Perry, Captain William (1989)

(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.

Perry, Captain William is a historical marker in Jefferson, Marion County, dedicated in 1989. It is one of 94 historical markers documented in Marion County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 132 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.7558, -94.3457 near Jefferson. The nearest cataloged historic site is Excelsior House (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Jay Gould Railroad Car, Old U.S. Post Office and Courts Building, and Jefferson C.S.A..

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5315008076. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.