WILLIAM A. PERKINS, proprietor of the City Restaurant at Clifton, Washington County, Kansas, has recently established his present business, having removed from his farm in Brantford Township, KS. He has there 160 acres of good land in the shape of a well-improved farm with suitable buildings, which he purchased as a homestead claim in 1876. He settled in Brantford Township, KS, in 1871, having removed there from Jackson Co., KS, of which he had been a resident of two years. A native of the province of Ontario, Canada. Mr. Perkins was born March 24th, 1856. His father, Daniel Perkins, was either a native of Michigan or Canada and from boyhood up was reared to farm pursuits. He was married in the Province of Ontario, Canada to Miss Elizabeth Carmichael, who came of Scotch parentage and was born and reared in Ontario, Canada. After his marriage Daniel Perkins operated a distiller, which trade he had learned in early manhood, but afterward assumed charge of a hotel which he conducted for a number of years. Afterward he resumed farming. He left he Dominion in 1870, coming to this State, but in 1888 repaired to Florida where he is now (1889) visiting with a view of locating permanently. He has already purchased land there. The mother is sojourning with her son, our subject; she is a very excellent lady and a member in good standing of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Perkins was the third in a large family of children, most of whom lived to mature years. He remained a member of the parental household until reaching his majority and was married in Brantford Township, KS, in 1878, to Miss CORA RUSCO. This lady was born in Wood County, Ohio, and is the daughter of Josiah and Katie (Dilts) Rusco, who removed from the Buckeye State to Kansas about 1870, and took up a homestead in Brantford Township where they have improved a good farm. Mrs. Perkins was well reared and remained with her parents until her marriage. She is now the mother of three children; Melvin O. Perkins, Clarence R. Perkins and Ivan L. Perkins. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins belong to the United Brethren Church in which the former officiates as Steward. Politically, he is a straight Republican and has served as Township Trustee two terms. Aside from this he has declined the responsibilities of office.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties - Kansas - (1890)

JOHN L. PERKINS. The farming community of Brantford Township, KS, recognizes Mr. Perkins as one of its most enterprising and useful members. His homestead is finely located and conveniently arranged, occupying a part of section 23 and 24, there being eighty acres situated on either side of the public highway. It was a tract of wild land when he took possession and its condition to-day indicates the amount of perseverance and industry which have been expended upon it, in addition to a goodly amount of hard cash. A native of Sarna Township, Canada, Mr. Perkins was born Sept. 24th, 1859, and when a lad of eleven years came with his parents to Kansas, in 1870. They settled first in Jackson County, KS, where the father purchased 100 acres of land. Two years later, however, he sold out and homesteaded 160 acres in this township, Washington County, KS, and with the assistance of his sons constructed a good homestead and here John L. Perkins attained to man's estate. He acquired his education in the common school, and was bread to those habits of industry and economy which have been the secret of his success. In addition to general farming, he is considerably interested in live stock, having a goodly assortment of cattle and horses, and making a specialty of swine. D.O. (Daniel) Perkins, the father of our subject, was likewise born in the Dominion, and followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. He remained a resident of Kansas until 1888, then selling out, went to Florida, where he still sojourns. He is a man of many excellent qualities and has been a member of the United Brethren Church from his youth up. He married Miss Betsey Carmichael, who was born in Lowell, Canada, and they became the parents of twelve children, viz: Hugh C. Perkins, Hannah O. Perkins, William A. Perkins (*see above sketch), Duncan A. Perkins, John L. Perkins (of this sketch), Daniel O. Perkins Jr., Eli G. Perkins, Elizabeth Perkins, Dolly Perkins, Ethel B. Perkins, and two who died unnamed. The subject of this sketch, although only thirty years of age, has obtained a good start in life, and evidently has a successful career before him. He was married April 7th, 1885, to Miss ELECTA RUSCO, daughter of Josiah Rusco. The latter was a native of Huron County, Ohio, where he lived until April, 1869. He then emigrated to Kansas, and took up a homestead in Washington County, Kansas, where he is still living. He is a prominent man in his township, having been most of the time since coming here a member of the School Board, and has been almost a lifelong member of the United Brethren Church. He was married in Ohio to Miss Catherine Dills. John L. Perkins, politically, is a sound Republican, to which party his father and brothers also belong. He and his wife are members in good standing of the United Brethren Church. His brother, William A. Perkins, is one of the Trustees of Brandford Township, KS, and the family is generally held in high respect wherever known.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties - Kansas - (1890)

