Oakwood Resident Dies On Thursday

Funeral Services to be Held Sunday For Hammond Perry

Hammond Perry, 65 years old, of Oakwood, died at 6:45 a.m., Thursday at his farm home. Mr. Perry was born in Oakland County on August 17, 1874, and for the exception of 11 years spent in Detroit, has always been a resident of this county, where he was a well respected farmer. He was the son of Andrew and Juliet Hammond Perry, and on May 9, 1900, he was united in marriage to Mable Groover, who survives him.

Woman Sent to Workhouse.

Mrs. Carry Perry-Rorick had the police court to herself yesterday morning. She was arraigned on a charge of intoxication and was fined $5 and costs. She was unable to pay the fine and was sent down to the workhouse for 10 ½ days. The Rorick woman, who was only recently married, is addicted to the booze habit and was arrested on the levee Thursday morning by Officer Tom Ryan. It was thought best to send her down to the workhouse and give her a chance to sober up.

Source: Quincy Daily Whig, October 7, 1911.

Cupid In Queer Role

THE LITTLE GOD OF HEART PUNCTURES LURES PAIR INTO A BEAR CAGE.

There is nothing new under the sun with little Dan Cupid, whoso caprices are as peculiar, occasionally, as they are persistent. Yesterday ho pulled off one of his most peculiar pranks. Charles Rorick, who runs a lunch stand on the levee, discovered that he had been captivated by Mrs. Carrie Pearce [sic], who is a character in certain circles and who is well known for her numerous adventures. Yesterday they decided they would celebrate the mutual feeling for each other with a wedding, and Justice Mays was called on. The pair wanted to be married in the bear cage in the rear of the Irish Village saloon, at Fifth and York streets, where a pet bear used to be kept. The justice refused and the couple consented to go to his office, where they were married. They returned to the saloon, however, and insisted that they be locked in the bear cage for a while. They were accommodated and for a few moments they amused their guests by appearing on dress parade in the bear cage. The festivities were brought to a close yesterday evening in the garden connected with the saloon, where some sixty guests assembled.

Source: Quincy Daily Journal, September 13, 1911.

Wedding Spectacle

The Ceremony Is Followed By Reception In A Beer Garden

Charles H. Rorick, proprietor of a lunch room and barber shop at 216 North Front street, was wedded yesterday afternoon to Mrs. Carrie Perry, the ceremony being performed by Judge James L. Mays.

The couple met earlier in the day and arranged for the wedding to be followed by a reception at Jack Brokamp’s summer garden, Fifth and York. It was a hilarious time that followed, the bridal couple being locked in the cage formerly occupied by Brokamp’s trained bear, while the guests sat around the table and drank beer and enjoyed the spectacle. Nothing like it had ever been seen in Quincy and possibly in other city, but the principals did not care and the spectators were not particular so long as they had a good time and the liquid refreshments were forthcoming.

In the early evening Rorick and his bride made their way to the levee and their humble quarters. A party of about sixty patrons of the saloon cheered them as they started away from the bear cage and the beer garden.

Source: Quincy Daily Herald, September 13, 1911.

Respected Citizen Dies Suddenly

Heart Trouble Claimed Life Long Resident of Oakwood

Ira Groover, a life long and highly respected resident of Oakwood died suddenly, Friday, August 17, 1928, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hammond Perry. Although Mr. Groover had been in poor health from heart trouble for the past year, his death came suddenly while setting in his rocking chair out on the veranda of the home.

Mr. Groover was born in New Jersey in 1853, and moved to Oxford township with his parents at an early age. He was united in marriage to Linnie Cady in Octorber [sic], 1877, to which union one daughter, Mable was born, who with two brothers, Charles, of Oakwood and Eugene, of Lapeer, survive.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, August 20th at 2:00 o’clock, from the daughter’s home. Rev. F.R. Walker, of Orion, officiated and burial was made in Oxford cemetery.

Source: Oxford Leader, August 24, 1928.

Obituary

Elias Denton Groover was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, Feb. 10th, 1849. He was one of a family of nine children, of whom the following brothers survive, George, Eugene, Ira, Sidney and Charles. He with his brother, Eugene, and nephew, Glenn, were associated in farming. He passed away at his late home near Lapeer March 5th following a three weeks’ illness of pneumonia.

