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 Captain William Perry Posted by:  JimmyEv
N 32° 45.646 W 094° 20.809
15S E 373842 N 3625568
Capt. Perry, one of the first settlers of Jefferson, owned a shipping business on Big Cypress Bayou. He helped grow Jefferson as a river port by dredging a turning basin in the bayou.
Waymark Code: WM140H
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/07/2007
Views: 33
There is a duplicate of this marker next to the Excelsior Hotel:
WMW8RN
Texas Historical Commission Atlas data:
Index Entry Perry, Captain William
Address 203 Clarksville St.
City Jefferson
County Marion
UTM Zone 15
UTM Easting 373748
UTM Northing 3625508
Marker Size 27" x 42"
Marker Number: 8077
Marker Text:
(April 5, 1813 - January 2, 1869) William Perry was among the first settlers of Jefferson, arriving ca. 1840. Through his shipping business and his work in dredging a turning basin for ships in the Big Cypress Bayou, he played a significant role in the early growth and development of Jefferson as an inland port. He bought and developed large tracts of land in the area, becoming quite wealthy in the process. After traveling to California during the late 1840s gold rush, Perry returned to Jefferson and built a home at the corner of Polk and Clarksville streets for his wife Sardinia (1826-1912) and their children. The home was later moved to 203 Clarksville Street and incorporated with another structure. In addition to his real estate dealings and shipping interest, Perry owned a hotel which is now a part of the historic Excelsior House. A respected community leader, he served as mayor of Jefferson from 1863 to 1864. On January 2, 1869, Perry was fatally shot while walking home after midnight. William Perry and his wife, along with other family members, are buried in Jefferson's Oakwood Cemetery.
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