STEPHEN PERKINS, came to Jackson County, Kansas in 1870, before he attained his majority, and for several years he was identified with its pioneer farmers in the work of developing its agricultural interests, and during that time he improved a good farm in Whiting Township, KS, of which he was an early settler. He subsequently engaged in the meat business in Netawaka, KS, and in 1887 established himself in Holton, KS in the same line. He has a neat, well-stocked market, and conducts a paying trade. Stephen Perkins is a native of Bureau County, Illinois, Lamoille Township the place of his birth, and Dec. 26th, 1850, the date thereof. His father, Edward Perkins, was born in Queen's County, Ireland, and was the only member of his family to come to America, he coming to this country when he was a young man, and first locating in Whitehall, N.Y. A few years later he removed to Chicago, Ill, where he lived a year, and then he took up his abode in Bureau County, Illinois, and was one of the first settlers there. He purchased Government land in Lamoille Township, Ill, erected a comfortable frame house of native lumber, and in the years that intervened between that time and his death, which occurred on that homestead, he improved a fine farm, and became fairly prosperous. When he first settled there, deer and other kinds of wild game were plenty, and the surrounding country was in a wild, sparsely-settled condition. There were no railways, and he was obliged to draw his wheat with an ox-team to Chicago, 110 miles distance. He did his share in the building up the county, and lived to see it a wealthy and well-settled district. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Wall. She was born in Queen's County, Ireland, and died on the Illinois homestead. She and her husband reared nine children to good and useful lives, there of whom are still living - John Perkins, Joseph Perkins and our subject, Steven Perkins. Joseph Perkins occupying the old homestead.  Stephen Perkins was bread to the life of a farmer in the home of his birth, receiving a careful training from his sterling parents, and gleaming an education in the pioneer schools of Bureau County, IL. As soon as old enough he was set to work on the farm when he was not engaged in school, and he remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty years old. At that age, in 1870, well-equipped for the battle of life mentally and physically, he started out in the world to make his own way, and attracted to Jackson Co., KS on the account of the many facilities it offered to young men of enterprise and resolution, he came here and made his residence in Whiting Township, KS, which was then merely a flag-station, the railway having been completed three years previous. As there was but one house in the village at that time, he was obliged to walk back to Muscolah, KS to find a lodging in a hotel. The first season of his settlement in Kansas he engaged in breaking prairie, and then he bought a tract of wild land one mile from the village, and being unmarried at that time, he kept a bachelor's establishment, and carried on the improvement of his farm by himself. He gave his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1879, when he went to Netawaka, KS, and entered the meat business, which he conducted there very prosperously until 1887. In July of that year, desiring to increase his trade by establishing himself in a larger city, and perceiving a fine opening in Holton, KS, he came hither and opened a meat market, which he has fitted up in good style, and as he has it always stocked with the best of everything in his line to be found in the market, he has secured first-class patronage. In the month of February, 1875, Mr. Perkins took an important step in his life, that has contributed not only to his happiness, but has added to his material comfort and prosperity, he at that time taking until himself a good wife in the person of Miss ANNA NANCE. she is, life himself, a native of Illinois, born in Hancock County, IL to Casper and Emily (Stone) Nance, her father a native of Virginia. There children have been born of this marriage - Frank Perkins, May Perkins and Pearl Perkins. Mr. Perkins is connected with the A.F. & A.M., as a member of Polar Star Lodge, No. 143. In his politics, he is a decided Democrat. He is a wide-awake, straightforward business man, of good standing among his fellow citizens, and his pleasant social traits make him popular with those with whom he associates.

