MARION COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
"P"
PERRY, Captain William - (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.
--Texas Atlas
PHILLIPS, Nelson - Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, he was born in Jefferson, Texas, May 3, 1873 and died March 31, 1939, the son of C E and Jennie Arrington Phillips. He was educated in the public schools of Hillsboro and Bingham School, North Carolina. Nelson read law at night while working for his father and later in the office of T S Smith, of Hillsboro, and afterwards the Attorney-General of Texas. He was admitted to the bar in 1895. Nelson was appointed District Judge Eighteenth Judicial District in 1904, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1912. Later in 1912 he was elected Associate Justice. In 1915 he was appointed Chief Justice, then in 1916 he was elected Chief Justice. He was re elected in 1918. Nelson resigned in 1921 to resume general practice. He was a Democrat and his law firm was Phillips & Phillips, with Nelson Phillips, Jr being a junior partner.
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