Martin Perkey - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Postmaster, Council Member, Minister, Army Chaplain, Judge, Farmer, Dry Goods Store Owner

Born in Pennsylvania in January, 1819, to Christopher and Elizabeth Perkey, Martin Perkey farmed in Williams County, Ohio, in the 1850 census. He had obtained 40 acres through the Homestead Act on March 16, 1837, and eventually added to that amount.

Martin Perkey married Catherine Gaudern in Williams County on March 12, 1843.  The couple settled on a farm in Florence Township where the enumerator found them in 1850. Martin, 30, and Catherine, 24, had two daughters, Eugenia (Eugenia Ellen), 5, and Abigail, 3.  
Martin served as a postmaster in Williams County for awhile. In the mid-1850s, Martin obtained a license as a minister in the Methodist church. 

On December 24, 1861, he patriotically enlisted into the 68th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army, where he served in both companies F and S as an Army chaplain.  His service, documented in his obituary below, lasted until his resignation for health reasons on September 17,1862.  He was 45 when he enlisted.


The Perkey family remained in Williams County for at least twenty more years.  Martin returned to farming after the war, but he eventually turned to the ministry. By 1870, he and Catherine lived in Pioneer, Williams County, Ohio. The census noted that Martin, 50, and Catherine, 46, lived on real estate valued at $1600 with personal effects valued at $2500.  He was a retail dry goods merchant.

In 1880, the couple lived at a hotel in Bryan, Ohio.  By this time, Martin, at 61, had become a probate judge.  His two daughters were married with families.  Eugenia Ellen married Ezra Hilton, and Abigail married Edmund Lewis.  

Finally, in the 1900 census, the Perkeys lived in Defiance, at 656 Holgate Avenue. with their grandson, Henry Lewis, 30, his wife, Daisy, 24, and son, Harry B., 2.  Grandfather Martin Perkey was 81 years old by this time and Grandmother Catherine was 74.  The household had a servant, Emma Roehrs, 18.

On May 8, 1903, Martin Perkey passed away.  Elaborate, detailed obituaries were printed in almost all the Defiance papers of the day.

"A NOTABLE PIONEER CALLED BY DEATH
Was One of the Best Known Men in Northwestern Ohio.

Judge Martin Perkey died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. N. Lewis, on Holgate Avenue, shortly after 2 p.m. Friday.  He and Mrs. Perkey had been visiting at the Lewis home for several days.  Friday morning he had some trouble with his heart and Dr. W. S. Lowell was called to attend him.  Dr. Powell discovered that Judge Perkey was in bad shape and warned his friends that he might pass away at any time.  

At noon Mr. Perkey ate some dinner but after two o'clock, there was a recurrence of his trouble and at about 2:30, he said to Dr. Lewis, 'I fear I will have to let go,' and sinking back on the pillow, the life of the pioneer closed like a benediction.

PERKEY - Judge Martin Perkey was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1819, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. S. Lewis on Holgate Avenue, this city, May 8, 1903, aged 84 years, 3 months and 19 days.

When Mr. Perkey was six months old, his parents moved to Perry county, Ohio, and after two years, moved near the town of Lancaster, Fairfield county.
In 1827 the family left Fairfield county and moved to Seneca county, young Perkey being but eight years of age at that time.  The father died in Seneca county and at the age of fourteen years, the boy was thrown upon his own resources and compelled to shift for himself.

He worked at odd jobs until he reached the age of twenty-one years.  When he left Seneca county and located in Williams county, where, with his savings, he was able to enter and clear 140 acres of land.  

In 1823 (1843), he was married to Catherine Gawdern of Williams county.  The young couple went to housekeeping in a primitive way - in a log cabin and used furniture built by Mr. Perkey himself.  Two daughters resulted from this union: Mrs. Dr. E. N. Lewis, of Holgate avenue, and Mrs. Ezra Hilton, of North Defiance.

Mr. Perkey was appointed one of the first postmasters in Williams county, being made postmaster at Spring Lake, by President Tyler.

