Born, Feb. 2, 1843, in Hartford, Windsor County, Vt.
1865, Teacher of Ancient Languages, Fort Edward Institute, N.Y.
1866-70, Teacher of Ancient Languages, Wesleyan Seminary,
Gouverneur, N.Y.
1870-1, Studied in Law School of the University of Albany, N.Y.
1871-2, Studied Law in Syracuse, N.Y.
1872, Admitted to the Bar of New York State.
1872-80, Practicing Law in Syracuse, N.Y.
1881, Traveling in the West.
1882-9, Engaged in business in Syracuse, N.Y.; Manager of the Syracuse
Pottery Co.
Died, Nov. 17, 1889, at Syracuse, N.Y.
Married, Aug. 22, 1865, Miss Ellen M. Harrington, of St.
Johnsbury, Vt.
Child: Clarence, born Aug. 17, 1878. Graduate of Syracuse
University, N.Y. Now taking a post-graduate course at Harvard University,
Cambridge, Mass.
Address of widow: 24 Irving Street, Cambridge, Mass.
"In the fall of 1870 he entered the Albany Law School, and in 1871 was
admitted to practice in all the Courts of New York State. For about two
years he was in the law offices of Fuller and Venn, in Syracuse, N.Y., then a
leading firm of attorneys, when he opened an office for himself, and practiced
with success until 1875, when he formed a copartnership with Homer Weston (class
of 1867), under the name of Perkins & Weston, which firm was dissolved by
mutual consent in 1880. Mr. Perkins then took an extended trip in the West
with the view of making his home there, but for the sake of family relations
concluded to remain in Syracuse and continue the practice of law in connection
with a manufacturing business. Finding that he could not attend to
both law and business, he concluded to give up the former, and for the last five
years of his life devoted his whole time to the business of the Syracuse Pottery
Co., of which he was manager, and in that time built up a large trade by his
tact, energy, and hard work. As a lawyer he was recognized as well read,
accurate in practice, and a safe counsellor. As a business man, his
success was such that, from a local trade only, the Company shipped goods to
every State and Territory. He died of typhoid fever after a strong fight
for life of eight weeks, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, in Syracuse.
Of the good words said of him in a business way, one who had known him during
his life in Syracuse said, 'He was one of the most unselfish men I ever saw, and
unusually cheerful.' Said a former pastor of the Centenary Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Perkins was a member, 'Brother Perkins was a man
with decided opinions, and he was free to express them; but he could also fall
in with the opinions of others, and work as earnestly for their success as if
they were his own.' Said a business man who had dealt much with him, 'he
is a man who will be missed more and more.' His life was one earnest
battle for legitimate success without the aid of large capital, and when death
ended the fight, his success was assured." - Wesleyan University Alumni
Obituary Record.
Source: History of Class
of 1865 Wesleyan University, Fortieth Reunion, Middletown
Connecticut, June 27, 1905.
