Stephen Samuel Perry
Encyclopedia
Stephen Samuel Perry managed Peach Point Plantation
, and is credited with amassing and preserving significant historical manuscripts related to Texas history.
Peach Point Plantation is an official historic landmark of Texas located in Jones Creek, but from 1830s through the Civil War, Peach Point was an agricultural business located in Jones Creek. Peach Point was also the place Stephen F. Austin
called home.
As proprietor of Peach Point Plantation, Stephen S. was responsible for agricultural planning, together with financial and legal decisions related to the business as well as the homestead. Stephen S. was advised by Mordello Munson. Stephen S. opted to focus on sugar can growth in the 1850s.
In the process of decades of responsible management and communication, Stephen S. received and cataloged original source papers and manuscripts of early Texas history.
As described by the library catalog, "Papers of Perry and his son Stephen Samuel Perry and their extended families cover significant events in Texas history from the early years of colonization up to the twentieth century. Collection relates to Stephen F. Austin's land holdings, James Franklin Perry's mercantile business and other family-related business enterprises, the establishment and operation of Peach Point Plantation, and the daily concerns of paternalistic slaveholders who found it difficult to make ends meet raising cotton, corn, and sugar; to educate their children where there were no public schools; and to handle chronic health problems. The papers accentuate the contrast between life in various sections of the United States since the Perrys traveled for business, health reasons, and pleasure; attended schools in Ohio, Connecticut, and Virginia; and corresponded with and visited relatives in the northeast as well as Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri."
The "James F." in the title refers to James Franklin Perry
, second husband to Emily Austin Perry
.
, of Austin College, the official Historian of the State of Texas at the time of this writing, points out that despite her important participation in and contributions to Texas history, there is no collection of letters archived under Emily's name; rather, the collection archived in the 1930s was titled for her husband and son, "the James F. and Stephen S. Perry Papers." Cummins, who has reviewed the papers housed at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin
, notes that this collection includes "as much of Emily's letters, documents, and papers as those of her husband and son." Cumins points out that the archive was named in 1930s, and were they named under archiving standards in 2009, they would very likely instead have been called, "The James and Emily Austin Perry Papers."
, and grandson to Moses Austin
and Maria Brown Austin, and nephew of Stephen F. Austin
. Stephen is the half-brother of Guy Morrison Bryan, William Joel Bryan
and Moses Austin Bryan
. Stephen attended school taught by Thomas J. Pilgrim
.
Stephen married Sarah McLean Brown (September 18, 1830 - August 4, 1888) on April 5, 1853. Sarah was born in Delaware, Ohio
and died at Peach Point Plantation. Sarah's parents were H.J.L. and R. P. Brown. Sarah is also buried at Gulf Prairie Cemetery. Stephen and Sarah had a child named James Franklin Perry on July 29, 1854. James Franklin Perry married Catherine H. Morris (February 20, 1855 - January 25, 1935). James and Catherine had three children including a distinct person named "Stephen Samuel Perry" who also managed Peach Point Plantation.
Peach Point was virtually destroyed in a variety of storms including hurricanes such as in 1909.
Though the Hurricane of 1900 and the Grand Isle Hurricane of 1909 destroyed many structures at the Plantation, two of these oak trees (quercus virginiana) still survive in the present era.
Stephen Samuel Perry is buried at Gulf Prairie Cemetery
located in Jones Creek, Texas.
Peach Point Plantation
Peach Point Plantation was the homestead and domicile of early Texas settlers Emily Austin Perry, James Franklin Perry, William Joel Bryan Stephen F. Austin, and Guy Morrison Bryan...
, and is credited with amassing and preserving significant historical manuscripts related to Texas history.
Peach Point Plantation is an official historic landmark of Texas located in Jones Creek, but from 1830s through the Civil War, Peach Point was an agricultural business located in Jones Creek. Peach Point was also the place Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
called home.
As proprietor of Peach Point Plantation, Stephen S. was responsible for agricultural planning, together with financial and legal decisions related to the business as well as the homestead. Stephen S. was advised by Mordello Munson. Stephen S. opted to focus on sugar can growth in the 1850s.
In the process of decades of responsible management and communication, Stephen S. received and cataloged original source papers and manuscripts of early Texas history.
James F. and Stephen S. Perry Papers
Named in part for Stephen Samuel Perry, whose grandson by exactly the same name donated them, one of the key sets of historical accounts of early Texas history is kept at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. These are called the James F. and Stephen S. Perry Papers, 1785-1942. Stephen Samuel Perry maintained extensive records of communications related to the management of not only the plantation, but also land deeds, growth, and the very settlement of Texas in the 1800s. In fact, the archives and manuscripts presented to the school were so extensive that they are officially measured as 13 feet, 9 inches in width. In fact, virtually all books related to Stephen F. Austin or settlement of Texas footnote or reference the James F. and Stephen S. Perry Papers.As described by the library catalog, "Papers of Perry and his son Stephen Samuel Perry and their extended families cover significant events in Texas history from the early years of colonization up to the twentieth century. Collection relates to Stephen F. Austin's land holdings, James Franklin Perry's mercantile business and other family-related business enterprises, the establishment and operation of Peach Point Plantation, and the daily concerns of paternalistic slaveholders who found it difficult to make ends meet raising cotton, corn, and sugar; to educate their children where there were no public schools; and to handle chronic health problems. The papers accentuate the contrast between life in various sections of the United States since the Perrys traveled for business, health reasons, and pleasure; attended schools in Ohio, Connecticut, and Virginia; and corresponded with and visited relatives in the northeast as well as Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri."
