The Portland daily press., 1874-05-12
Death of DIR. Lafayette Perkins.

FARMINGTON, May 9Th, 1874
Died iii Pennington, Maine, May 9th. La
fayette Perkins, NJ. D., aged 8S years, month
and 13 days.
Another of our prominent and highly hon
ored citizens has been removed by the fell des-
troyer, and vacancy has been made by his
death which will be greatly realized and la
mented. During his residence here of thirty
eight years, DR.. Perkins has made hosts of
warm, true friends. In his daily walk and life
he fully carried out the teachings Of the
thorough born old school gentleman, always
courteous and dignifed
Upon making inquiries have learned some
facts regarding the deceased which may be OF
interest to your readers.
At the close of the war of the Revolution,
Col. VIM. Perkins, prominent and distn-
gushed officer, was appointed commandant of
Castle William, now Fort Independence, in
Boston Harbor. On the 26th of March, 1856,
son was born to him; this event caused great
rejoicing both to himself and all the garrison,
and more than usual notice was taken of the
event. AT the proper time the boy was taken
to the city, escorted by band of music and
squad of soldiers from the fortiication, to
Kings Chapel, where he was christened by the
Marquis de Lafayette and assumed ais name.
At the age of fourteen his father died, and
he removed from the Castle. He afterward
studied medicine with the renowned DR.. John
G. Warren. and graduated from Harvard
Medical College, August 81. 1914. Prior to his
graduation, however, during the war of 1872,
the doctor was appointed Surgeon of the ship
ARGUS" in which position he made himself
very popular with all on board, so much so,
that at the close of the war, while the vessel
was laying in the river Lyde, in France, he was
presented with beautiful dress sword by the
officers of the vessel. This gift he always
highly priced and still retains it in the family.
After graduating he removed to Weld, in this
county, where he lived twenty one years, max
ing himself fine farm the shore of a
beautiful pond. During his stay there, in con-
selling lands to settlers, and Perkins Planta-
tion was named in honor of him.
March 49, 1886, he removed to this town. By
his affabe and courteous manner he soon be-
came prominent citizen, and built up a very
extensive practice, which he retained until
obliged to retire from the profession by failing
health.
The doctor was not a man who sought for
honors among men by public offices; he rather
stunned them. Yet we can note one import
ant Office he has acceptably filed He was
member of the convention which met in Port
land the second Monday in October, 1919, for
the purpose of forming a constitution for the
State of Maine; and, by the way, if we misteke
not, be was the last surviving member of tn t
convention.
DR.. Perkins leaves widow and four sons
to mourn his loss; two of the latter are Leading
merchants in Portland. We cannot grieve for
him, for he was cut down as wheat fully ripe
for the harvest. We can only strive to so i'm
itate his many virtues that when our hold upon
life is Ioosed, our record may stand as untarn-
ished as his is. Funeral services will be held
at his late residence Tuesday afternoon.
j. W. Perkins and B. A. Perkins of the
firm of j. w. Perkins & Co. are sons of the
doctor. JACK.