Richard C. and Cornelia C. Perkins, 8 North 52 West

Richard Perkins and Cornelia Davis married on 16 Dec 1868 in Marshall County, Mississippi.

In 1870 Fayette County, Tennessee, R. C. Perkins is farming, 28, C. C. Perkins 24, and Martha Perkins 4/12.
In 1880 Weld County, Richard C. Perkins is 38, Cornelia C. Perkins 25 Wife, Lizzie M. Perkins 10 Daughter, Sallie O. Perkins 8 Daughter, Hugh R. Perkins 6 Son, Mary E. Perkins 4 Daughter, Charley Perkins 2 Son, and Anna D. Perkins 2/12 Daughter.

Alma L. Perkins BIRTH 19 Apr 1880 DEATH 19 Feb 1881 BURIAL Riverside Cemetery Sterling, Colorado, MEMORIAL ID 54739479.

Richard claimed a quarter in section 15, 8N 52W in 1881.

In December 1883 the Rocky Mountain News description of Sterling included "R. E. Smith & Co., of which firm Mr. R C. Perkins is a partner, are dealers in groceries and provisions, carrying an excellent stock of goods. "

In 1885 Weld County (then including Sterling), R. C. Perkins is 43, Cornelia Perkins 37 Wife, Lizzie Perkins 15 Daughter, Sallie Perkins 13 Daughter, Hugh Perkins 10 Son, May Perkins 8 Daughter, Chas Perkins 6 Son, Carrie Perkins 3 Daughter, and Maggie Perkins 11/12 Daughter.

April 1885 "R. C. Perkins started Thursday for New Orleans and the World's fair."

May 1885 "Mr. R C. Perkins returned Tuesday from his trip to Mississippi and the New Orleans exposition."

Sterling, Colo. Dec., 24, 1887 "Last evening a number of the representative men of Sterling sat down to an elegant banquet in the Pacific hotel dining rooms in honor of the selection of Sterling as the county seat of Logan county. There were also present invited guests from Holyoke, Julesburg, Atwood, Greeley and Denver. The banquet was gotten up under the auspices of the Sterling Board of Trade.
Hon. Thomas L. Watson was called as toast master, and, in accepting the position, made a neat speech, which partook more of the pacific than of the glorification order, and in expressing pleasure at the result of last Tuesday's election, congratulated those present on the fact that with the settlement of the county seat question, all bickerings and strifes among the people had ceased, as the cause which prompted them had been removed. Such contests were injurious to the growth and development of Logan county, while it retarded the growth of her towns and unsettled real estate values. In the future all towns and all sections will work together in harmony. Sterling cannot and does not claim all of the credit of the result. It has been contributed to by every precinct in the county. Therefore, we have no desire to show or express sectionalism. We wiil work in harmony with other sections and make Logan the banner county of the plains.
The toast, "Logan County," was responded to by Mr. Charles Allen, a talented young attorney of Sterling, who spoke at length, of the early settlement and the hardships of the pioneers, and to which latter he accorded a full measure of praise, and after reading the long contests for separation and local government, declared that “Logan county, Minerva like, springs into life full grown, and fully equipped to move on to wealth and prosperity. There is no reason why it should not be more prosperous than any other county in eastern Colorado."
The next toast, “Eastern methods,” was responded to by Dr. Hall, who handled his subject artistically and with much humor, making telling home thrusts and keeping his auditors in a roar of laughter during his tale. Mr. R. C. Perkins, one of the original fifteen men to settle among the Indians, buffaloes and antelope of the Lower Platte valley, replied to the toast "Old times," giving a graphic and interesting description of the vicissitudes, dangers and fears of the pioneer band, the failures of crops, the raising of crops and no market for them, etc. It gave him "great pleasure to be present this evening and witness the final triumph." He felt that "Providence had been with us all the time and finally sent a blizzard on election day to keep the tenderfeet in the eastern portion of the county' at home."
Mr. H. Emerson, of Holyoke, made a graceful response to the toast "Our Sister Towns," congratulating Sterling on a victory that Holyoke was not able to prevent. Mr. Emerson got in some good words for Holyoke, which three months ago had not a building on its site, and rejoices in 135 houses, most all of them business structures. He made an appropriate and just plea in favor of legislation in behalf of the "rain-belters" and Eastern Colorado. But, like all tenderfeet sometimes do, Mr. Emerson got confused in declaring that the "Denver papers know nothing of Eastern Colorado, and we must send East to get something said of our section." The gentleman should have said, "I know nothing of the Denver papers," or at least of the leading one there. Nearly two years ago this reporter wrote a five-column article devoted exclusively to Eastern Colorado, and, with a map of that section, it was published in The Rocky Mountain News. Since that numerous and lengthy articles on the same subject have appeared from the same and other writers in that journal.
One of the handsomest efforts of the evening was that of Mr. J. L. Hunter, in response to the toast, "The future of Sterling." He cited the fact that "three years ago Sterling had 300 inhabitants, and today it has 1,200, or four times as many as it had three years ago. Then we had only one railroad. Today we have two railroads, with two more coming, and in four years more we will have 5,000 inhabitants. Sterling will have wholesale houses and its drummers traveling over the country in the next twelve months."
"Our visitors" called forth Mr. George West, of Greeley, who was profuse, as well as graceful, in his compliments to Sterling, congratulating its wideawake citizens, and predicting for it a splendid future.
Mr. J. C. Gordon, of the Record and Democrat, made a pleasing and timely respehse to the toast "The Press." which was well received by his auditors.
The programme was completed by Mr. Fred McDonald responding to the toast "The Boys," in the funniest "take off" of the occasion, keeping the guests in a roar of laughter for many minutes."