The "James F." in the title refers to James Franklin Perry
James Franklin Perry
James Franklin Perry was an early settler and prominent citizen of Texas. James married Emily Austin Perry, operated Peach Point Plantation, and was involved in Texas land distribution.-Life:...
, second husband to Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry was an early settler of Texas and sole heir to Stephen F. Austin. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women often were not equal to men.-Early life:...
.
James and Emily Austin Perry Papers
Professor of History, Light Townsend CumminsLight Townsend Cummins
Light Townsend Cummins, born 1946, is an educator and historian. He is the Bryan Professor of History at Austin College in Sherman, Texas and is also the official State Historian of Texas.-Education:...
, of Austin College, the official Historian of the State of Texas at the time of this writing, points out that despite her important participation in and contributions to Texas history, there is no collection of letters archived under Emily's name; rather, the collection archived in the 1930s was titled for her husband and son, "the James F. and Stephen S. Perry Papers." Cummins, who has reviewed the papers housed at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, notes that this collection includes "as much of Emily's letters, documents, and papers as those of her husband and son." Cumins points out that the archive was named in 1930s, and were they named under archiving standards in 2009, they would very likely instead have been called, "The James and Emily Austin Perry Papers."
Family
Stephen is the son of James F. Perry and Emily Austin PerryEmily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry was an early settler of Texas and sole heir to Stephen F. Austin. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women often were not equal to men.-Early life:...
, and grandson to Moses Austin
Moses Austin
Moses Austin played a large part in the development of the American lead industry and is the father of Stephen F. Austin, a leading American settler of Texas. He was the first to be allowed to gather Anglo Americans for settlement in Spanish Texas...
and Maria Brown Austin, and nephew of Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
. Stephen is the half-brother of Guy Morrison Bryan, William Joel Bryan
William Joel Bryan
William Joel Bryan was a Texas soldier and land owner.Bryan was born at Hazel Run in Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri to James Bryan and Emily Austin Perry. He attended school at Potosi, Missouri until 1830. In 1831, William Joel Bryan's mother and stepfather James Franklin Perry followed...
and Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Austin Bryan was an early settler of Texas. Moses served as Secretary for his uncle, Stephen F. Austin.-Family:...
. Stephen attended school taught by Thomas J. Pilgrim
Thomas J. Pilgrim
Thomas Jefferson Pilgrim started the first school in Texas. The town of Pilgrim, Texas is named for Thomas J. Pilgrim. Thomas was born to Thomas and Dorcas Pilgrim, in East Haddam, Connecticut. Thomas attended the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institute at Colgate University...
.
Stephen married Sarah McLean Brown (September 18, 1830 - August 4, 1888) on April 5, 1853. Sarah was born in Delaware, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
and died at Peach Point Plantation. Sarah's parents were H.J.L. and R. P. Brown. Sarah is also buried at Gulf Prairie Cemetery. Stephen and Sarah had a child named James Franklin Perry on July 29, 1854. James Franklin Perry married Catherine H. Morris (February 20, 1855 - January 25, 1935). James and Catherine had three children including a distinct person named "Stephen Samuel Perry" who also managed Peach Point Plantation.
Storm, Structures, and Trees
With the birth of each of his children, Stephen Samuel Perry planted an oak tree on the property.Peach Point was virtually destroyed in a variety of storms including hurricanes such as in 1909.
Though the Hurricane of 1900 and the Grand Isle Hurricane of 1909 destroyed many structures at the Plantation, two of these oak trees (quercus virginiana) still survive in the present era.
Death
Stephen Samuel Perry was born June 24, 1825 in Potosi, Missouri and died September 5, 1874 in Brazoria, Texas.Stephen Samuel Perry is buried at Gulf Prairie Cemetery
Gulf Prairie Cemetery
Gulf Prairie Cemetery is located in Jones Creek, Texas, off State Highway 36 and County Road 304 and was the original resting place of Stephen F. Austin. While Austin's remains were later moved to Austin, Texas, the ceremonies and details related to this transfer , are recorded in a book by Guy...
located in Jones Creek, Texas.
Further reading
- Marie Beth Jones, Peach Point Plantation: The First 150 Years (Waco: Texian Press, 1982), ISBN 0963004204.
- James Franklin and Stephen Samuel Perry Papers, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. E. W. Winkler, ed.