Perry was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and, as an adolescent, moved with his family to Iowa.

[1] In early adulthood, he was a schoolteacher and, in 1852 began reading law in Albia, Iowa.

[2][3] He was elected to the Iowa State Board of Education in 1858, serving for four years.

[4] In 1877 he built a large "show residence" in Albia – an elaborate, High Victorian home that has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[1] Nathan E. Kendall read law under Perry and the two remained lifelong friends.