At a Denver Prohibitionist Party in August 1888



"STERLING, Colo., Aug. 18, 1899.—Rumor gained ground here yesterday that eight head of cattle were killed by unknown parties on Two-Mile creek, twenty-five miles northwest of this place, Tuesday of this week. It was said that the cattle killed belonged to J. J. Cheairs, J. C. Cheairs, R. C. Perkins and D. S. Boyd of this place.
Sheriff Ayres, accompanied by two deputies, visited the scene of the alleged killing yesterday and found six head dead, and upon careful examination it was found that they had been killed by lightning. It was presumed that the killing of cattle was the outgrowth of sheep killed some three weeks ago, and that the sheep men were retaliating."

In 1900 Logan County, Richard L. Perkins is farming, 58, married 31 years to Cornelia C. Perkins 53 Wife, May E. Perkins 23 Daughter a scool teacher, Charlie A. Perkins 22 Son, no occupation, Carrie C. Perkins 18 Daughter, Maggie Perkins 15 Daughter, and Lester D. Perkins 17 Son.

May 1903

September 1909 " R. C. Perkins and wife left Friday for an extended visit with relatives, throughout the southern states."

In 1910 Logan County, Richard C. Perkins is 68, Cornelia Perkins 64 Wife, Lester Perkins 22 Son, Walter Perkins 13 Grandson, and Jessie Perkins 3 Granddaughter. Both are Hugh R. Perkins' children.

November 1912

September 1917 "A happy time was had Sunday at the home of R. C. Perkins. All but one of his children are at home, and the event was in the nature of a reunion. There were twenty-two present and a bounteous picnic lunch was enjoyed under the trees. Those present were: W. I. Brush and family, Mrs. George Young and family, C. A. Perkins and family, G. A. McNutt and family, L. D. Perkins and wife, Mrs. J. C. Naylor. Mrs. Naylor leaves the first of the week to join her husband at Camp Green, North Carolina."

In 1920 Sterling, Richard C. Perkins is 77, May Young 43 Daughter, widowed, Richard Young 17 Son, Don Young 15 Grandson, Katharine Young 13 Granddaughter, Aubrey Young 8 Grandson, and Margaret Young 3 Granddaughter .