Source: Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens .. (1890)

BISHOP WALDEN PERKINS, one of the leading men in politics, public improvements, and temperance movements in the southern part of Kansas, is a native of Rochester, Loraine county, Ohio, and was born Oct. 18th, 1842. He is a descendant of John Perkins, who sailed from Windsor, England, for the colonies in 1660, and the family genealogy is preserved upon a tomb at Becket, Massachusetts. Some of the family were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather, Benjamin C. Perkins, was for several years a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. His father, Judge Benjamin C. Perkins, was a leading man in politics, an Abolitionist of the Birney school, and for several years one of the associate judges in Lorain county, Ohio. He was married to Hannah M. Cole, whose parents were natives of Germany, but had immigrated to the United States and settled in Rensselaer county, New York. When Bishop W. Perkins, the subject of this sketch, was about eight years of age, his mother died. When he was fourteen he removed to Mercer county, Illinois, at the place which is now known as Viola, IL, of which his father was one of the founders. His father took an active part in all the public improvements, and was one of the projectors of the Western Air Line Railway, of which he was one of the directors, but which was not completed during his connection with it, on account of the financial panic of 1857. He also took an active part in politics at this place, and was a member of the county board of supervisors for sever years. When Bishop W. Perkins was about sixteen years of age he entered Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois, where he remained part of two years. On returning home during the winter vacation of 1859-60, his father told him he could not return to college until the following September. This did not quite meet his own approval, so he told his father if he could not go to school he had resolved to go to the Rocky Mountains, but this his father considered not at all probable. However in the spring of 1860, he succeeded, without the aid of his father, in making arrangements with a few friends and started for that western Eldorado. Arriving in Colorado he engaged in mining at California Gulch. Not succeeding remarkably well, came back and was connected with a mining company in trying to turn the channel of Platte river at Fair Play diggings. This proved disastrous, and he lost all his means. He was then employed by the month as a laborer in the gold diggings in the winter of 1860-61. In the summer of this year he went into the grocery business at Gold Dirt with a partner. In a short time after commencing, this partner was entrusted with all the capital of the firm to go to Omaha, Nebraska, and lay in a new stock of groceries, and took that occasion "to go for parts unknown", without taking Mr. Perkins into his confidence upon the subject. For this reason he was again forced to hire out by the month as Missouri Gulch, where he remained until his father wrote for him to return home, in January, 1862. After returning to Illinois, in July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D., 83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and, at the organization of the company, was made one of the sergeants. This regiment was ordered to the filed and stationed at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, spending a great deal of the time in scouting through the surrounding county looking for guerrillas. In February, 1863, at the second battle of Fort Donelson, this regiment achieved brilliant success, holding the fort against the attack of the rebel army, of which they killed almost as many as their own number. Sergeant Perkins, with a part of his company, re-manned a piece of artillery that had been abandoned. He received two flesh wounds in the leg in this battle. For his gallantry on this occasion he was complimented in the general reports issued by the commanding officer. After the battle of Stone River, which soon followed, General Rosecranz ordered several companies of picked men to be formed for the special duty of hunting guerrillas in that part of the country. Two companies were chosen out of his regiment, and himself and another sergeant chosen lieutenants. Their duties in this capacity were very arduous, as they had to be almost constantly in the saddle, and having a great deal of skirmishing with the enemy. In December, 1863, by order of the Adjutant-General Thomas, he reported at Clarksville, Tennessee, to act as adjutant of the 16th United States Colored Infantry, which regiment he then assisted in organizing. Soon after entering the field in this capacity, he was sent to Chattanooga, and was in the raids under Generals Stedman, Rosseau and other commanding officers from that place. He then served through the Nashville campaign under General Thomas, soon after which he was commissioned captain and assigned to duty in charge of Co. C., and given independent command of the block houses and approaches to Chattanooga, on the north side of the Tennessee river. He served in this capacity until detailed by General Stedman to act as judge advocate of a general court marshal convened at Chattanooga, which position he held for several weeks. Returning to his command, in short time he was again detailed for the same duty by General Gillem, who had succeeded General Stedman in command of the district. However, he did not serve long until he was detailed acting adjutant-general of the post of Chattanooga. This position was a very important one, as Chattanooga was at such time the supply depot of the army of the Cumberland, and the post at which the refugees drew their supplies for a large section of country. He held this position until May, 1866, when he returned to Nashville, Tennessee, and was mustered out of the service. He immediately, with Lieutenant-Colonel Courtney, commenced making preparations to go to South America, and for this purpose went to Washington. At this place General Harding offered them positions in the treasurer's department, with the assurance that with their recommendations he could get them commissions in the regular army. Colonel Courtney accepted this proposition, and was afterward commissioned captain. Captain Perkins did not accept this offer but went to New York City, where he game up the idea of going to South America, and went to visit his New England friends, returning then to Ottawa, Illinois, where his father had removed during his absence. He soon entered into the study of law with O. C. Gray, one of the prominent lawyers of that place, and was admitted to the bar in July, 1867. He then went on a visit to Pierceton, Indiana, and was prevailed upon by friends to locate at that place. He was doing quite well in the legal practice, when, in April, 1869, he resolved to go west. After looking over Kansas for several weeks, he decided to locate at Oswego, KS. With W. P. Bishop, he entered into his profession, and they soon had the largest practice in the county. He was local attorney for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, for two years. He has almost been of Republican principles, and takes a leading part in the political issues of the day. Soon after his arrival in Oswego, KS, in May, 1869, he was appointed county attorney by Judge Goodin. In the following November, on account of his partner, Mr. Bishop, being a candidate for the Legislature, he refused to be a candidate for that office. In November, 1870, he was elected probate judge, reelected in 1872, and held the office until February, 1873, when he was appointed by Governor Osborn judge of the 11th Judicial District, upon the resignation of Judge Webb. In November of the same year, he was elected to that office until the present time (1878), giving general satisfaction to his duties as probate judge. In 1872, in addition to his duties as probate judge, he was editor of the "Oswego Register". In 1876 his name was presented at the convention at Fort Scott for congressional honors. Until he was made district judge, he was a member of nearly all of the county and state Republican conventions, since that time he was been confirmed closely to the duties of his office, but he still finds time to work and speak for the temperance movement. As a speaker he is entertaining and convincing in argument and possesses few equals in this part of the State. Judge Perkins was married April 11th, 1872, at Columbus, Ohio, to LOUISA CUSHMAN, daughter of George W. Cushman, a relative of Charlotte Cushman, and a merchant of that place. She is a lady of accomplishment, possesses a great deal of musical ability, and is sought after in musical circles. They have four children; Cora Perkins, Josie Perkins, and twins, Florence Perkins and Bishop Chaplain Perkins.  He has been connected with the Masonic order twelve years, is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was adjutant of the post at Ottawa, Illinois, and in 1870, at Oswego, KS, post commandant. He has also been connected with the Sons of Temperance and Good Templar. He is liberal in his ideas of religion. He has been connected with nearly all the public improvements, prominent among which was the East & West Railroad, now known as the Missouri & Western, and in general is a man of public spirit, and one whom the people love to honor.

