Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 1059. RICHARD S. PERKINS proprietor of the Perkins House, of Portland, an estimable man and influential citizen of the metropolis, is a native of Bristol, England, where he was born February 4, 1830. His father was one of the prominent wholesale butchers and cattle dealers of Bristol, an honest and deserving man, highly respected by all who knew him. R. S. Perkins was educated at the boys' school near Bristol, after which he entered his father's establishment, studying there the process of butchering, in which he afterward became very skillful. In 1851 he emigrated to the United States, first locating in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed by the large establishment of Stedman Brothers. In the fall he went to Toledo, where he was employed through the packing season by Howard & Walker. Passing the winter at Worcester, Ohio, he started in April, 1852, across the plains for Oregon, driving four yoke of oxen for Robert Perry for his board and transportation for the journey. They accomplished this long journey without unusual incident or hardship, and arrived at the Dalles in the November immediately following. Proceeding thence to the Cascades, having only $16, he was there employed by one Bush, who kept a boarding house. Late in November he arrived in Portland, where he worked for a few weeks for Albright A. White, butchers, when he and A. H. Johnson formed a partnership under the firm name of Johnson & Perkins, and conducted the Empire Market for about ten years. In 1862 the firm dissolved, Mr. Perkins engaging in the droving business, purchasing cattle throughout the Willamette valley, and driving them to the mines in Idaho. He continued in this business for about two years, when he went to Montana, and was there also engaged in buying and selling. He then returned to Portland, following a similar occupation there. In 1869, with 4,400 sheep, he started for California, but selling them on the road, he then went to Texas, where he picked up a herd of 4,000 cattle, with which he started across the plains for Oregon. He passed the winter of 1870-'71 in Idaho, where he sold part of the herd, and in the spring of 1871 drove the balance to Oregon, where he subsequently sold the rest to Johnson & Spaulding, the enterprise proving very successful. He then followed farming in Washington county until 1872, when he bought a herd of 800 cattle, and drove them to Umatilla county, eastern Oregon, where he purchased eighty acres on Butter creek for a corral; he then turned his cattle loose, and engaged in the stock business. Increasing his herd to 5,000, with about 500 horses, he continued in the business until 1886, when he sold out and returned to Portland. He then rented the Holton House, which he conducted for five years. In 1890 he built the Perkins House, on the corner of Fifth and Washington streets, 100 x 100 feet. six stories high, which was opened February 4, 1891. It is one of the most imposing buildings and one of the, best hotels in the city, provided with all modern improvements and handsomely furnished. It is headquarters for the stockmen of the Northwest. Mr. Perkins was married in Polk county, in 1857, to Miss Elizabeth East, a daughter of John East, who came with his family across the plains in 1843. They have had eleven children, ten surviving, five sons and five daughters. He owns much valuable improved property in Portland, besides a quantity of that which is unimproved, but in a desirable location. He has besides this 800 acres in Washington county, this State, and eighty acres in Columbia county, having, probably, more land than any other one man in the State. He is a prominent member of the F. & A.M., of the Ancient Order of Druids, and is president of the Cattle Men's Pioneer Association. Transcriber's additional notes: CENSUS 1860; Multnomah Co, OR; Portland, p 503 Rich' Perkins, 28, ENG, butcher Elizabeth, 18, KY Hannah, 1, OR 1870; Washington Co, OR; Hillsboro Pct; Forest Grove PO, p 502 R. S. Perkins, 39, ENG, farmer, $27,000 real estate, $6000 pers. prop. E. J., 30, KY Hannah, 12, OR, att. school Robert, 10, OR, att. school Richard, 8, OR John, 6, OR Elizabeth, 4, OR Jane, 2, OR 1880; Washington Co, OR; East Butte Pct, p 369 R.S. Perkins, 50, ENG, ENG, ENG, farmer, parents foreign born E.J., wife, 39, MO, --, -- Robert S, son, 19, OR, ENG, MO, farmhand Richard, son, 17, OR, ENG, MO, farmhand, att. school Arthur, son, 16, OR, ENG, MO, att. school Elizabeth, dau, 13, OR, ENG, MO, att. school Jane Ann, dau, 11, OR, ENG, MO, att. school Charlotte, dau, 9, OR, ENG, MO, att. school Ada May, dau, 6, OR, ENG, MO, att. school Charles H, son, 5, OR, ENG, MO Georgie H, son, 3, OR, ENG, MO 1900; Washington Co, OR; Reedville Pct, p 158 Richard S. Perkins, 74, Feb 1826, ENG, ENG, ENG, married, to US 1851, farmer Jane, dau, 31, Sept 1868, OR, ENG, MO, single Fred S. Thompson, 23, Feb 1877, KS, OH, IL, single, day laborer August Anderson, servant, 