My Genealogy Hound

J. B. Perkins, a gentleman of wonderful ability, was born in Tennessee in 1849, and is the oldest living child of George W. and Elizabeth (Herron) Perkins, of Tennessee. The father was a farmer, and emigrated to Arkansas in 1859, where he settled in Randolph County, and entered a tract of land upon which he made a home for his family until the first alarm of war brought a distressing separation. He enlisted in the Confederate army, and, after a brave struggle for the cause he under took, met death like a soldier should at Memphis, in 1862. The family continued to reside in Randolph County until 1864, when they moved to Mississippi County and settled at Beaver Point. There they farmed and rented land for several years, and in 1875 came to Cross Bayou, where they settled on fifty acres of wild land, which has since then become greatly improved through the efforts of J. B. Perkins. He has erected several substantial buildings, and put about forty acres under a high state of cultivation. His land will yield three-quarters of a bale of cotton to the acre; and, besides this, he has raised a fine orchard. In 1874, Mr. Perkins was married to Miss Sarah Starling, a native of Columbia County, Ark., and a daughter of John Washington Starling, an old settler of that county. Four children were born to the parents: Sallie, George Washington, Eddie and Minnie, the two latter deceased. John Perkins, a brother of Mr. Perkins, moved to this county at the same time with the latter, and both brothers bought land adjoining. John bought sixty-six acres, on which he made a great many improvements and erected buildings, and cleared about thirty-five acres, which he put under a good state of cultivation. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mary Bennett, a daughter of John Bennett, one of the pioneers of Mississippi County. Eight children were born to this union, of whom two have died. The names of their children are John F., Mary E., William, Rosa Lee, James Troy (deceased), Cordelia (deceased) and Nancy. Mr. Perkins was a representative citizen of Mississippi County, and took an active part in educational matters, serving as school director for several terms. He was also a member of the Agricultural Wheel, as was also his brother, J. B. Perkins. His death occurred on December 16, 1887, leaving a large circle of friends and his family to mourn their loss. The mother of these two brothers is still living in this vicinity, and enjoying the best of health, at the age of sixty years.