(Rock Island Argus - November 14, 1903)

Perry M. Cheney, one of the substantial pioneers of Rock Island county, died yesterday at his home in Rural township, aged 77 years.

Mr. Cheney was born in Clarke, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1826. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cheney, the former serving in the war of 1812 as a member of a Kentucky regiment. The father died in Logan county, Ohio, in 1836, and some years after the widow and her six children came to Rock Island county to locate, settling here in 1848.

Deceased received his education in the public schools, and had always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. At his death he was the owner of several hundred acres of fine land in Rural township.

Mr. Cheney is survived by his widow and one son. The funeral is to take place from the residence at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon.

He stood high in estimation of the people of his township and throughout the county, having served as town assessor, highway commissioner, school director and in other capacities. Mr. Cheney was united in marriage in Rural Jan. 12, 1871, with Miss Elizabeth C. Simmon.

(Excerpt from the Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock Island County, Illinois; 1885)

"Perry M. Cheney, who is a farmer on section 22, Rural Township, is a son of John and Hannah (Valentine) Cheney. His father was a native of Maryland, and his mother of New Jersey, and supposed to be of Irish and French ancestry. His father served in the War of 1812, in a Kentucky regiment. They married and settled in Champaign Co., Ohio, and removed thence to Logan Co., same State, where he died Feb. 29, 1836. The widow afterward came with her family of six children to this county. She died in Rural Township, Feb. 24, 1876. All her children numbered n, and were named Mary A., William C, Edward J., Joanna, Nelson W., Lafayette, Perry M., Francis M., Jane, Sarah A. and John M.

Mr. Cheney, the subject of this notice, was born in Clarke Co., Ohio, Aug. 25, 1826. He received his education in the public school, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He came to Rock Island County in October, 1848, with his mother and her other children, settling in Rural Township, where he has since resided. He is now the owner of 281 acres of land in that township, and most of his ground is in a good state of cultivation, furnished with good buildings, etc. Mr. Cheney has held the offices of Township Assessor four years, Highway Commissioner three years, and School Director. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.

Mr. Cheney was united in marriage, in Rural Township, Jan. 12, 1871, with Miss Elizabeth C, daughter of Peter and Catherine E. Simmon. She was born in Pennsylvania, April 24, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. C. have become the parents of one child, Dewitt C, who was born May 12, 1872."