Most long-time married couple can attest to the fact that eventually our lives join so completely that it is easier to tell the tale together.
In 1837,at the ages of nineteen-years-old and seveteen-years-old, Edwin and Lydia embarked on this life together as husband and wife.
In 1844, Edwin and Lydia brought their small family to White County, Indiana and settled in the Burnettsville area.
Here they began life as simple farmers, building their lives and family one day at a time.
During these young and innocent days of marriage, the Perry Family consisted of:
Edwin, Lydia, and their three small children;
Ellen (b. 1840, age 4)
Augustine (b. 1842, age 2)
Frank (b. 1844, infant)
By 1850, The Perry Family had grown to eight children;
Augustus – 1842
Francis – 1844
Plumea – 1845
Alfred – 1847
Alvin – 1850
Their farm in White County was successful and life was good!
In 1851, Edwin and Lydia were excitedly expecting their third daughter. Sadly, they were struck by an unexpected blow when their ten-month old infant, Ulvin, died on February 10, 1851 from an unknown cause.
Seven months later on September 10, 1852, their daughter, Samantha, was born.
Life seemingly resumed its normal pace and the Perry Family was quickly growing in all aspects.
According to Census records, Lydia’s family remained in Connecticut and New York.
However by this time, three of Edwin’s four siblings were living nearby and the entire family was prospering!
They were well-known in White County for their positions as prominent farmers, a reverered minister, a respected schoolteacher, original pioneers, and brave settlers of this new Hoosier territory.
Despite their success, heartache struck again when Samantha passed on October 13, 1853, barely more than one month after her first birthday.
Edwin and Lydia decided to move their family from their established farm in White County to Carroll County in order to start a new chapter.
Thus, The Brick House was built…
The year 1855 came in with a bang as the house plans came into full swing, as well as more baby news!
Lydia was now 35 years-old, but her body must have felt strong as multiple pregnancies and a long life were still before her.
Despite the significant losses and multiple pregnancies, she showed no signs of slowing down as she worked with Edwin to build their assets from one census to the next.
Birth records show that twin girls would be joining them the following October which means work would be divided between building the new farm and maintaining the White County farm. Luckily, we have a clue in the 1860 White County census as to how this feat was accomplished.
Charles Haines, Edwin’s brother-in-law, was listed as a Brick Contractor who was actively passing his trade to his sons. The Haines’ oldest son was training as his apprentice. The Haines Family’s tremendous levels of success could be seen in the parallel columns where their assets were listed compared to their neighbors. Charles Haines was a very wealthy man who made his living designing and building brick homes.
It only takes a little bit of imagination to connect Charles Haines to the building of the Brick House, however without proof, speculation is the best option available to us.
The original plot of land was an eighty-acre tract. This was a fairly common size plot of agricultural land in the 1850’s as communities encouraged settlers set down roots.
Shortly after Edwin acquired the property with the stunning view, masons began to pricely form each individual clay brick that would house Edwin and Lydia’s family. Each piece of wood was intentionally selected and purposely chosen from the land where the Brick House would stand.
The floors are quartersawn oak and the fireplace mantles are sanded hickory, made from the same trees that once stood on this hill. Each brick was hand formed and the mortar was made from Indiana limestone.
In 1856, the home was done and the Perry family moved in, but tragedy struck again when one of the twins died on September 20, 1856, she was 11 months old.
In five years, Edwin and Lydia lost three of their
nine children.
In 1857, Edwin and Lydia try once again
and they are blessed with a beautuful
baby boy, Dennis, on March, 28, 1858.
Dennis is the first Perry baby born in the Brick House, surely this was seen as a turning of the page on a rough season of life.
From 1858 until 1861, life continued on fairly calmly for the Perry Family.
According to Edwin’s inscription in the Perry Family Bible, it was during this period that his mother, Rainey “Irene” Patrick passed away.
As stout Abolitionists and people of strong religious convictions, the Perry’s served their community and hosted church in the upper floor of the Brick Home weekly. They shared their faith and life with those who needed them while still building their family and farming operations.
It had been 5 years since the final brick was laid, and
the drums of the Civil War began to echo across America.
Did Edwin and Lydia’s oldest son, Augustus, answer the call to serve?
Learn more about that HERE!
On September 14, 1862, Lydia gave birth to the last baby that would be born to she and Edwin.
A baby girl, Manerva, surely provided the mother’s heart a welcome distraction from the chaos of a nation at war with itself.
Sadly, this distraction was short lived…
Heartbreakingly, illness swept through the Brick House in March of 1863.
On March 3, 1863,
Emeline, the remaining twin died.
On March 5, 1863,
Dennis, the first Perry baby born in the Brick House died.
On March 11, 1863,
Manerva, the last Perry baby born in the Brick House died.
In 1866, Edwin and Lydia’s next loss came when their first born, Ellen, died at the age of 26.
The Reconstruction Era had begun, and America was moving forward.
On October 10, 1867, two years after at the completion of the war; A year and half after losing Ellen, Edwin and Lydia welcomed their first daughter-in-law when Augustus married Hannah Campbell.
Loss was common in those days,
especially in a territory only recently settled.
But, as I think of the loss of nine children out of eleven, my heart grieves for these parents.
The same closeness that paralleled Edwin’s relationship
with his sibings,
can be seen in the remaining three Perry siblings;
Augustus, Frank, and Plumea, who goes by Malinda.
The siblings start their own families,
but by 1880 they were all working the Perry Farms in White and Carroll Counties
and the combined 160 acres together.
Edwin and Lydia were starting
to approach their twilight years
and they allowed more and more of the management
of the White and Carroll County farms to go to each son.
It would appear around 1890 Augustus and Hannah moved into The Brick House and officially took over the management of the Carroll County farm while Frank leaned more into the White County property.
Edwin died on July 24, 1894 in the refuge of the Brick House,
surrounded by his wife and family.
Six years later, on December 18, 1901, Lydia also passed away at home due to pneumonia.
They had lived in the Brick House for 45 years, lost 9 children, loved one another for 57 years, and built a life of substance together after starting with next to nothing.
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