John Perkins b.1838 IN
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Source: Portrait and biographical record of Madison and Hamilton counties, Indiana (1893)
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JOHN PERKINS, a prominent citizen and leading general agriculturist, is a life-time resident of Madison Co., IN, and born Oct. 17th, 1838, has long been identified with the history, upward growth and progressive interest of Anderson Township, his present locality. His parents, George and Agnes (Allen) Perkins, were widely known and highly respected for their upright lives and genuine kindliness. The father was a native of Knox Co., Ohio and had been reared and educated in his home state. A man of ability and enterprise, he determined to try his fortune in the newer filed of Indiana, and removing hither with his wife and family, settled in Adams Township, Madison Co., IN, and remained there for a number of years. Later the family made their home in Anderson Township. Locating in the woods, the first care of the father was to erect a log cabin, in which, together with his wife and children, he found a comfortable shelter for many changing seasons. He afterward built a more commodious log house, and in the year 1856 constructed a substantial brick residence upon the old homestead. During the Civil War, the father removed to Illinois, and resided there a short time, then returned to Indiana and again made his home in Madison County. George Perkins finally went again to Illinois and settled once more in Clark County, where he died in Sept., 1889. A man of fine natural ability and excellent attainments, he had acquired many friends in his journey through life, and was mourned as a public loss when he entered into rest. A genuine pioneer, he had shared cheerfully in hardships and privations, and aided in the development of the great west. The union of the parents was blessed by the birth of twelve sons and daughters, of whom there are now surviving: Matilda, Jane, Lucinda, Susan, John, William B., Henry and Frank Perkins. A public-spirited man, interested in both local and national issues, the father was also a devout Christian and a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, reared to manhood in Madison County, IN, has been a life-long farmer, and was only a boy when he self-reliantly began the battle of life. He received his education in the primitive school of the home district, and when he could be spared, attended the little log schoolhouse, a landmark of the past. Upon May 29th, 1856, John Perkins and Miss Catherine Hicks were united in marriage. The estimable wife of our subject was born April 16th, 1835, and was the daughter of Samuel and Sophia (Shafer) Hicks. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks were both natives of Pennsylvania, and spent the early part of their married life in the Quaker State. When Mrs. Perkins was about one year old, her parents removed to Ohio, and three years subsequently made their home in Adams Township, Madison Co., IN, settling in the dense woods, their dwelling a humble log cabin, where not long after the beloved father died, mourned by all who knew him. Of the intelligent family who once clustered about the fireside of Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, the following are yet surviving: Cather (Mrs. Perkins), John, Samuel and Angeline. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have welcomed to their hearts and home ten sons and daughters, of whom nine are living: Eliza:, the wife of George Hartzell; Sylvester; Alonzo; Oliver C; Matilda; Nora, wife of Zacharia Clevenger; Dellie and Cora M Perkins. These brothers and sisters, who have enjoyed good education advantages, worthily occupy positions of usefulness, and are universally respected. Out subject has brought his farm of eighty acres up to high cultivation and well improved the homestead with excellent and commodious buildings. Mrs. Perkins, a true helpmate, has ably aided her husband in his life work, and together they share prosperity. The old log cabin where they passed many happy years has given place to a modern residence, commodious and convenient. Tranquilly entering the evening of their age, our subject and his devoted wife may with pleasure recall the early years in which with energy, ambition and enterprise, they won their upward way to assured success.
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NOTE* I am not related to this family and I have NO further information to provide. The source of where this information was obtained from is listed at the top of this posting.
Sincerely,
Denise Perkins Ready
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