Transcribed by Karen Martin

Then, about the year 1864 my father married the third time. His third wife was Elizabeth Lucy Perry, whose home was near Chestnut Bluff in the lower part of the Crockett County. My mother was born June 29, 1829 and died march 30, 1883. Father was born May 4,1814 and died October 3, 1896. To this union five children were born. They were Robert Perry, Oct 22, 1865; Molly Euzera, September 11, 1867; Bentley, December 15, 1868(died when a small boy); Charley Buck, April 15, 1870; Martha Clemenda, December 17, 1871.

Robert P. married Kate Savage, Jackson, Tennessee, on October 1, 1895. Molly married B.J. Gilman, Halls, Tennessee. Charley Buck married Mary Howard in McNairy County, Tennessee. Martha C. married Edward B. Perry, a second cousin, Halls, Tennessee.

Our mother, Elizabeth Lucy Perry, came from an old English-Welch family, and it was a Baptist family. I know very little of her ancestry except that her father was named Robert. My mother had five brothers which I know of and one sister. William Perry, a Baptist preacher, was at one time connected with Union University at Murfreesboro. His wife was an Everett and he had four children- Dr. Robert Perry, a prominent physician of Key West Florida; Lizzie, a school teacher and who never married; Josie, also a teacher but as an old maid married a prominent doctor in Milan, Tennessee, Dr. Jordan and cousin Josie both died in Nashville, Tennessee. Then there was Uncle Felix. I remember seeing him once but know nothing of his family. I think Paschal was killed in the war in the Confederate Army. I remeber Laban and his wife , Aunt Sally. They left a son, cousin Leban, whose family I know of. Uncle Franklin Perry lived  and died near Chestnut Bluff. For many years he was a Deacon and Clerk of South Fork Church. He was a most lovable man and a fine citizen. He and his wife and eldest son died within a few days of each other with Typhoid fever. Of his children, the eldest, May, maaied a Ginn and now lives in Jackson, Tennessee. Minnie married  a Lassiter near Rutherford, Tennessee, and she died not long ago.She leaves some noble sons. Lucy also married in the same community as Minnie and also Wille. Sam went to California years ago abd I understand did well. Isaac, the youngest boy, lives in Trenton, Tennessee. He has been a County Court Clerk, clerk of Gibson County Association, and an outstanding citizen and a fine Christain man. Margarett was a baby. When her parents died, cousin Josie Jordan took her as a daughter and she still lives in Nashville. For a nimber of years she held a very responsible position with the Sunday School Board. Aunt Jennie, mother's only sister, married Henry Nunn, near Chestnut Bluff. They had no children. She was a beautiful women and we loved her very tenderly, because she was so kind and gentle.

Back to the Mahon family. My father and mother were religious in a very practical way. In our home we were taught to reverence God. His name and His Day. We were reared in a modest home, with plenty to eat and plenty to wear. We had good associates and our parents were loved and honored in the community. Father was a deacon in the Baptist Church, Johnson's Grove, and an ardent Mason. My mother sympathized with him in his devotion to his Lodge.

Some of our familt traits are: (1) Rugged individualism. They did their own thinking, religiously and politically. Some were pro-slavery, some abolitionists. After the war some were Republicians and some were Democrates; some where Baptists and some Methodists. (2) All men and women were great lovers of hpme and their fa,ilies, and in consequence there were no broken homes among them. (3) All high tempered and implusive, but like the Irsih they did not harbor resentment. They were generous and I never knew a Mahon who loved money inordinatley. (4) Outspoken and fearless. They never "went with the crowd"; they dared to stand alone. All had a sence of humor and loved a good joke. (5) All religiously inclined but despised piosity or sham. They never produced big business men, were not traders, made good farmers, but turned more to the profession, especially law and ministry. Physically, they were usually tall and straight with a military bearing; not fleshy but sinewy and of great endurance, industrious and alert. They were all men and women of decision. Theur motto might have been, "Get in or Get out."

Some of the family traits of the Perry family are: Comin from English-Welsh stock they were all religous, quite, industrious, also great lovers of home and loyal to their families. Physically they were rather stocky, not tall and more stout in their build. They were industrious and frugal and knew how to get along. As a race they were good looking, both men and women, and were well fashioned and attractive.

Note: Let me say that Uncle Bentley Mahon moved to Texas in the early days and left a family. One son was named Bently and he had a family. I know nothing of their whereabouts,whether living or dead.

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2000-2001-2002 Karen Martin