November 16, 1922 "Richard C. Perkins died at his home at Sterling, Colo., November 7, 1922. He was born in Fayette county, Tenn., March 9, 1842, a son of Richard C. and Martha O.(Gibson) Perkins. He was one of eleven children, only one of whom is now living, Mrs. Sarah E. Smith of Long Beach, Calif.
Four of Mr. Perkins' children were at his bedside at the time of his death: Mrs. May Young and Charles Perkins of Sterling, Colo.; Mrs. Carrie Naylor of Portland, Ore., and Hugh Richard (Jack) Perkins of Los Angeles, Calif.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Perkins was attending the Baptist University at Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he had spent two terms. About that time, his older brother, who had been in charge of the home plantation, died and he was called home to assume the management of the estate. On arriving home and finding his mother almost prostrate with grief, he fell on his knees and prayed to God that he might live to comfort her and fill the vacancy which was left in the home through the passing of the beloved son and brother. This instance typified the devout Christian life which he always lived.
In the spring of 1862, at the age cf eighteen, he went to Virginia and enlisted in the Nineteenth Mississippi Infantry, C. 8. A., having a brother who was a member of this regiment. He joined Company H at Yorktown, where the regiment skirmished for several days and fell back to Williamsburg, where hia brother John was killed. Then the regiment marched to Richmond, where he took part in the selge and also in the batt1e of Malvern Hill. In the latter engagement he was wounded seriously. For three months he was confined to the hospital at Richmond, after which he was given a furlough of a year. Upon the expiration of the furlough, being incapicitated for duty in the infantry, joined Forest Cavalry in Northern Mississippi.
The first engagement of the cavalry of consequence was the capture of Port Pillow. After many minor engagementa in which he participated in the spring of 1865, he returned to Virginia and joined his old regiment, then located in the trenches between Richmond and Petersburg. He was stationed just to the right where Genera1 Grant blew up the Confederate works by undermining it. He took part in the battle that followed in which the Confederates succeeded in holding their lines. Later he was a participant in engagements at Weldon Road.
After the surrender Mr. Perkins went home, it taking him about one month to walk from Farmville. where Lee surrendered, to his Tennessee plantation. There he found nothing but desolation; all was laid waste. Howeve, he was cheered by the fact that many of his former slaves remained to welcome him home, and they continued with him as long as he was on the old plantation.
After his mother's death in 1866, he purchased the interests of the other members of the family in the estate with the intention of making his permanent home amid the scenes familiar to him from his earlieat recollection. However, in 1873 he decided to come west. He told his place and moved to Colorado, arriving in Greeley accompanied by three other families. A few months later Mr. Perkins came to Logan county, where he has since made his home. in February, 1873, he proved up on his home as a pre-emption and later hometseaded an additional one hundred sixty acres four miles north of Sterling. Upon that homestead he made his abode for eight years, after which he moved to hia place one mile south of Sterling. There he was engaged in farming and the stock business until 1920, when he sold the place and moved to this city.
During the early days of his restidence in Logan county, Mr. Perkins experienced all the hardships and privations of life on the frontier. It was difficult then to obtain the bare necessities, and comforts were not expected. He was one of the builders of the Sterling No. 1 Irrigation ditch, which was the first project of its kind in this county.
In politics be was a staunch Prohibitioist. With his wife and family he held membership in the First Presbyterian church of Sterling and was either deacon or elder of the same for forty-four years, a man held in high esteem by all who knew him.
In 1868, Mr Perkins married Miss Miss Cornelia C. Davis, a native of Marshall County. Miss., and a most loveable character, who died in March of 1913. Nine children were born to this marriage, and seven are living, namely: Mrs. W. I. Brush of Paso Robles, Calif.; Hugh Richard (Jack) Perkins of Los Angeles, Mrs. May Young of Sterling, Colo.; Mrs. Carrie Naylor of Portland, Ore., Mrs. Margaret McNutt of Fresno, Calif., Charles Perkins of Sterling. Colo, and Lester D. Perkins of Paso Rubles, Calif.
Mr. Perkins was a kind and indugent husband and father. Besides his children and grandchildren to mourn their loaa, there are numerous friends and relatives who loved him as a brother.

By W. B. Hays:
With the passing of our friends, often we see vividly their strong traits of character. R. C. Perkins was one of those who had atrong traits of character indeed. For over thirty-five years I have known him; but although often closely associated with him, I can not say that I knew him, what we would call intimately. He was invariaby reticent about speaking of himself and what I knew of his history I gleaned by persistent inquiry. The main striking feature of his character as I observed it was that disposition—whatever one might call it — to do what had to be done without flinching, hesitation, or wavering. His life work required such a man, and no one could aay that R. C. Perkins ever faltered in the performance of the duties required of him.
Being a Southern man, he saw it as his duty to enlist with the Confederate army, at the beginning of the Civil war, and whether facing death with Lee at Malvern Hill, where he was severely wounded, or struggling to the last with his chieftain up to the final end at Appomattox, or fighting for some time in the interim with the gallant cavalry of Oeneral Forest, or suffering the privations and hardships attendant upon pioneer life in Northeastern Colorado, where he established his future home he was ever the same uncumpromising devotee to what seemed to him his duty. What there was for him to do, that he did without hetitatlon or mention. In politics and religion, we saw him from different vlewpointa — I might say from opposite viewpoints, but no one could contemplate his motives and the inner urge that prompeted him to action without the most profound respect for the real man that he truly was. Without the least pretenslon, the good of hls family and the good of bla country waa ever his aim and intent in all his actions.
Stern, kind, clarified before his God as he saw his duty, he stood a man: and thus I will ever remember him. "

" Mr. and Mrs. John Naylor and Letter Perkins, who came here to attend the funeral of the late R. C. Perkins, will leave for their homes Tuesday morning, the Naylors going to Portland. Ore., and Mr. Perkins going to Paso Robles, C«llf."