Source: The United States Biographical Dictionary: Kansas Volume : 1879

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HON. BISHOP W. PERKINS. In 1873, Bishop W. Perkins, then a young man about thirty-one years of age, was appointed to serve out the unexpired term of Henry G. Webb, and in 1874 he was elected for the full term of four years and re-elected in 1878. In the fall of 1882 he was elected to Congress, where he remained until March, 1891. He was afterward appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. B. P. Plumb. Senator Perkins died June 20th, 1894. While not possessing the legal learning and ability of some of his predecessors, he made an excellent judge and possessed great executive ability. He developed into a successful politician and would have made a statesman of unusual ability hand he lived.

Source: A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Crawford County, Kansas

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JUDGE BISHOP W. PERKINS, at the age of thirty-one years was, in March, 1873, appointed by Governor Thomas A. Osborn, Judge of the District Court to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Henry G. Webb. At the next election for judge, Mr. Perkins was the Republican candidate to succeed himself against Hon. John M. Scudder, an attorney of Coffeyville, Kansas, an independent candidate. His large district then composing four populous counties, was overwhelmingly Republican and he was elected by a safe majority, notwithstanding his own county (Labette) which was thoroughly Republican, voted in favor of his opponent. The adverse vote in Labette county was occasioned by the fact that a few years before the election, while Judge Perkins was Probate Judge of the county, the large estate of one Ames, deceased, had been diverted from the rightful heirs and given to a spurious claimant, who had fraudulently secured a record of the Probate Court showing his adoption as the son and heir of said deceased. Bitter litigation arose over the event during the time Judge Perkins was serving the remainder of Judge Webb's term. It was boldly charged during Judge Perkins' canvass that he was a party to the fraud, and as boldly denied by the judge, who had in a short time he had served on the bench, become very popular, and had won the confidence of the people, to such an extent, that the affair exercised but little influence in the election, outside of Labette county. Four years afterward Judge Perkins was again elected for another term of four years, and at the end of his last term, entered upon his duties as one of the four congressmen-at-large from the State, two which office he had been elected while serving on the bench. When Judge Perkins first went upon the bench, he possesses neither the natural ability nor the legal learning of his predecessor, but in many other respects was far superior in fitness for the position. While he was young and of somewhat limited experience in the practice, he at once demonstrated administrative ability of a high order. This, with his unflagging energy and tireless industry, aided by the fine bars, particularly in this and Labette county, enabled him during his entire term to dispose of the court's business satisfactorily to the public generally. Judge Perkins on the bench was courteous and fair and developed an unusual ability to clearly instruct a jury and also become a fine chancellor. While the judge left a fine record after his ten years' service on the bench, he was distinctly a politician. As a political leader, he was rarely, if ever, excelled in the State. He was popular, adroit, diplomatic, energetic and uncompromising in his political convictions, and these qualities, with a boundless ambition to serve in a public position, kept him almost constantly in office from the time he came to Oswego, In April, 1869, 'till he was defeated in 1890, for congress, by Hon. Benjamin Clover, of Cowley county, KS. After this inglorious defeat, the first he had ever met, he seems to have lost his political prestige, and never again served in a public office except for a few months in 1892 in the United States Senate, to which office he had been appointed by Gov. L. V. Humphrey to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Senator Plumb. The next legislature elected in his place Senator Wm. A. Peffer, a Populist, and at the same session his party friends refused his request to nominate him as the candidate for the minority party. This was perhaps the most galling and humiliating defeat he ever suffered. Judge Perkins was born at Rochester, Loraine County, Ohio, October 18th, 1842. In July, 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army and became a sergeant of his company. He was afterward detailed to act as lieutenant in the company of cavalry for special guerilla duty, in which he served 'till December, 1863. He remained in the service 'till mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, in