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Carlotta Perry
1840-1914
Watertown Gazette, 03 05 1914
Death of Miss Carlotta Perry
Word was received from
Chicago Wednesday afternoon announcing the death in that city of Miss Carlotta Perry,
a former resident of Watertown, but for a number of years residing in
Chicago. Miss Perry came to Watertown
with her parents when a little child and grew up to young womanhood here,
making many warm and lasting friendships among our people.
For a time she taught
in our public schools and she early developed a talent for writing short
stories and poems, many of which were published in the current magazines. In 1888 a collection of her poems was
published in book form. Of a bright,
sunny disposition she endeared herself to all who were fortunate enough to come
in close, personal contact with her.
Her view point of life
was optimistic as will be seen by a quotation from one of her poems:
“I would not even bid
the bounty back,
And if I died tonight
it would be mine
To feel no bitter, no
empty lack
In life, my cup has
had its wine.”
The funeral services
will be held in Chicago Friday morning and the funeral party will reach Watertown
at 3:11 p.m. over the C. M. & St. P. Ry. and the interment will be in Oak Hill
Cemetery, beside her parents. The
short service at the grave will be conducted by Rev. N. Carter Daniell.
Carlotta Perry:
Pen name of poet Charlotte Augusta Perry
Watertown Daily Times, 04/12/2000
Carlotta
Perry was the pen name of poet Charlotte Augusta Perry, who lived on the corner
of Jefferson and Second streets many years ago.
In 1850 when she was 11, her father and grandmother died of cholera. Between 1850 and the end of the 19th century,
Perry became a nationally known and much published poet. Although she was almost forgotten even before
her death in 1914, she was recognized for many years as a noted woman writer
and has left a legacy of rich, poignant poetry.
She
was a teacher in Watertown, but her writing career began in earnest in the
1860s when she began having pieces published in a La Crosse newspaper. In the 1870s, she began to work and write for
the Watertown Democrat. Sometime after she started writing, she took
the name Carlotta and was ever after published and referred to by that
name. Poetry was popular in her era and
the Watertown Democrat printed many
of Perry's poems as did other state newspapers and national literary
magazines. She also wrote essays and
children's literature, as well as news stories.
Recognition
of her poetry began to grow after she moved with her mother to Milwaukee
sometime before 1880. She wrote for the
Milwaukee Sentinel and was the center
of a well known group of women writers from Wisconsin. After her mother died, she moved to Chicago
and again taught. A book of her poems
was published in 1888. She did not write
for about the last 15 years of her life.
She
died on March 4, 1914, and was buried in the family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery,
but no headstone
marks her grave.
Carlotta Perry
1840-1914
Watertown
Wisconsin Centennial, 1854-1954, booklet
Carlotta
Perry was born in Union City, Mich., in the early forties. Her father's name
was William Reuben Perry, her mother's maiden name was Louisa M. Kimball. The
father was of Quaker descent; the mother of Scotch ancestry.
In her
early youth she taught school in or near Watertown. Later she left this employment for a field in
which she had a greater interest. She
began to write poems, essays, sketches and stories. They were sought out as she was herself as
subject matter for readings before schools, Literary Clubs and Societies.
Her
earliest writings were published anonymously in the La Crosse Republican and Leader. She at once won recognition and
later wrote for the Milwaukee papers. In
the 70's she was a well known contributor to Harper's, Lippincott's, Scribner's
and the Galaxy. When she had gained a
marked degree of success she and her mother moved to Milwaukee where she spent
nine years writings and in caring for her invalid mother.
She
died in 1914 after a lingering illness. Her remains were brought to Watertown
where without ceremony she was buried at her own request beside that of her
mother in Oak Hill cemetery. On one of her visits previously to her mother's
grave she composed a poem which is entitled "Her Happier Lot." In it she refers to
Oak Hill cemetery as "that strange city on the hill." Then she describes a scene from the cemetery
which is thought to be that of Watertown.
It follows in part:
Afar the river, like a thread
Of silver, poured and farther down
Lay fields that had been harvested;
And Autumn leaves, red, gold and brown,
Made earth a crown.
And farther still, a city
Men go about with smiling eyes,
The while their smiles great burdens
bear;
And mingled moans and songs and sighs
From pale lips rise.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin