Charles C. Perry  

1922 - Oct 25 - c. C. Perry of Indianapolis is storing his furniture here. His east side cottage will be rentirely rebuilt next spring.

Charles C. Perry Charles C. Perry, president of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company, has an interesting personal record. His father was one of the substantial men of Richmond, Indiana, but the son early showed an independence and self reliance which promoted him to earn his own spending money. He carried a city newspaper route while attending school, worked as a messenger boy for the Pittsbug, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway, and applied all his spare hours to the diligent use of a borrowed telegraph instrument and mastered telegraphy. Once on the pay roll as a regular operator, he showed a skill in handling the key and also an ability to take increasing responsibilities. He was eventually made manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Richmond, a position he filled from 1880 to 1884.

Mr. Perry came to Indianapolis in 1886 to represent the Jenny Electric Company, and his principal field of business activity has always been with something connected with electrical or public plants. In 1888 he became one of the financiers of the Marmon-Perry Light Company, and in 1892 was on of the chief promoters of the Indianapolis Light & Power Company, which since 1904 has been the Indianapolis Light & Heat Company. Of this important and local public utility Mr. Perry has been president and treasurer for a number of years.

He was born at Richmond in Wayne county December 15, 1857. His father, Dr. Joseph James Perry, was born and reared and received his professional education in Somersershire, England, where the family had lived for many generations. He came to America in 1840, practiced for ten years at Detroit, Michigan and in 1850 removed to Richmond, Indiana, which was his home until his death in 1872. During the Civil War he was appointed a surgeon of the Forty-second United States Infantry in 1864 and was with the command until mustered out. He was a very capable physician and surgeon and highly honored citizen of Richmond. He was prominent in religious affairs and was founder of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Richmond and filled some office in the organization until his death. His second wife was Miss Ruth Moffitt, who was boron at Richmond in 1821. Their only child is Charles C. Perry. The latter in addition to the advantages of the Richmond public schools attended Earlham College for a time. He is a member of the Board of Trade and the Commercial Club, the Columbia Club and has served as a trustee of the Indianapolis Young Woman's Christian Association. He married Miss Capitola Adams, daughter of T. J. Adams of Indianapolis.

Mr. Perry is a patriotic American, and a local publication recently paid him honor in its columns in commenting on his military work. The article was as follows:

"When Company C of the Indiana State Militia was organized recently, Charles C. Perry, president of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company, entered the ranks as a private in order that he might make an indelible impression upon the minds of his associates of the great necessity of obtaining a military education, especially at a time when this country is an epoch-making period.

Upon being asked, at a meeting last week, why a man engaged actively in business and with pressing duties should desire to take up military duty, he said: "I'll tell you, I am 60 years old, but the man doesn't live in this country, if he is every inch an American, whose blood doesn't boil in there days. No matter his age, he wants to fight. He should fight. I feel too, that no man's affairs are too big, too important that he can afford to stand aside when his county needs him. The head of the biggest corporation mustn't shirk responsibility when the boys under him aren't trying to.

Indiana and Indianans: a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood Chicago: American Historical Society, 1919, Dunn, Jacob Piatt, pg. 1686-7

---

Charles C. Perry. For nearly a quarter of a century, Charles C. Perry, of Indianapolis, has been connected with some form of electrical industries, and at the present time holds the place of president of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company. A native of Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, he was born December 15, 1857. His father was Dr. Joseph James Perry, long ranked among the notable physicians of Indiana. The family was long established in Somersetshire, England, where the doctor received his medical education. Coming to America in 1840, he first located at Detroit, Michigan, and for ten-years conducted a growing practice in that city. In 1850 he moved to Richmond, Indiana, where he remained until his death in 1872. During the period he served in the Civil War, being appointed as surgeon in 1864 in the Forty-second United States Infantry. He continued with that command until his regiment was mustered out, afterwards he returned to Richmond and resumed work of his profession. In his capacity as a religious member of the community, he was founder of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Richmond, and during the entire period of his residence in that city was an officer of the organization. The deceased was twice married, secondly to Miss Ruth Moffit, born at Richmond in 1821.

