Action is the keynote of the character of all who achieve success on this
planet of ours - action subtilly planned and carefully carried out. The
successful life story of the subject of this sketch is a case in point,
being one of a determined struggle for a definite purpose.
He is now
comfortably established on his farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he
has wrested from a resisting nature and improved year by year, and which
through his efforts is now as good land as Richland county contains.
He was born in November 1857, a short distance from Waverly, in Ross county,
Ohio, and was the son of David O. and Frances Sayre. His mother, whose
maiden name was Lee, belonged to an old Virginia family. His father came at
an early age from Virginia with his parents, who settled on a farm in Ross
county. Here he assisted his parents on the farm until his marriage with
Perry's mother, at which time he purchased a farm of forty acres in the same
county. There Perry was born and there his life was spent until the family,
including the grandparents, who also wished to come further afield, migrated
to Illinois. As no railroad communication was established at the time the
itinerary was made overland, the tedious journey was not performed without a
mishap, however, for in the accidental breakdown of a light wagon
Grandmother Sayre sustained injuries from which she never completely
recovered. The two families finally landed in Jasper county, Illinois, where
they bought farms and settled in the vicinity of Newton, Perry being then in
his seventh year. Shortly afterwards his grandfather and grandmother passed
away, the space of three or four weeks only separating their demise. They
were buried near Newton. In the spring of 1865 - the following year - his
parents sold their property and removed once more. Claremont township,
Richland county, was the destination on this occasion. Here the parental
farm consisted of forty acres which continued to increase until it comprised
one hundred and twenty-eight acres. The land they settled was mostly
unimproved. At first the buildings thereon consisted of a small log house
and stable, and only eight acres had been cleared for cultivation. Clearing
the land, making important improvements and building a substantial homestead
were the occupations of the following years, a period in which the youthful
Perry underwent a strenuous apprenticeship.
The subject of our sketch
is the third member of a family of four children. The other members living
are Ellen and Henry Clinton. Another brother, named Harrison, died a few
years ago. On February 5, 1900, his father died at the age of seventy-two.
The family burial lot at Antioch contains the remains of his father and
brother. His mother is still alive, being in her seventy-fourth year and
enjoying good health.
Perry had two uncles who saw active service in
the Civil war, each one sacrificing his life for the Union cause. Their fate
was very sad. One languished as a prisoner of war in Salisbury prison, where
he was allowed to starve to death; the other was killed in battle. Both
served in Ohio regiments, and in General Grant's division.
We have
already touched upon his mother's antecedents. She was born in 1834, and
like her husband, came to Ohio from Virginia with her parents in early life.
Her mother died in 1885 and her father in 1890. She was the fourth eldest of
a family of nine children - three boys and six girls. Her eldest brother
also is a Civil war veteran.
Perry remained with his parents on the
farm up to the time of his marriage to Amanda E. Chaplain on September 9,
1882, when he moved onto the farm he now occupies. The property had then a
very primitive appearance. It boasted a log cabin and the land around was
almost totally uncleared. The soil was marshy and in the springtime it
closely resembled a frog-pond. Then it was that Perry Sayre performed by far
the most strenuous work of his life. He cleared, drained and ditched the
land. In time he was repaid for his efforts. It became as good a farm as any
in the vicinity. An instance of his industriousness at this period may not
be amiss. In wintertime when farm work was at a standstill he cut and made
railroad ties and fence posts, etc., selling the posts at three cents and
the ties at twenty-eight cents a piece. In the course of time he built a
substantial frame structure wherein he still lives. Each year has seen
improvements, which go to make his the home of a prosperous farmer.
His family life has been happy. Two of his children have grown to maturity,
the only other dying in early life. His two sons, Clarence and Roy, live in
St. Louis, where they are skilled workmen, and a constant source of comfort
and satisfaction to their parents on the farm in Illinois.
Mrs. Perry
Sayre was the daughter of Perry and Ellen Chaplin, Ohio folk, who came to
Illinois in the year 1851. Her mother died some years ago, but her father
still survives at the age of seventy-five. She is the fifth in order of
succession of a family of ten children, six of whom grew to maturity. In the
regular order her living sisters and brothers are: Otis O., Milton F., Nanna
B., Ellen and Curtis.
Outside of agricultural pursuits, Mr. Sayre is
a good business man. As a boy he attended the Claremont common schools,
attending whenever possible until his twentieth year, and receiving all the
education that the institution could give him.
Rutherford B. Hayes
was the first President for whom he voted. Though not aggressive in politics
he takes a passing interest in the game, and when election time comes he is
always found solidly Republican. In the spring elections of 1908 - pressure
being brought to bear upon him to come forward as a candidate. He did so and
came within a vote of being elected Township Supervisor of Claremont.
Strange to say he was himself responsible for his opponent's victory. He
chivalrously recorded his vote for him, thereby placing him in office by the
slender margin of one. Perry Sayre and his wife have been ever active in
Methodist church affairs.
Extracted 26 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 390-392.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
