THOMAS M. PERKINS
For over thirty years Thomas M. Perkins has been
influentially connected with business interests of Seymour and
is now the proprietor of a profitable feed store. He has shown
himself upright and reliable in all of his business dealings
and in consequence has achieved a degree of success which
places him among the representative men of his community. He was born in
Newark, Ohio, August 8, 1836, and is a son of William and
Hannah (Mitchell) Perkins, natives of Kentucky. The father of our
subject was a son of William Perkins, also of Kentucky, and on
the maternal side Mr. Perkins’ grandparents were William and
Elizabeth Mitchell, the former of whom was born in
Pennsylvania and the latter in Ireland. The father of our
subject moved from Kentucky to Ohio at an early date and in
the latter state his death occurred. His wife also died in Ohio.
Thomas M. Perkins acquired a common school education
and remained in his native state until 1855. In that year he
came to Iowa, locating in Promise City, Wayne county, where he
engaged in farming until 1870, when he opened a grocery store
and since that time has given his attention entirely to
business lines. He
conducted his first enterprise in Promise City until 1882 and
then came to Seymour, where he opened a similar establishment,
managing it successfully for a number of years. In 1909 he disposed
of his grocery business and opened the feed store which he
still owns. He
is an able, resourceful and progressive business man and
consequently his patronage has increased rapidly and has
reached gratifying proportions at the present time.
In 1857 Mr. Perkins was united in marriage to Miss
Alice Ackley, of Ohio, a daughter of George and Sarah Ackley,
who came to Iowa in 1856.
Her father was a farmer and was successful in this line
of occupation both in Ohio and in Iowa. By this marriage
Mr. Perkins had three children.
Frank A., born August 7, 1858, was engaged in the
grocery business and died in 1881, leaving one child, Willa
Doris. Rose A.,
the second of the family, is now the wife of Walter Knowlton,
a resident of Hot Springs, South Dakota, and they have one
child, Myra. William
B., born September 25, 1869, is engaged in the grocery
business in Seymour. After
the death of his first wife Mr. Perkins married Miss Martha
Kinney, of Seymour, who has also passed away. In 1909 he was
again married, his third union being with Mrs. Ella Roninger,
of Appanoose county.
Mr. Perkins gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and fraternally is affiliated with the Masonic order, holding membership in the lodge and chapter. He has faithfully attended the Methodist church for over fifty years and his entire life has been characterized by devotion to manly and honorable principles. In all of his business dealings he is straightforward and reliable and enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good-will of all who know him.