada, Jennie is the wife of Clarence Statser. They reside on the old homestead, and have a daughter, Ora M.

In his political affiliations Mr. Perrin is a Democrat, hut has never aspired to public office. In ISiJO he was called to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 30th of August, and was laid to rest in Saratoga Cemetery. She had been to him a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey, and her loss was mourned by her family and many friends. Mr. Perrin's success is well deserved, and he also merits the high regard in which he is held.

Watson I. Lamson.

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota; containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.