J[osiah] L. PERKINS, farmer, sectin 28, Monroe Township, was born in Madison County, New York, July 25, 1835. His parents were Stillman and Delana (SQUIER) PERKINS, the former a native of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and the latter of Rutland County, Vermont. They were married in Cazenovia, New York, about 1820, and reared a family of nine children - Cecelia, Esli S., Elizabeth H., Admiral A., Irene D., Julia A., Josiah L., Gertrude M. and Gardner H.

Mr. PERKINS was educted at the Cazenovia Seminary, where many of our eminent men were educated. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching, and followed that profession several years. In 1856 he removed to Rock Island County, Illinois. The first year he was engaged in teaching, and then clerked in a mercantile establishment at Port Bryon nearly two years.

March 11, 1858, he married Lucinda WILLIAMS, a native of White County, Illinois.

In 1860 he engaged in the milling business at Big Rock, Clinton County, Iowa, and in 1863, on account of failing health, caused by the dust of the mill, he sold out and returned to Rock Island County. The latter part of the same year he engaged in the mercantile business with William H. DeVORE, at Cordova. Mr. DeVORE is now a prominent banker at Port Byron, Illinois.

The confinement of the store told severely on his already impaired health and caused him again to change his business, and in 1866 he closed out the store and the following year engaged in railroad contracting, making a specialty of bridge building. In 1874 he removed to Moline, Illinois, and engaged in the manufacturing business. In 1878 he was elected sheriff of Rock Island County, and served two terms with credit to himself and satisfaction to his party. In 1881 he was appointed assistant general manager, under A. B. STICKNEY of Minneapolis, of the Canada Pacific Railroad, headquarters at Brandon. He had charge of 200 miles of road construction one year.

In 1882 he settled in Ringgold County, upon his present farm, located three miles northwest of Kellerton. It contains 250 acres of land in a good state of cultivation and well improved. He has a fine two-story residence situated on a natural building site, and furnished in a manner that shows the refinement of the family. He has a thrifty orchard of 100 trees, and native shade trees, and out-buildings for stock.

He is a member of the Masonic order, Barrett Chapter and Everett Commandery, No. 18, Rock Island.

Mr. and Mrs. PERKINS are the parents of four children - William S., Arthur L., Mary D. and Herbert E.

Politically Mr. PERKINS is a Republican, and is considered one of the strong men in his party. He is one of the leading citizens of Ringgold County. Postoffice, Kellerton.

NOTE: Stillman PERKINS was born July 7, 1797, Ashfield, Massachusetts, and died September 29, 1863, Cazenovia, New York. Delans (SQUIER) PERKINS was born March 8, 1800, Middletown, Vermont, and died July 6, 1878, Cazenovia, New York. Stillman and Delana were interred at Union Cemetery, Cazenovia, Madison County, New York.

Lucinda (WILLIAMS) PERKINS, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (McDONALD) WILLIAMS, was born June 5, 1833, Carmi, Illinois, and died at the age of 71 years, 3 months and 13 days on September 18, 1904, Kellerton, Iowa. Josiah L. PERKINS died at the age of 73 years, 3 months and 1 day on October 25, 1907, Kellerton, Iowa. Lucinda and J. L. were interred at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton, Ringgold County, Iowa. Lucinda and Josiah were the parents of Mary D. (PERKINS) SHACKLETT, and the grandparents of Winnie Lavina (SHACKLETT) HUFF, born July 7, 1890, Kellerton, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 310-11, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

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