May, 1866. During his term of service after Dec., 1863, he tilled successively the following army offices: Adjutant of the 16th Colored Infantry and Captain of Company "C" in the same regiment. He was also, for a year, Acting Adjutant General of the post of Chattanooga and served as Judge Advocate on the staff of General Gillem and also in the same position on the staff of General Steadman. After leaving the army he resumed the study of law, and was, in 1867, admitted to practice; and in the same year located at Pierceton, Indiana, where he remained until he came to Oswego in 1869. In the spring of 1869 he was appointed county attorney, and after his term had expired, became assistant county attorney, and afterward filled the following positions: Probate Judge of Labette county, Judge of the 11th Judicial District, Member of Congress and United States Senator. He then settled in Washington, D.C. where he died on the 20th day of June, 1894, after a short illness.

Source: History of Montgomery County, Kansas. By its people.1901

JOHN S. PERKINS. It is always pleasing to the biographist or student of human nature to enter into an analysis of the character and career of a successful tiller of the soil. Of the many citizens gaining their own livelihood, he alone stands pre-eminent as a totally independent factor, in short "monarch of all he surveys". His rugged honesty and sterling worth are the outcome of a close association with nature and in all the relations of life he manifests that generous hospitality and kindly human sympathy which beget comradeship and which cement to him the friendship of all with whom he comes in contact. For many years engaged in diversified agriculture and the raising of high grade stock, John S. Perkins is decidedly a prominent and popular citizen of his township in Wyandotte county, Kansas. John S. Perkins was born at Westport, Kansas, in 1855, and he is a son of Stephen and Sophia (Seaman) Perkins, both of whom are now deceased. The father was born in the old commonwealth of Kentucky, on the 14th of December, 14th 1817, and he was summoned to the life eternal on the 5th of December, 1893. The mother, who was a native of Indiana, was born in 1828 and died in August, 1907. As a young man, Stephen Perkins removed from Kentucky to Iowa, where he engaged in manufacturing old fashioned fanning mills. In 1855 he came to Kansas, locating at Westport, where he became identified with the mercantile business. Subsequently he engaged in the manufacture of wagons and in 1858 removed to Wyandotte county, Kansas, locating near what is now know as Turner Station. Mr. Perkins experienced a great deal of trouble at the time of the border struggle in Kansas. He was a stanch Republican in his political convictions and was an influential factor in many matters projected for the good of the general welfare in his community. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Perkins became the parents of three children. John S. Perkins passed his boyhood and youth in Wyandotte county and he received his early educational training in the neighboring district schools. He early became interested in farming and is now the owner of a splendid estate of one hundred and eighty-three acres of most arable land. The substantial buildings in the midst of well cultivated fields, together with the general air of thrift and prosperity which pervades the place, are splendid indications of the ability of the practical owner. For some years Mr. Perkins has lived virtually retired from active participation in business life, and while he does not take an active part in public affairs, he exerts a strong influence in Wyandotte county for progress and development. In the year 1876 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Perkins to Miss MARY DOUGLAS, who was born and reared in Indiana and who passed into the great beyond in 1905. Mrs. Perkins was a woman of rare charm and most gracious personality and at the time of her death was deeply mourned by a wide circle of loving friends and relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins became the parents of six children, namely: Ida Perkins, Edna Perkins, Halline Perkins, Nellie Perkins, Alsie Perkins and Helen Perkins. In 1907 Mr. Perkins was united in marriage to Miss EVA M. SAUER, of Wyandotte county. To this union has been born one child, Marguerite Alice Perkins, whose birth occurred in 1910. Mr. Perkins has lived a life of usefulness such as few men know. God-fearing, law-abiding, progressive, his life is as truly that of a Christian gentleman as any man's can well be. Unwaveringly he has done the right as he has interpreted it. Possessed of an inflexible will, he is quietly persistent, always in command of his powers and never showing anger under any circumstances. He is a man of the utmost kindliness of spirit and great affability and he is held in warm regard by all with whom he has come in contact.