LIZZIE

November 1887 Sterling " Harry Porter went to Denver Wednesday."

February 1888 Sterling "Mr. Harry Porter has gone east."

March 1888

Lizzie Perkins and Harry Porter married on 3 Apr 1889 in Sterling, Logan County, Colorado.
"Wednesday eve, at 7:30 o'clock, at the residence of R. C. Perkins, Henry Porter and Miss Lizzie Perkins were united in marriage. Both are well and favorably known to the entire community. Por a long time they have been popular and leading spirits in the social, literary, musical, and religious circles of Sterling. Seldom are met so many sterling qualities in one union: No couple here had a larger circle of friends to wish them the unclouded sunshine of a long and joyous life. A number of valuable presents and a well prepared and nicely arrahged supper were not the least in the enjoyment of the occasion by the hnppy couple and surrounding friends."

April 1889 Sterling "Mr. and Mrs. Harry Porter will occupy the residence of Dr. Hall during the latter's visit to Massachusetts."


Martha E. Perkins Porter BIRTH 26 Feb 1870 DEATH 4 May 1889 BURIAL Riverside Cemetery Sterling, Logan County, Colorado, MEMORIAL ID 57403503.

March 1890 Sterling " There must be some attraction up at Brighton for our school teacher, Mr. Harry Porter, as he spends his Sundays In that quiet llttlo village."

May 1890 an article on schools included "Prof. Harry Porter has also done good work in the school room. It has been practical and progressive and has given Sterling reason to be proud of her school system."

Fannie E. Dickson and H.H. Porter married on 30 May 1905 in Mercer County , Pennsylvania.

In 1910 Youngstown, Ohio, Harry H. Porter is proprietor of a school, 49, born in Iowa, Frances E. Porter 49 Wife.

August 1923 "Harry Porter of Warrensburg, O., will arrive in Sterling Monday to visit friends for a few days."

Harry and Frances are in Los Angeles in 1930.
Harry H. Porter BIRTH 1862 DEATH 1934 BURIAL Norwich Cemetery Martelle, Jones County, Iowa, PLOT Lot Back, row 10 MEMORIAL ID 78060934
Frances E. “Fannie” Dickson Porter BIRTH 1859 DEATH 10 Dec 1937 BURIAL Lowellville Cemetery Lowellville, Mahoning County, Ohio, PLOT Section A Lot 234 Grave 8 MEMORIAL ID 83971091.


SALLIE

Sallie Perkins and Walter T. Brush married on 28 Oct 1891 in Sterling, Logan County, Colorado. Walter's father had been Lieutenant Governor of Colorado.
His mother died in October 1877.
October 5, 1877 "General Judd Brush and family of Greeley are going to the Arkansas Hot Springs. "


"News came to Greeley on Monday week by telegraph, that Mrs. J. L. Brush had just died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, whither she bad been taken by her husband, in the hope of improving her health. Mrs. Brush has been an invalid for several years, and her death was not wholly unexpected; although her friends hoped the change might lead to an amelioration of her condition."

Ada M. Brush BIRTH 1849 DEATH 14 Oct 1877 Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas, BURIAL Linn Grove Cemetery Greeley, Weld County, Colorado, PLOT Block I, Lot 12, Space MEMORIAL ID 40846938,

May 1900 Sterling "Elegance and taste, combined with the best horse flesh, is essential to the up-to-date livery barn. The rigs and turnouts of W. I. Brush are readily recognized by these distinctions. Promptness is also a characteristic of this barn, and teams may be had on a moment's notice, day or nighit. Drivers are furnished for funerals and every attention is given to the traveling public. Mr. Brush has been in business here for 2 years and is well known. Mr. Brush owns a large band of range horses and is one of our substantial and representative citizens."

In 1900 Sterling, Walter Brush 32 is operating a livery stable, Sallie O. Brush 28 Wife.

August 10, 1900 "There is much joy in the happy home of W. L. Brush. An 11-pound son took up his residence with Mr. and Mrs. Brush last evening, and if ever a father was tickled, that man is W. I. Brush. The Democrat heartily congratulates all concerned. Walt says the young man's name will be McKinley, but we'll bet two bits he don't know."

December 4, 1907 "Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Brush spent Thanksgiving at Greeley, attending a family reunion at the home of Walter's father, Hon. J. L. Brush. Twenty-two members of the family gathered around the table and gave thanks."

