lected as the first senator from the new district, which embraces the manufacturing centre of the state, whose leading corporation has given its name to the district, and to the successful service of which corporation Mr. Perry has devoted the best energies of his life. A native of the state of Rhode Island, the son of Geo. C. Perry, a farmer of South Kingston in that state, born Aug. 5, 1818, he spent his early life in his native state, his educational advantages being such as the common school afforded. In early youth he entered the service of a manufacturing establishment, and has been for over forty-eight years engaged in cotton manufacturing and in the building of machinery, residing at Providence until twenty-three years ago, when, in November, 1856, he came to Manchester and engaged in the service of the Amoskeag corporation as superintendent of the manufacturing department, which position he has holden to to the present time, contributing in a large degree, through his sound judgment and superior executive ability, to the prosperity of that great corporation. Mr. Perry, although devoting himself without reserve to the onerous duties of his position as superintendent of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company's Mills, has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen, has taken a strong interest in public affairs in the city of his adoption, and has been called into service under the city government as a member of the school committee and of the Board of Aldermen. He also efficiently represented his ward in the legislature in 1875 and again in 1876, and there as in the senate this year, proved himself a safe and practical conservator of the public interests. He served upon the Senate Committee on Finance, Elections and Manufactures.
Mr. Perry was married in 1837 to Miss Nancy A. Shrieve, who died in December, 1874. By her he had eight children, five of whom died in infancy. The surviving children are Hon. Geo. T. Perry, m. d., of Natick, R. I., surgeon of the Rhode Island State Prison and State Farm; Mrs. William A. Champlain, of Providence, and William A. Perry, clerk in the office of the Amoskeag Co., at Manchester. Mr. Perry worships with the Second Congregational church at Manchester, and is a member of Lafayette Lodge I. O. O. F., and Trinity Commandery of that city.
William H. Shepard, of the Londonderry Senatorial District, No. twenty, was born in the town of Holderness, in this state, May 16, 1819, his father being William B. Shepard, a farmer. He spent his early life upon the farm, and obtained a good English education in the common schools and at Plymouth Academy. Not content with such opportunities for advancement as his native place afforded he went, in youth, to Massachusetts, where he succeeded in making his way in life prosperously, as many a New Hampshire youth has done. He engaged in woolen manufacturing and was for a long time superintendent and purchasing agent for a Lawrence manufacturing company. In 1869, after thirty-three years of successful labor in the Bay State, he returned to New Hampshire, and established his residence in the town of Derry, where he purchased a large farm, and has since devoted himself to rural pursuits, making a specialty of fruit and vegetables, of which he produces a larger and finer variety than is often found in this or any other New England state. Since his residence in Deny Mr. Shepard has served the town upon the board of selectmen and in the legislature for the years 1875 and 1876, giving eminent satisfaction in each position, as has also been the case in his senatorial service this year. He served upon the committees on Towns, Education, and Roads, Bridges and Canals. Mr. Shepard was married in Dec, 1 841, to Miss Anna E. Johnson, daughter of D. A. R. Johnson, of Springfield, N. H., by whom he had three children, one dying in infancy. One son, Edgar H. Shepard, was a member of the 18th Reg. N. H. V., and died in Concord in 1865. The remaining son is now a farmer at Derry.
