Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1097.
 
GEORGE W. PERKINS

     one of the highly respected early settlers of Yam Hill county, came to
Oregon in 1853. Following is a brief outline of his life.
     George W. Perking was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, July 11, 1819.
His father, Eli Perkins, was a native of Massachusetts, a descendant of early
New England settlers; and his mother. Sally (Hull) Perkins, was a native of
Vermont, and the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. Of their seven children
only three are now living: George W. and his two sisters, wives of Dan and James
Johnson, pioneers of La Fayette, Oregon.
     Mr. Perkins spent eighteen years of his early life in Tippecanoe county,
Indiana, where he was married to Miss Harriet Herndon, a native of that State,
and a daughter of C. Herndon. The Herndons were respected fanners, and worthy
members of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins started with their family
across the plains for Oregon in 1853, and this journey was marked by two
important events, namely: the death of one child and the birth of another. While
they were on the plains their little two-year-old boy accidentally fell into a
kettle and was scalded, dying soon afterward. When they were on the Blue
mountains, en route to Yam Hill county, their son, Edgar, was born. This son is
now a successful business man of La Fayette. They had forty-three head of cattle
when they started on this journey, and when they arrived in Oregon all the stock
they had left was a pair of mules, the rest having died.
     Arrived in Oregon, Mr. Perkins' first employment was in a sawmill, and his
wife helped to cook for the mill hands. They worked in this way tour years. Then
they settled on their donation claim, a tract of 305 acres, and on it lived
eighteen years, working hard to develop it. He was successful in his
undertakings. In 1870 he retired from the farm, purchased some lots in La
Fayette, built a good house and barn, and here he and his wife are quietly
spending the evening of their lives in peace and comfort.
     Of their children we make the following record: George M. resides with his
parents; Sarah Catharine is the wife of Job J. Gary, and lives in La Fayette,
near her father's home; Mary Jane is now Mrs. Newton Hembree, and is also a
resident of La Fayette; Emma is the wife of J. J. Hembree, a merchant of La
Fayette; Delmar have charge of the donation claim. This pioneer couple have
seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
     Mrs. Perkins is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Perkins in politics is
a good representative of the old Jacksonian Democrat.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.