Source: History of Wyandotte County, Kansas: And Its People, Volume 2
 

ROBERT H. PERKINS. The line of demarcation between the indoors man and the outdoors man is a thin and wavering one, at times almost indistinguishable. There is no indoors man who has not a subconscious self that wants out of doors more or less of the time. Robert Harrison Perkins has been more or less of an outdoors man all of his life. It seems as if he had chosen the ideal method of living. He lives in the world of bustle, in that he is intensely interested in its advancement and has done and is doing his utmost to further that end. He lives out of the world in that he is close to nature and came understand to a modified degree its inserutable workings. He is a public benefactor and a private idealist. He has the refinement that contact with people brings and the simplicity that is derived from communion with nature. Robert Harrison Perkins was born in West Port, Kansas. His father, Stephen Perkins, was born in Kentucky, November 14th, 1817. When quite young he left his southern home and went to Iowa, where he engaged in manufacturing in an old fashioned fanning mill. In 1855 he came to Kansas and located at West Port, where he engaged in the mercantile business. Later he manufactured wagons. In 1858 he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and settled near what is now know as Turner Station. During the border struggle, Mr. Perkins had a good deal of trouble. Politically he was a Republican and quite a prominent man in the party. He married Sophia Seaman, who was born in Indiana in 1828 and died in August, 1907, at the advanced age of seventy-nine. She outlived her husband fourteen years, he died December 5th, 1893 at the age of seventy-six. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins had three children, including John S. Perkins (See above sketch), who lives in this county and is a man of great influence, and Robert H. Perkins. Some of the earliest recollections of Robert H. Perkins center around the district school house which he and his brother attended. It was made of logs and the benches were made of logs, in his case the road to learning was not a downy one. His parents moved to Kansas with their family when Robert was a very small boy and the schools at that time were very crude in the way of architecture, rather inefficient in regard to teaching, but most effective in their methods of discipline. The district school which Robert attended has turned out several men who have made their mark in the community. Mr. Perkins is a born farmer, when a child he worked in his little garden, digging it up and planting potatoes, digging it again to plant roses and yet again to plant something else. It is of little moment that neither potatoes or roses grew under such treatment, he was learning by doing, which is the quickest method in many cases. He learned to farm and how has under his control two hundred acres of land, the greater part of which he rents. He has built a large, modern home, where he lives with his family. In 1891 Robert H. Perkins was married to Miss MAUD FUNK, a charming Missouri young lady. They have three children, Robert G. Perkins, Charles S. Perkins and Alice Perkins. Mr. Perkins is a Republican, like his father. He takes the greatest interest in all matters pertaining to the county and state. He has the full confidence of his party and was a member of the legislature in 1903 and 1904. He has been on the township board for five years, serving as trustee and treasurer. He belongs to the fraternal order of Masons and to the United Workmen, having a high standing in both of these organizations. He is one of the leading citizens of Shawnee township, and is well known not only in Wyandotte county, KS, but throughout the state.