September 1908


April 1910 "Gov. J. L. Brush returned to his home in Greeley Monday, after a few days visit with his son, Walter I. Brush. "

In 1910 Sterling, Walter J. Brush is 40, county sheriff, Sallie O. Brush 38 Wife, Jarad P. Brush 9 Son, Margarett P. Brush 6 Daughter, and Carrie Gillet 27 Sister-in-law, widowed, a bookkeeper.

" November 1, 1911 "To Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Perkins, at the home of Mr. Perkins' sister, Mrs. W. I. Brush, a ten pound girl yeaterday."

Walter is the postmaster in Sterling in 1912.

September 1912 " A dinner party was given at the home of W. I. Brush last evening in honor of Lester Perkins, who has b«en visiting his home, enroute for California. Those who attended the sumptuoua repast were Ned Davis and wife, Web Davis, Mr. Ellis and the members of the Brush family."

February 1917 Sterling

August 1917

July 11, 1918 "A nine and one-fourth pound son was born Tuesday evening to Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Naylor at the home of Mrs. Naylor's sister, Mrs. W. I. Brush. A cablegram was sent last evening to Mr. Naylor, who is in France with an electrical engineering corps, advising him of the arrival of a son."


October 1918 "W. I. Brush and family left Monday for Paso Robles, California, where they will make their home in future. They were accompanied by Mrs. Brush's sister, Mrs. J. C. Naylor, and little son, who will also make their home at that point. Mr. and Mrs. Brush are among the long-time residents of Sterling, and will be greatly missed in business and social circles in Sterling and throughout the county."

Sterling, March 1924 " An account of the wedding of Miss Pauline Brush, formerly of this city, has been received. This article will be of particular interest to the pioneer citizens of Sterling, as Mr. and Mrs. Walter I. Brush, the parents of Miss Pauline, were one of the first families to locate here. The announcement on the Paso Robles, Calif., paper is as follows:
"A home wedding, lovely in its aimplicity, was that of Miss Pauline Brush and Mr. Norris Heaton, which took place on Saturday evening at six o'clock at the Sacramento Ranch,, where the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. 1. Brush, reside.
The fireplace of the living room, banked with quantities of wild cherry greenery, formed the background for the wedding party. A canopy of ferns and heather, from the center of which was suspended a large wedding bell made entirely of white narcissus, finished the setting for the bridal scene, and a profusion of pink roses, carnations and tulips were used with graceful effect throughout the rooms.
The bride was attended by the sister of the groom, Miss Lenore Heaton, and the groom's attendant was a brother of the bride, Mr. Jared Brush.
A lovely gown or reindeer satin crepe was worn by the bride, who carried a bouquet of Ophelia roses and freesias. The maid of honor wore golden brown satin crepe, which harmonized beautifully with the lighter tones of the bridal gown.
The Rev. Leon D. Bliss performed the ceremony, using the impressive ring service. Afterwards, a delicious wedding supper was served, and immediately the young couple left for a short trip to the south.
Only relatives attended the nuptials and following is the guest list: Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Heaton, parents of the groom: Mr. and Mrs. Lester Perkins and two children. Jean and Junior, Miss Lenore Heaton. Miss Constance Heaton of Berkeley, Wayne Heaton, Jared Brush, Hugh Perkins, Dr. Lewis Oviedo of Oakland, and Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Brush, parents of the bride, and the Rev. Leon Bliss.
The young couple were the recipients of many lovely gifts, which go far toward beautifying their new home on Oak street. They are both well known, as the groom is a graduate of Paso Robles high school and later finished at Leland Stanford in the class of '23. Miss Brush was a graduate of University High, Berkeley, and afterwards took two years of training in the Children's Hospital, San Francisco."

Walter I. Brush BIRTH 1868 DEATH 1943 BURIAL Paso Robles District Cemetery Paso Robles, California, PLOT 182 A 8 MEMORIAL ID 93801802 .

Sallie O. Brush BIRTH 1871 DEATH 1956 BURIAL Paso Robles District Cemetery , MEMORIAL ID 69524917.
September 8, 1956 Santa Barbara "Funeral services for Mrs. Sally Brush, 83, were held this morning in the Kuehl Funeral Chapel, here with the Rev Lester Pritchett officiating. Burial was in the Paso Robles district cemetery. Mrs. Brush was born on Nov. 8, 1872, in Mississippi, and a resident of this eity since 1918, died Sunday afternoon at her home following a sudden illness."

Jared Perkins Brush BIRTH 7 Aug 1900 Sterling, Logan County, Colorado, DEATH 2 Jun 1981 California, BURIAL Paso Robles District Cemetery Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, California, PLOT 186 G 43 MEMORIAL ID 93801800.

Back to Biographies

This page is maintained by M.D. Monk.