36, Jan 1864, MN, Sweden, Sweden, single, day laborer 1900; Multnomah Co, Or; Portland pct 7, p 151; 183 19th st. Elizabeth Perkins, 59, Feb 1841, KY, VA, KY, mar 43 yrs, 11 children-10 living John O, son, 35, July 1864, OR, ENG, KY, single, plumer (steam & gas fitter) Atie M, dau, 23, July 1776, OR, ENG, KY, single Euphima, dau, 19, Jan 1881, OR, ENG, KY, single Charles Malboeuf, sl, 31, April 1869, CAN, CAN, ME, to US 1886, mar 6 yrs, Claim Agent RR Mary Ch, dau, 29, Oct 1870, OR, ENG, KY, mar 6 yrs, 1 child-1 living Elizabeth E, gr dau, 3, June 1896, OR, ENG, KY 7 boarders, 1 servant "The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest." A compilation of material The Oregonian Publishing Co., 1894; Page 149 THE HOTEL PERKINS The Hotel Perkins occupies a central position, on the corner of Fifth and Washington streets. The Washington street electric line and the cable line pass the door. These lines afford easy means of reaching any part of Portland, and the cable line connects direct with the Union depot. The Hotel Perkins is now under the proprietorship of R. S. Perkins. large, well lighted and perfectly heated and ventilated rooms have established a enviable reputation for the Perkins with the traveling public. The Perkins receives extensive patronage from the stockmen, and the names of the leading stockraisers of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, who visit Portland, are usually found on the hotel register. A well conducted restaurant and a bar stocked with the finest liquors are features of this well conducted house. THE PERKINS RESTAURANT -- The veteran Portland restaurateur, Mr. D. H. Simmons, whose skill as a caterer is appreciated by epicures, conducts the Perkins restaurant. He numbers among his patrons many Portland business men who have dined with him for years. Meals are served at all hours at the Perkins restaurant, for from 25 cents up. THE HOLTON HOUSE -- The popular Portland hostelry so long known as the Holton House is located on the corner of Fourth and Alder streets, and is the point of departure and arrival of trains on the West Side Division of the Southern Pacific. The present proprietors of this well conducted house are Messrs. J. R. Markley, R. R. Hays and M. D. Roche, the latter gentleman being the acting manager. All of these gentlemen are well known to the traveling public of the coast, and they have hosts of friends among the large number of people they have so long helped to entertain. The Holton House occupies a substantial brick structure and contains 75 rooms, all of which have recently been newly and handsomely furnished. All modern improvements are found her for the comfort of guests. Traveling men have always received special attention at the Holton, and the large patronage they have always accorded the house attests their hearty appreciation of its merits. During the political campaigns, the Holton is the headquarters for the leading politicians of all parties. An elegant bar and billiard room, as well as a perfectly arranged barber shop, are connected with the house for the accommodation of guests. NEWSPAPER ARTICLE The Morning Oregonian; Dec. 30, 1889; p6 "Another Large Hotel" Plans and specifications for the new Holton house to be built by Mr. R. Perkins at the north east corner of Fifth and Alder streets have been prepared by Mr. Justus Krumbein and ---- for excavation and construction of the foundation will be opened today. The plans are for a very handsome building of brick six stories in height with a tower at the corner. The height from the sidewalk to the top of the tower will be 1--8 feet. There will be handsome bay windows on both the Alder and Fifth street sides. The main entrance will be on Alder street. On the ground floor will be the office in the corner two stores fronting on Alder street, the dining room, kitchen, barber shop, bar, etc. On the second floor will be the parlors and rooms in suites and single. There will also be a parlor in the third story. A number of the suites of rooms will have grates in them and the building will be heated throughout by steam. There will be a court in the center and one at the rear so that the halls and rooms will be lighted. There will be two stairways to the upper story and an elevator and fire escapes something similar to those on The Portland. The building will be constructed throughout in the most substantial manner and furnished with all modern improvements and in point of beauty and elegance, will compare favorably with the other fine building which are to be erected in that vicinity before long. At the base of the tower on the Alder street front will be the figure of a full grown steer, which it is Mr. Perkins fancy to have there to show that he made the money which built the hotel out of the cattle business. He is probably the first stockman in the Northwest to erect a statue in honor of the steers by which he made his fortune. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.