JUDGE LUTHER PERKINS, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25th, 1844, and lived there and at Chicago before locating in Coffeyville, Kansas, about thirty-three years ago. He graduated at the Boston Law School in his native city in June, 1864, but never became a member of the bar of Montgomery county, KS, until June 29th, 1895. Since locating at Coffeyville, KS, he has always been one of the prominent men of that city, and has spent his life in loaning money and dealing in real estate on his own account and as agent for others. Before his admission to the bar he did considerable of that character of business that belongs to the legal profession, such as drafting papers, examining abstracts of title, rendering advice on legal problems, etc., and did some practice in the justice and police courts. Since his admission he has not engaged in the practice extensively, as his time has been fully taken up with his personal affairs and in fulfilling the duties of the office of Judge of Court of Coffeyville, KS, to which he was elected about one year ago.

FRED PERKINS. One of the widely known men and successful farmers of Wilson county, is Fred N. Perkins, of Newark township, KS. He came to the county in 1869 and entered a piece of the public domain then open to settlement and which he patented, improved handsomely and has since made his home and owns besides other lands and town property in Altoon, KS. Mr. Perkins was born in Saratoga county, New York, August 20th, 1841, and his parents were Hiram and Elizabeth (King) Perkins, people of New York birth, and the father a shoe maker by trade. The latter was born in 1801 and died in 1857 and his wife died at fifty years of age. Fred N. Perkins was left to work out his own destiny at the age of eighteen years. He secured employment in the factory of the Walter A. Wood company at Hoosie Falls, Rensselaer county, New York, where he worked till his enlistment in the army in 1861. He joined Company D, 77th New York infantry, with which he served two years, being in the battle at Williamsburg, Mechanicsville, in the seven day's fight and Melvern Hill where he was wounded in the foot and was sent to the hospital. Recovering he went to Hartford, Connecticut, and secured employment in Samuel Colt's gun factory and was later a mechanic in the Remington gun works. Following his separation from this employment he came west to White county, Indiana, and worked with a brother there at the carpenter trade till his departure for Kansas in 1866. He took up his trade in this state and worked in Douglas and Johnson counties until 1869, when he came down into Wilson county and began life as a farmer and a pioneer. He owns two hundred and twenty-seven and one-half acres between Chetopa and Lone Elm Creeks, nine miles northwest of Neodesha, seven miles southeast of Altoona and six miles west of Taylor. His farm is in the gas belt, is well improved, he having just completed a $1,500.00 residence on an eminence overlooking the surrounding country. These substantial results have been achieved in Kansas and are direct fruits of the labors of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins. To Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have been born five children, viz: Charles Perkins, Archie Perkins, a farmer nearby his father, Zella Perkins, wife of James Shearer, a merchant of Altoona, Kansas; Elsie Perkins, wife of E. A. Loomis, a farmer, Frank Perkins and Belva Perkins are at home. The parents were married in Douglas county, Kansas, in February, 1868, Mrs. Perkins being Miss REBECCA DAVIS before marriage. She was a daughter of John and Rebecca Davis and came to Kansas from Indiana with her parents in 1866. Mr. Perkins and two of the Davis boys came overland, driving through with their teams. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have seen all of the ups and owns of Kansas for thirty-six years and are proud of the good old state.

Source: History of Neosho and Wilson Counties, Kansas. 1902

ELISHA PERKINS. farmer, Section 33, P.O. Columbus, was born in Indiana April 16th, 1832. He received a business education while living on the farm, and at the age of twenty-one began farming in Indiana, remaining in that State until 1873, when he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, and located in Sheridan Township, on a farm of 160 acres, which he improved and ran as a grain and stock farm. After three years he sold out, went to Salamanca Township, where he took a farm of 320 acres, which he improved and is now running as a grain and stock farm. Has also a full line of all kinds of fruits. In August, 1882, Mr. Perkins, moved to Columbus, where he owns property in houses and lots, and has since been looking after his personal business. He is a member of the Christian Church, and was married to Miss ZERELDA GATES, of Indiana, in 1852. They have 10 children living - Harriette Perkins, Ellen Perkins, Mark Perkins, Rachel Perkins, William Perkins, Nancy Perkins, Louisa Perkins, Sallie Perkins, Elisha Perkins Jr., Orlena Perkins, deceased.

Source: History of Kansas, by William G. Cutler, 1883