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The Peery family

      Alexander Townsend Peery, retired banker and civic leader, died at the 
   family residence here Monday night at 6:45 o'clock, following a sudden 
   attack of pneumonia.  He had been in ill health for about ten years and had 
   been bed-ridden for two years, invalided as the result of four strokes of 
   paralysis suffered during the decade.
      Prior to his illness, Mr. Peery played an important part in Eupora's 
   civic, social, religious and business life. Business men regarded him as an 
   astute banker and his counsel was often sought in the early business 
   activity which witnessed Eupora's initial recognition as an agricultural 
   trading center.
      He began his business career in Winona where he served as office deputy 
   under his father, John Peery, who was sheriff of Montgomery county. Later he 
   was employed by the Bank of Winona from whence he went to the Grenada Bank 
   at Grenada. In 1905 he was appointed cashier of the Bank of Eupora and later 
   organized the Merchants & Farmers Bank here serving that institution as 
   cashier until it was merged with the Bank of Eupora. Following this, for a 
   number of years he was in the insurance business here. He served one term as 
   treasurer of Webster county; for a number of years was on the board of 
   trustees of Eupora schools, and was a member of the local board of aldermen 
   for four years.
      He was a member of Eupora Methodist Church and served many years as 
   treasurer of the Board of Stewards.
      Mr. Peery was born at Stewart March 5, 1879, son of John Peery. His 
   grandfather was William B. Peery, major of cavalry in the Confederate army 
   and owner of a large plantation which embraced much of the land lying along 
   Big Black River in both Webster and Montgomery counties.
      Funeral services were held at the residence Wednesday afternoon at 2 
   o'clock, the Rev. E. G. Mohler, his pastor, conduction, assisted by the Rev. 
   J. B. Middleton, Baptist pastor. Burial was made in Eupora cemetery.
      Survivors in his immediate family are: His widow, Mrs. Clyde Hester 
   Peery; three daughters, Mrs. Ned Lee, Eupora, Mrs. L. A. Clayton, Eupora, 
   and Mrs. F. P. McElwrath, Jr., Harlingen, Texas; two sons James Robert 
   Peery, Eupora, and Allison Peery, Eupora; and one brother, Henry D. Peery of 
   Eupora.

John R. Peery, nominee for Sheriff, is one of nature's noblemen. Always good natured, pleasant and agreable, he has won an enviable place in the esteem and confidence of the people generally, by whom he is regarded as a true and good friend. He was born near Mayfield (Jim Evans would say "near Mulberry creek") May 13, 1851, and has lived in this county all his life.

Clipping from the WINONA TIMES - Dec. 12, 1895

Negro Killed - Mack Price, a negro from Choctaw county, was making himself quite ugly yesterday afternoon, drawing his knife on several other negroes, and threatening to cut them. One of the negroes thus threatened reported the matter to Deputy Sheriff John Peery, calling on him to arrest the negro. Mr. Peery told the negro that he was an officer, and to consider himself under arrest, when the negro made a plunge at him with the knife; whereupon Mr. Peery drew his pistol and shot the negro twice, killing him instantly. He was clearly justified in thus protecting his own life.

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