Tedcastle Bigelow Perry (1885-1966)

 
From the Bangor Daily News, October 4, 1966.

    Easton resident Tedcastle Bigelow Perry can rightfully lay claim to being one of the most unusually named men to win election to the Maine House of Representatives, and hiding behind that odd name is the story of a man who for over forty years was a leading figure in the civic, political, and fraternal life of his native town. In addition to serving two terms in the legislature Perry farmed, owned a produce business, was town tax collector, and took high rank in the Odd Fellows and Lions fraternal groups. Born in Crystal, Maine on June 9, 1885, Tedcastle B. Perry was the son of Edwin and Lucy (Dolley) Perry. Bestowed the unique name Tedcastle Bigelow, the origins behind this name are unknown, and Perry is, to date, the only "Tedcastle" this author has discovered.

   A student at the Island Falls High School, Perry graduated in 1903 and shortly thereafter enrolled at the University of Maine, where he was a charter member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He graduated in 1907, and sometime later relocated to Norwood, Ohio, where he was employed with the Allis-Chalmers Co. He returned to the Easton vicinity around 1919 where he purchased a farm "from the Dodge brothers" and married in April 1920 to Pearl Dorsey (1899-1973), to who he was wed until his death. The couple had one son, Vernon.

  In the succeeding years, the name Tedcastle Perry became a familiar one in Easton due to his many activities. A member of the Aroostook County Farm Bureau beginning in 1919, Perry served both Crystal and Easton as their tax collector for many years and was first selectman for Crystal. For seven years he sat on the Easton school board, was for ten years a Boy Scout leader in his area, and was prominent in the local Grange and Odd Fellows lodges. He attained the seventh degree in the Patrons of Husbandry (Grange), was a past grand of the Ridgely Lodge of the International Order of Odd Fellows, and was a former president of the Lions Club of Easton. 

From the Fort Fairfield Review, June 14, 1958.

   Announcing his campaign for the Maine House of Representatives in early 1958, Perry won the Republican primary that June by nearly 300 votes. He won the general election that fall, besting Democrat George Haines by a vote of 566 to 203, and took his seat in January 1960. During the 1959-60 session he was named to the committees that counted the votes for assistant clerk of the house, and Natural Resources. This term also saw Perry chair the Easton Town Republican Committee in 1960 and became a director of the Easton Development Co. that same year.

  Going into the 1960 election year Perry was unopposed for reelection, and that fall won the election with 1,287 votes. He again served on the Natural Resources committee during the 1961-1962 term.

  Tedcastle Perry's final years were spent in Easton where, for eighteen years previous to his death, he operated T.B. Perry and Son, dealing in "certified seed potatoes." His final months were marked by failing health, and on October 2, 1966, he died at a Presque Isle hospital at age 81. He was survived by his wife and son and was interred at the Estes Park Cemetery in Easton.

From the Bangor Daily News, October 4, 1966.