Wilford P Perry

"Friends and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Perry, well known Provo residents, are invited to call at their home, 495 North Eighth West street Sunday, from 8 to 6 o'clock, at which time the couple's golden wedding anniversary will be celebrated. The Perrys are the parents of four children, three sons living, as follows: W. Milton, Darwin H, and Philip S. Perry of Provo. Their daughter, Mrs. Reva M. Stewart, died six years ago. They have 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs Perry have been in the seed business for years and have made many friends. Mr. Perry was born April 14, 1871 in Provo the eighth child of Philander J, and Arvilla Pratt Perry, who crossed the plains in a hand cart company in 1852. He has lived here all his life. He was a carpenter as a youth, working on the B.Y.U. Educational building, the Utah State hospital and many business and residential houses here. During the depression of 1892-93 he commenced to study the seed business and in 1894, he opened a store at his home. In 1898, he located on Center street and added groceries and garden tools, the business continuing to grow for several years. He purchased some ground and erected the building now occupied by the Provo heater(?), and after selling this building he retired from all lines except the seed and plant business, now located at his home. Mrs. Agnes Harding Perry, who has assisted her husband in the seed business, was born in Trowbridge, England, Dec. 24, 1871. She is the daughter of William and Carolyn Harding, converts to the L.D.S. church. She came to Utah in 1881, with her parents. Among the many positions in the church held by Mrs. Perry was membership in the Stake Relief Society choir in the Third ward, and later, in the Pioneer ward, where she was chorister for 15 years. She has sung in ward choirs since she was 14 years of age and is still a member of the Singing Mothers. She was a classleader for nine years and has been a Relief Society teacher for 30 years." Typed from clipping photocopy - submitted by Alan Perry Heal

Headline: Brief Illness Claims Life of Wilford Perry, 83. Wilford Perry, 83, retired Provo businessman, died at his home, 616 N. 800 W. Friday following a brief illness. He was born April 14, 1871 in Provo, a son of Philander J. and Arvilla Pratt Perry. He spent his life in Provo, receiving his education at Provo schools and graduating at Brigham Young Academy. Mr. Perry married Agnes Harding Jan. 26, 1892. She died Feb. 20, 1949, and on Jan. 25, 1950 he was married to Ruth Taylor of Payette, Ida. He was a weaver at one time in the Knight Wollen Mills, and as a carpenter he worked on the BYU, Utah State Hospital and the Geneva Resort. In 1894 he organized the Provo Seed and Grocery business, which he operated until 1947. He was a lover of flowers and an authority on seeds and the seed culture. Mr. Perry was an elder in the Rivergrove Second LDS Ward and secretary of the elders' quorum of the Pioneer Ward. Besides his wife he is survived by three sons. Milton W, Darwin H., and Philip S. Perry, all of Provo; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be in the Berg Drawing Room Chapel Tuesday at 1 p.m., in charge of Bishop Wesley Carter. Friends may call at the mortuary Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and in the chapel prior to the services. Interment will be in Provo City Cemetery. Source: Daily Herald March 20, 1955 - microfilm copy in Provo City Library.