Charles C., the only child of the second marriage, was educated in the Richmond public schools and at the Earlham College of that place. At an early period in his boyhood he developed strong business talents, which first were demonstrated by his success as a vendor of city newspapers. His next venture was a messenger boy for the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago, & St. Louis Railway, and was soon diligently applying himself to the mastery of telegraphy. With this latter accomplishment he rose from one position to the other, until he reached the managership of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Richmond, retaining that position between the years 1880 to 1884. In 1886, Mr. Perry came to Indianapolis as representative of the Jenny Electric Company; in 1888 he became one of the financiers of the Marmon-Perry Light Company, and was also one of the organizers of the Indianapolis Light and Power company, in 1892, which is how known as the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company, since 1904. Of the latter he is now president and treasurer and perhaps the most active promoter. In politics he is s republican and is an active member of the Indianapolis Board of Trade and the Commercial and Columbia Clubs. He is also a trustee of the Y.W.C.A. Mr. Perry was married to Miss Capitola Adams, a daughter of T. J. Adams of Indianapolis.

Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910, Dunn, Jacob Piatt pg. 751-2

---

Indianapolis City Directory, 1889. Indianapolis, IN: R.L. Polk and Co., 1889

Name: Charles C Perry
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
Occupation: bkkpr
Year: 1889
Business Name: Jenney Electric Co
Location 2: r 72 W Ohio

---

Charles Coffin Perry was born at Richmond in Wayne county December 15, 1857 Death: 23 Sep 1924 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana buried SEP 25,1924 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana, A son of Dr. Joseph James Perry and Ruth Moffitt

Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011
Name: Charles C. Perry
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 66
Birth Date: 15 Dec 1857
Birth Place: Indiana
Death Date: 23 Sep 1924
Death Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Capatolia Perry
Father: Joseph J. Perry
Mother: Ruth Moffette

Charles married Capitola Adams Birth: 3 Feb 1872 : Indianapolis, Ind Death: 14 Apr 1960 ndianapolis, Marion, Indiana, buired APR 16,1960 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana, daughter of Thomas J. Adams and Laura Richey of Indianapolis.

Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011
Name: Capitola Adams Perry[Capitola Adams Adams]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 88
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1872
Birth Place: Indianapolis, Ind
Death Date: 14 Apr 1960
Death Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA
Marital Status: Widowed
Father: Thomas Adams
Mother: Laura Richey

Children: Norman Adams Perry born 11 Apr 1890 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana Feb 1964 - Broward, Florida

James A. Perry Birth Date: 3 Feb 1893 Marion County, Ind. Death: 26 Jun 1929

Perry, Ruth

Birth: 5 Jun 1896 Jun 1896 Death: 6 May 1982 married William Chenoweth Griffith

Clara Perry born abt. married --- Ream

Year: 1900; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 388; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0059 Name: Chas C Perry [Charles Perry]
Age: 42
Birth Date: Dec 1857
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1900: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Capitola Perry
Marriage Year: 1890
Years Married: 10
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Chas C Perry 42
Capitola Perry 28
Norman A Perry 9
James A Perry 7
Ruth Perry 3
Anna Petz 22 Servant
Sarah Mcnulty 30

Year: 1910; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana; Roll: T624_367; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 00 Name: Charles C Perry
Age in 1910: 51
Birth Year: abt 1859
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1910: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana
Street: North Meridian
House Number: 3145
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Capitola Perry
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: President
Industry: Light & Heat Co
Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Farm or House: House
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 19
Out of Work: N
Number of weeks out of work: 0
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles C Perry 51
Capitola Perry 38
James A Perry 17
Ruth Perry 13
Electa Richey 82
Caroline Gootemuller 22
Frannie Naylor 39
William Taylor 38

Year: 1920; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana; Roll: T625_452; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 80 Apply Close Name: Charles C Perry[Charles C Parry] Age: 62
Birth Year: abt 1858
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1920: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana
Street: meridian
House Number: 3145
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Capitola Perry
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: president
Industry: Lay D and Hoot G
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles C Perry 62
Capitola Perry 47
Ruth Perry 23[33]

Year: 1930; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 608; Page: 22A; Enumeration District: 0050 Name: Capetola Perry[Capitola Perry]
Birth Year: abt 1872
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Indiana
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: Meridion Street
Ward of City: 4
Block: 816
House Number in Cities or Towns: 2625
Dwelling Number: 369
Family Number: 427
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 240
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 18
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members: Name Age
Capetola Perry 58
Clara Ream 42

Year: 1940; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: T627_1123; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 96-74 Name: Capitola A Perry
Respondent: Yes
Age: 68
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Indiana
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Map of Home in 1940: View Map

House Number: 2625
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 12B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 318
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 265
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0