There is no doubt that George A. Perrings, of Carlinville, has
fighting blood in his veins. He is a son of a Civil war veteran and was
a soldier himself in the Spanish-American war. He never shirks anything
which he regards as his duty and thus he has developed a steadfastness
of character which is one of the most important qualities any human
being can possess.
He was born in Polk township March 19, 1870,
a son of Charles and Ruby (Snell) Perrings, both of whom are natives of
Jersey county, Illinois. The father continued with his parents until he
was twenty-six years of age and then enlisted in Company D, Thirty-third
Illinois Infantry. He went to the front with his regiment and took part
in many of the great battles and important engagements of the war. He
was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg, but not seriously and continued
in the army until the close of the Rebellion. He was married in his
native county and engaged in farming on his own account there for one
year, after which he came to Macoupin county and located on land in Polk
township which he cleared and improved. He has been very successful in
his calling and now owns two hundred acres, a large part of which is
under a high state of cultivation. In his family were four children,
three of whom survive.
George A. Perrings, the eldest of the
living children of his parents, was reared in Macoupin county and
attended the district schools until 1888, when he entered the public
schools of Carlinville. Subsequently he attended the Western Normal
College at Bushnell, Illinois, and after completing his studies at this
institution returned home and assisted his father in various operations
on the home place. In 1898 he offered his services to the government and
was accepted as a member of Company I, Fifth Illinois Infantry, which
was recruited for the Spanish-American war. He served for four months
and seventeen days and proved an efficient and reliable soldier. After
peace was declared he received an honorable discharge and engaged in
farming in his native county.
He has from the time of reaching
manhood been actively interested in public affairs and served for two
years as township clerk of Polk township. He became a candidate for
county coroner and made a spirited canvass, but was defeated by a narrow
margin of five votes. In 1909 he gave up farming and engaged as a
carpenter and bridge builder, a trade which he had learned earlier in
life. In 1910 he was appointed deputy sheriff of the county, a position
which he now holds. He is unmarried and makes his home at the Central
Hotel. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., of
Springfield, and also with the Court of Honor. In politics he gives his
support to the democratic party and his religious faith is indicated by
membership in the Methodist church. Being a man of courage, energy and
persistence, Be has made a host of friends in the county, who have
perfect faith in his ability to discharge most creditably any duty he
undertakes to perform.
Extracted 20 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 191-192.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022