James Corliss Pearley, one of nine “Men” who came from Montpelier, Vermont in 1869 to buy land purported to be had at nominal prices. His mother, Sarah Silloway Perley (1924-1908) he chose 120 acres at $7.50 per acre. The Ridge of wooded hills near the East Nishnabotna River approximately three miles northwest of what later became Elliott reminded the Yankees of their Green Mountain Homes.
His great granddaughter, Grethel Petty, and her husband, Dene, lived there now and she is the fifth generation owner of the land, later added to by 60 acres.
Corliss (1853-1924) married Hattie Persons (1855-1937) daughter of Levi A. and Betsy Moore Persons, also Vermonters who came here a few years later than the others by the way of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The Perleys had one daughter, Ida May (Reynolds) (1876-1950); two sons, Dr. Edgar James Perley (1890-1968) and Delbert C. Perley (1897-1966).
Edgar married Maude Wight and their children are Faye Danielson Cooper (1911), Ojai, California; and Dr. N. J. Perley, Oakland veterinarian, (1914-1972). E. J. was a graduate of Creighton Dental School and practiced many years in Griswold. He and his second wife had a daughter, Mabelle Jean O’Connell (1920) Santee, California. His third wife, Angela Belding, still lives in Santa Barbara, California, where they went when he retired.
Delbert and Neta Hully Perley’s son, Francis (1924) lives in California. Delbert was in the C.B. & Q. Railroad, First National Bank, Elliott, and an Audubon Bank.
Dr. N. J. and Helen Humprey Perley’s daughter, Ann (1941) Polk City and Jane (1943) Mexico City. Ann and Richard Balzer have a daughter, Amy (1965) and a son, Dan (1967). Jane and Euardo Bonilla are parents of Maria Elena (1965); Euardo Lewis (1966); Ana Maria (1960); Juan Carlos (1971)