James Monroe Perry, son of John H. and Artie Ayers Perry was born in NinetySix, South Carolina in 1923. He attended the local schools of that city and at Anderson, South Carolina. He served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater in World War 2.
Monroe Perry completed his higher education at Jamestown College, Jamestown, North Dakota. Here he met and later married Lois M. Heinle, daughter of Carl W. and Elsie Nill Heinle of Elgin, North Dakota. She was born in 1929 and married Monroe Perry on September 2, 1949.
The Perrys lived in Mandan and Fargo for a time before moving to Valley City in 1953 where Monroe was associated with the Standard Oil Company, first as a salesman and later as the local agent. In 1964 he purchased the Culligan Soft Water Service.
The Perry family play a prominent part in the life of the community, serving on many commissions and boards and giving of their time and talents in their church, the Epworth Methodist Church.
Monroe and Lois are the parents of three daughters: Nancy Gail, born in 1950, a dental student at the University of Minnesota; Lisa Ayers, born in 1961 and a freshman at Valley City Junior High and Melinda Carol, born in 1963, in seventh grade.
Lois is on the staff of the Barnes County Special Education Department.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 193