Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 608.
 
NORRIS H. PERKINS

     Among the men of initiative, enterprise and ability to whom Yamhill is
indebted for its development is numbered Norris H. Perkins, a well known
financier, who successfully administers the affairs of one of the substantial
banks of the county and has also figured prominently in other walks of life. He
was born October 27, 1851, on the old donation claim three miles northwest of
Yamhill and is of English lineage in the paternal line, while on the distaff
side he is of German descent. His parents were John and Sarah (Felix) Perkins,
the former of whom was born August 21, 1811, in Genesee county, New York, and
the latter December 6, 1815, in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Perkins' father was a
gentleman of scholarly attainments and a teacher of languages in universities of
note.
     In 1845 John Perkins started for the Pacific northwest traveling in a
covered wagon drawn by oxen, and spent the first winter at Dr. Whitman's mission
in Walla Walla, Washington. In the following spring he proceeded to Oregon and
settled on a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Yamhill, in the
county of the same name. Fifty acres of the tract was covered with timber and
the balance was prairie land. Mr. Perkins built a log house and began the
arduous work of transforming the wild land into a productive farm. He found
stock raising profitable and was the owner of a fine herd of Durham cattle,
while grain was his principal crop. In 1849 he joined the rush of gold seekers
to California and was fairly successful in his quest, remaining in that state
for nine months. He then returned to Yamhill county and the remainder of his
life was spent on the homestead. Mr. Perkins was a charter member of the Yamhill
Grange and shaped his conduct by the teachings of the Methodist church, with
which his wife was also affiliated. Death summoned him March 26, 1886, and his
widow long survived him, passing away July 28, 1904. They had a family of nine
children: Sarah, Eli and Joseph, all of whom are deceased ; Mrs. Elvira Russell,
of Yamhill ; Elizabeth, who was born near Boise, Idaho, while the family was
crossing the plains ; William, who was born in Oregon and has passed away; Mrs.
Lucretia Walker, a widow, who lives in Yamhill; George W., a resident of the
same place; and Norris H. The first four children were natives of the east and
all of the others were born in Oregon with the exception of Elizabeth.
     Norris H. Perkins was educated in the rural schools of Yamhill and aided in
cultivating the homestead until he reached the. age of twenty-three, when he was
married. Afterward he engaged in farming on this ranch and when the estate was
divided he purchased the interests of some of the other heirs. He owned four
hundred and twenty-five acres of the homestead and bought about two hundred
additional acres, which he cultivated successfully for many years. A firm
believer in the value of scientific methods, he made his efforts count for the
utmost and brought his land to a high state of productivity. In 1892 Mr. Perkins
purchased a comfortable home in Yamhill and moved to town in order to educate
his children, driving back and forth to his ranch, which he subsequently leased
when his business interests required his undivided attention. In association
with others he organized the Yamhill State Bank in 1902 with a capital stock of
twenty thousand dollars, which has since been increased to twenty-five thousand
dollars. For twenty-five years he has been president of the bank, ably guiding
its destiny, and the other officers and directors are Benjamin and Elsie
Laughlin and J. A. Simmons, vice presidents ; and A. S. Nelson, cashier.
     Mr. Perkins was married October 7, 1874, to Miss Emma J. Glandon, who was
born in Iowa.  Her parents, F. S. and Permina (Briner) Glandon, were natives of
Indiana and came to Oregon in 1864 in a covered wagon drawn by mule teams.  Mr.
Glandon purchased land near Yamhill and there engaged in farming for many years.
After his retirement he moved to Yamhill, where he passed away in 1892, and his
widow's demise occurred in 1908. Their family numbered twelve children : Harris
J., William and Perry, the two latter deceased ; Emma J.; Mrs. Tillie Venard, of
Long Beach, California ; Charles, Russell and Clara, all of whom have passed
away ; Mrs. Amanda McKern, whose home is in Yamhill ; Seymour, deceased; Mrs.
Elizabeth Tomilson, of Los Angeles, California; and Warren, who lives in
Portland.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Perkins were born seven children. The eldest Minnie B.,
married E. G. Seaton and they live on part of the Perkins donation claim. They
have become the parents of three children : Von, Lowell and Layke. Elsie E., the
wife of Benjamin Laughlin, resides near Yamhill and is the mother of two
daughters, Mildred and Emma. Ottie E. was married to John Williams, who conducts
a garage in Yamhill. Lola, the fourth daughter, died February 7, 1900. The son,
Cloan N., completed a course in the University of Oregon in 1906 and in 1909 was
graduated from the Pacific Dental College in Portland. During his college days
he took a prominent part in athletic sports and was a champion half-mile
sprinter. Since his graduation he has practiced successfully in the Rose city.
He is married and has three children:. Dix, Norris and James. Vie V. is the wife
of W. H. Moore of Yamhill: and the mother of a daughter, Mary. Beryl became the
wife of A. S. Nelson, who is cashier of the Yamhill State Bank, and they have
one child, Naomi.. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have two great-grandchildren, Keith and
Norris Seaton, and take justifiable pride in their fine family.
     In 1919 Mr. Perkins erected a modern home in Yamhill and has one of the
best residences in the town. In the spring of 1927 he divided his farm among his
children, believing that it was better to give them their patrimony while they
were young and able to enjoy it. He has filled all of the chairs in Yamhill
Lodge, No. 56, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his wife has held
all of the chairs in the local lodge of the Rebekahs. Mr. Perkins was Yamhill's
first mayor, and one of its councilmen for many years, while previous to that
time he had served on the district school board, discharging the duties of these
offices in a highly creditable manner. Time has dealt kindly with him and
although seventy-six years of age he is alert and vigorous. He enjoys life and
has never deviated from the course dictated by conscience and honor, thereby
winning and retaining the respect, confidence and good will of his fellowmen.

     
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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.