Clara Lydia (Perry) Reese (1842 - 1904)

Born 1842 in Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Died 12 Oct 1904 at about age 62 in Seattle, King, Washington, United States

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Biography

Clara was born in 1842 to Daniel Perry and Mary Clark in Iowa. By 1850, they were living in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where her father was a merchant. By 1860, they were living in Syracuse, Missouri, where her father was a merchant. In about 1865, her father passed away, possibly while fighting in the Civil War.

In about 1862, Clara married George (or John) Reese, probably in Missouri. He passed away in about 1875.

In about 1878, Clara, brother Roland, and their mother moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Clara opened a millinery and notions shop at 1113 O Street.

In March 1883, Ed Church, an opera house manager, redesigned Clara's window display case and show room. In September 1883, she brought many goods from Chicago, such as bustles, corsets, hoop skirts, and jersey jackets.

By 1886, Mrs. I. Oppenheimer was running a Millinery and Notions shop at 1113 O Street. By 1887, Mrs. C. C. Wagner was running a Millinery and Notions shop at 1113 O Street.

In 1887, Clara opened another millinery shop on 12th street between N and O Streets.

In about 1888, Clara, brother Roland, and their mother moved to Seattle, Washington. In 1898, her mother passed away in Seattle.

In 1904, Clara passed away in Seattle, leaving a will that named her two siblings -- brother Roland Perry, sister Isabel Clark Perry McCord, and cousin Harriet Reed.

The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) 8 Apr 1879, Tue, page 4

Straw hats reshaped at Mrs. Reese's Millinery store, on O street, between Eleventh and Twelfth. - apr8-d2ed

Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 30 May 1882, Tue, page 4

Mrs. C. L. Reese, one of the fashionable "lady" milliners of this city and for the past four years a very quiet occupant of the present locality on O street, makes no boast of managing an establishment of metropolitan proportions in every respect, yet her tastefully arranged and neatly stocked place of business contains much of interest to the ladies in search of stylish goods in the millinery line which here compare favorably with fashions fairest and moot artful productions. Mrs. Reese is pleased to speak in gratitude of the generous patronage which has been extended to her during the past rather discouraging spring season, and very contentedly remarks that the trade enjoyed will compare favorably with sales in past years and in fact fully equal to expectation.

Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 16 Mar 1883, Fri, page 2

Ed. A. Church & Co. have completed a very artistic job in placing the millinery store of Mrs. C. L. Reese in splendid order for the season's business. The sales room has been extended and otherwise improved which enables the lady to display goods to better advantage than before. Mrs. Reese leaves in a few days for market, and will make selections of admirable goods, which, although her establishment may not be so pretentious in some aspects as those managed by competitors with longer purses, will command respect for the fine taste and wisdom manifested in ordering millinery supplies for her patrons, that In quality and style will enable the proprietor to compete with the best managers.

'Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 21 Sep 1883, Fri, page 2

MRS. REESE has returned from Chicago, and enlarged her room to fill in her immense stock of Millinery and Notions—the finest ever brought to Lincoln.

[on the same page] Splendid assortment of HATS at Mrs. Reese’s. Bustles! Corsets! Hoop skirts! and Jersey Jackets!

Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 28 Sep 1887, Wed, page 4

A new millinery store has opened where Mrs. C. L. Reese will be glad to see all the ladles and show her beautiful line of millinery goods at 12th street between N and O.

1850 Federal Census in Dodgeville, Wisconsin:

• Daniel Perry 39 Merchant born Massachusetts
• Marzus 33 born Massachusetts
• Isabel 9 born Massachusetts
• Clara L 7 born Iowa
• Rowland 3/12 born Wisconsin

1860 Federal Census in Syracuse, Missouri:

• Danl Perry 49 Merchant born Massachusetts
• Mary 42 born Massachusetts
• Isabel 19 born Massachusetts
• Clara L 17 born Iowa
• Roland 10 born Wisconsin

1880 Federal Census in Lincoln, Nebraska:

• CL Reese 31 widowed Milliner born Iowa
• mother MS Perry 60 widowed Milliner born Massachusetts
• brother Rolland 20 Painter born Wisconsin

1885 Nebraska State Census in Lincoln:

• CL Reese 38
• MS Perry 60
• Alice Minnek 15
• Frank Harris 21

Lincoln City Directory:

• 1883: Reese Mrs C L, millinery, notions, etc, 1113 O.
• 1886: Reese Mrs. C. L., millinery and notions 1113 O, r. same.
• 1887: Reese Mrs. C. L., milliner, 212 S. 11th, r. 236 S. 11th

Seattle City Directory:

• 1889: Reese Clara L (wid George, Mrs C L Reese & Co), res Yessler ave s e cor 12th.
• 1889 [below the previous]: Reese Mrs C L & Co (Mrs C L Reese, Mrs M S Perry), millinery and notions, 119 Columbia.
• 1890: Reese Clara L (wid John), res 1222 Main
• 1891: Reese Clara L (wid George), res 1222 Main.
• 1892: Millinery: Reese Mrs Clara L, 821 3d.
• 1892 [on another page]: Reese Clara L. Mrs., millinery 821 3d, r. 1222 Main.
• 1893: Reese Clara L (wid George), res 1222 Main.
• 1898: Reese Clara L (wid John), bds 1222 Main.

Sources

• 1850 Federal Census
• 1860 Federal Census
• 1880 Federal Census
• 1885 Nebraska State Census
• 1904 Last Will and Testament of Clara Lydia Perry Reese
• Findagrave profile