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Rufus Smith Perry, a son of Abel
and Nancy (Smith) Perry, was born in
1836, in Herkimer, New York, and when
only a boy ran away from home and
shipped as a sailor. After following the
water for a few years he returned home,
but then came the Civil War, offering a
new form of adventure to his daring
spirit. Enlisting in Company G, Tenth
Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer In-
fantry, he served the full four years.
After the return of peace he learned the
machinist's trade in Greenfield, Massachusetts,
and followed it for a short time
in Shelburne Falls. When the firm of
Gunn & Rogers established themselves
in business in Miller's Falls, Mr. Perry
associated himself with them as superin-
tendent, retaining the position until 1890.
He then became superintendent of the
water shops in the Springfield (Massachusetts)
Armory, and when some new
buildings were erected he was placed in
them as inspector and machinist, being
given the rank of captain. About a year
before his death he retired. He affiliated
with the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows, in Springfield, and was a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic, also of
Springfield. He married Mary Darling,
daughter of Moses Edwin and
(Chapin) Darling, of Shelburne Falls.
The name of Darling, or Dearling, is of
Saxon origin and has been variously
spelled. The word was in remote times
applied to "the young nobles of a house,
perhaps exclusively to the eldest son, in
whom all expectation rests." It is diffi-
cult to account for such a designation
having become an hereditary surname,
but in England it is traced as such as far
back as 1200. Some of the members of
the family are said to have been cup-
bearers to the king. A branch was early
transplanted to New England. Some ac-
count of the origin of the Chapin family
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
101
is appended to this biography. Mr. and
Mrs. Perry became the parents of four
children, two of whom reached maturity
Elizabeth D., who has been for twentytwo
years supervisor of music in the
Fitchburg Normal School ; and Mabelle
Jeanne, mentioned below. The family
were members of the Baptist church.
The death of Mr. Perry occurred Decem-
ber 20, 1896.
Dr. Mabelle Jeanne Perry, daughter of
Rufus Smith and Mary (Darling) Perry,
was born December 22, 1877, in Miller's
Falls, Massachusetts. She was educated
primarily in the public schools of her na-
tive town, graduating in 1896 from the
Springfield High School. She then
entered Mount Holyoke Seminary, where
in 1900 she received the degree of Bach-
elor of Arts. She was fitted for her pro-
fession at the Women's Medical College
of New York, graduating in 1903 with the
degree of Doctor of Medicine. The
eighteen months next ensuing were spent
by Dr. Perry in gaining experience at the
Woman's Hospital, and during the six
months following she served at the
Lying-in-Hospital. After a year's independent
practice in Stamford, Connecticut,
Dr. Perry, in 1906, settled in Norwalk,
same State, where she has ever since been
successfully engaged in her work as a
general practitioner. She is a member of
the staff of the Norwalk Hospital.
The professional organizations in which
Dr. Perry is enrolled include the New
York Academy of Medicine, the Norwalk
Medical Association, the Fairfield County
Medical Society, the Connecticut Medical
Society, and the American Academy of
Medicine. She belongs to the Alpha
Delta Theta fraternity and the Women's
Club, and is an active member of the
Baptist church.
During the recent World War, Dr.
Perry rendered patriotic service by de-