Funeral services were held at the late home Saturday afternoon at 1:30, Rev. Walker, of Orion, officiating and burial was made at Oxford. The six nephews, Frank, Arthur, Levi, Fred and Glenn Groover and Hammond Perry, acted as pall bearers.

Source: Oxford Leader, March 21, 1924.

His Bride Decamps

Charley Rorick’s Happiness Short Lived.

Bride of Last Tuesday Sells Household Goods And Disappears—Charley Had Another Wife Somewhere—His Hilarious Wedding

Under the caption “Wedding Spectacle,” the Herald of last Wednesday told of the marriage of Charles H. Rorick and Mrs. Carrie Perry the previous afternoon, the ceremony being performed by Judge Mays and being followed by a reception at Jack Brokamp’s summer garden, Fifth and York, where the bride and groom were locked in the cage formerly occupied by a trained bear and the spectators sat around and drank beer and enjoyed the hilarity of the hilarious occasion.

The bride of the occasion came originally from the neighborhood of Versailles, in Brown county. She worked in eating houses here and for a time had been employed by Rorick at his Rector restaurant on the river front, run in connection with his Palace barber shop.

Rorick Has Another Wife.

Rorick has a wife somewhere on earth, but just where he does not know. She ran away with an amateur detective some months ago, and since then has not been heard from by her husband. Coming to the conclusion that she wasn’t coming back and might even be dead, Charley concluded that it would be all right to marry Carrie. Having married her, he had to provide a home, and purchased furniture and set up housekeeping in the 300 block, Vermont street.

The Bride Disappears.

The other day when he went home he found the place deserted, and inquiry brought to him the startling information that his bride had sold the stuff and decamped. He hasn’t seen her since; and as he is not sure, after thinking it over, that he had not made a mistake in marrying again before learning definitely whether his real wife was still on earth, is not worrying much—except over the cost of the marriage license and the justice’s fee.

Carrie Has a Past.

Carrie Perry indulges in the flowing bowl to excess. She spent several days in the police station a year ago, suffering from delirium tremens. Finally she was taken to the county court, and there by a commission of physicians was declared to be insane and sent to Jackonsville. In a few days she was back. From the superintendent of the asylum came a brief and rather tart note, at the same time, suggesting that as Adams county’s quota of insane was filled at the institution it might be well to care for the drunks at home. The alienists who had learnedly declared her to be a case of bug house did not, of course, know that Carrie was a booze fighter. Had they known this they would have given her a chance to get sober at home instead of sending her to Jackonsville.

Source: Quincy Daily Herald, September 18, 1911.

Justice Mays Has Peculiar Request

Charlie Rorick and Mrs. Carrie Perry Wanted to Wed in Bear Cage.

The Irish Village summer pavilion at Fifth and York streets was the scene of a romance yesterday afternoon in which two well known Quincy characters were the principals. The program was confined to the marriage of Charles Rorick, proprietor of a lunch stand on Front street, and Mrs. Carrie Perry, who has been in more or less adventures during the several years she has lived in Quincy.

The wedding was of a hurry-up nature and was not arranged until the couple met in the garden about noon, although they have known each other for some time. The prospective groom went to the court house and after procuring the required credentials hunted up Justice Mays.  He informed the justice that he and Mrs. Perry wanted to have the knot tied in a cage, in the Irish Village garden formerly occupied by a large bear, now dead. The justice would not consent to performing the ceremony in such a place and the affair was compromised by going to his office. After the nuptials the couple returned to their favorite – haunt and insisted on being locked up in the cage. To satisfy them this was done and for several minutes they peered through the bars. The day’s festivities were brought to a close last evening in the summer garden with a reception there being about 60 honored guests in attendance.

Source:  Quincy Daily Whig, September 13, 1911.

Marjorie Groover Anderson

Marjorie Anderson of Lake Orion died on Oct. 20, 1991 at the age of 70. She is survived by her children, Dennis Perry of Lake Orion and William Stokes of Pontiac; a sister, Margaret Habermas of Waterford Township; five grandchildren and she is the aunt of Barbara and Bob Butler. Funeral arrangements were made by the Lake Orion Chapter of Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home.

Source:  Lake Orion Review, October 23, 1991.