In 1854, Judge Perkey was received into the North Ohio M. E. conference.  He served various appointments until 1861 when he was elected chaplain of the 68th O.V.I. and went to the front.  He was in the siege at Ft. Donaldson and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing.  Shortly after that, his health became bad and he resigned and came home. Owing to bad health, he was forced to retire from the service as a minister and he became a superanuate (a retiree).

For thirty years after his return home from the war, Mr. Perkey was in the mercantile business in Pioneer.  In 1878 he was elected probate judge of Williams county and served nine years.  At the close of his third term, he moved to this city and resided up to the day of his death.

Although living in retirement, Judge Perkey was in 1892 induced to accept the Democratic nomination for councilman and was returned from the Fourth Ward by a handsome majority.

The wife and two daughters survive Judge Perkey.  The funeral will occur from the Lewis home on Holgate ave. at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dr. E. D. Whitlock of St. Paul M. E. church and Dr. P. P. Pope, of Van Wert, officiating.  Bishop Post, of which the deceased was an honored member, will have charge of the funeral. The remains will be interred in Riverside Cemetery.

The friends have had many messages of condolence today, one letter in particular being from Chas. A. Bowersox, of Bryan.  Judge Perkey was honored by all our people.  He and his excellent wife celebrated their sixtieth anniversary of their marriage on March 12 of this present year"

Riverside Cemetery

 
Perhaps a more dramatic obituary here, in part:

"THE PASSING OF HON. MARTIN PERKEY

Venerable Gentleman Known to all Lived a Life of Much Usefulness

The sands of time have flowed their course through the sifting aperture, and at last measured the life of the Honorable Judge Martin Perkey.  Yesterday the living spirit in the being of man is today a memory to its form of cold, unrelenting death.

Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. E. N. Lewis, occurred the demise of Judge Perkey, shortly after 2 o'clock.  Although not entirely unexpected, it was a shock, and the news was a painful surprise to the citizens and friends of the deceased in Defiance.  His end was seemingly without pain.  Even unto the last hour, he was up and around, enjoying the sweet restful sunshine of spring, and the wholesome budding time of the year.

Judge Perkey, with his venerable wife, had spent the winter with his daughter, Mrs. Ezra Hilton, in North Defiance.  Last Monday they came over to the home of their other daughter, Mrs. E.N. Lewis, on Holgate Avenue for a short visit.  At that time he was ailing, but as he had not been in the best of health for some years past, it was not thought that the results would be fatal.  During the winter he suffered an attack of the grip, and from that time on, he seemed to fail rapidly.  However, the same kindly spirit, that brotherly love and endearing nature which was his from birth, was always apparent, and for that reason alone, the family entertained no thought that the end was near.  That at that time the cruel reaper had begun its journey through the soul to cut down the aged blossom, which has for these many long years retained the fragrance with which God endowed it.

As usual yesterday morning, Judge Perkey was up and around.  His disposition was not changed in the least and although not feeling the best, his condition would not warrant the belief that afore the day had done, the last act would have been passed.  Later in the morning he suffered with pains in the region ofhis heart.  The attack came on violently and Dr. W. S. Powell was summoned. After dinner, the pain became worse and he lingered in a comatose condition until death relieved him.  The wandering spirit was released and ascended to the tabernacle of love and rest in the more purer regions above.  Twenty-five years ago, the deceased suffered an attack of paralysis.  Since then he has had more frequent attacks with his heart.

Judge Perkey was a man possessing more than human kindness.  His conception of life was broad.  He loved the free air which all mankind breathes.  He loved to live, and lived to love.  His existence alone was one sybolic of forgiveness, kindness and gentle heartedness.  As he grew older, he seemed to take in the whole world. Everybody was loved by him and he in return loved life so dearly..."

(Here his life history was repeated).

In conclusion,
"The judge had a commanding figure which added grace and dignity to his bearing.  He was a member of the G.A.R. and a Master Mason.  The members of the former will turn out at the funeral which will occur Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Lewis residence on Holgate ave.  Rev. E. D. Whitlock, assisted by Dr. Pope, of VanWert, a warm personal friend of the deceased, will conduct the service.  The remains will be interred in Riverside Cemetery."

 

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)










 





















(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)