The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-12-24
OBITUARY.
HON. SAMUEL E. PERKINS.

on the 9Th day of December, 1871. We are in :
debted to Nowland's "Prominent Citizens" for
the most of the following sketch, written, as
MI. Nowland says, by s citizen of Indiana
polls. Samuel E. Perkins was left, before he
was five years of age, without parents or pro-
perty, and adopted into the family OF
William Baker, respectable farmer of Con :
way, Mass g, with whom he lived and labored
until he was 81. During this period, by the
aid of three months annual schooling, in the
free schools of the State, during the winter
months, and by devoting the rainy days and
evenings to books, he secured to himself a
good English education, and began the study
of the dead languages. After he was 81, he
pursued his studies in different schools. work
ing mornings, evenings, and Saturdays 10
pay his board, and occasionally a quarter
in vacation to raise money for tuition
and clothing. The last year OF this course of
studies was spent at the Yates County Acad-
emy, New York, then under the presidency of
Seymour B. Gookins a brother of Judge Goo.
kins, late of Terre Haute, Ind He then began
the study of law in Penn Yam, N. Y !, writing
IN law offices for board, tuition and the use of
law books. In the fall of 1885 he came
ALONE, ON FOOT TO INDIANA,
not knowing any body in the State. He arrived
at Richmond, aud spent the winter reading
city. The following spring he was admitted
to the bar at Centreville, the county seat of
Wayne county, but opened his Office for busl-
ness at Richmond, and at the same time edited
the .Jeffersonian. a Democratic paper which
had then just been established by Demo
cratic club. He soon found himself in the
midst OF a larse and lucrative practice.
Messrsl Caleb b Smith, Newman Parker and
Judge Test practiced there at the same time.
He gave up the Jefferson ian FOR awhile, but as
1t soon fell heavily in debt and was about to
paid off the debt, and continued 1t through
the exciting Tippecanoe and Tyler campaign
Of 1910.
In 1913 he was
APPOINTED PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
by Governor Whitcomb, for that judicial cir
cult. and in lSi4 was one of the electors who
gave the vote of the State to MIR. Polk In the
winter Of 1874, without sny agency on his part,
he was nominated by Governor Whitcomb-a
cautious man and good judge OF characterize
a seat on the supreme bench, but was not con.
firmed. A year later he was again nom
mated, with the result. On the
adjournment of the Legislature of that wear
and quite unexpsctediy to himself. Judge
Perkins received from the governor the APP
polntmeDt for one year to
THE SUPREME BENCH.
He was then "a years old, and h ad been q resi-
dent of the Stat. nine years. With much re-
luctance he accepted the appointment, having
to risk the re election of Governor Whitcomb
ing year. Governor Whitcomb was, however,
re- elected, and Judge Perkins, after having
served the supreme DenCn one year. was
renominated and confirmed by the Senate,
receiving a twO-thirds vote, seven Wings
voting Tor him. In addition TO lis labors on
the supreme bench of the State in 1855, he pre-
pared
THE INDIANA DIGEST,
an invaluable work of It's kind, containing
| over SO pages, and requiring great labor In
the deepest research into the statutes
of the State, and the clsions of the court.
This work has received the concentrations OF
the entire Indiana par, and has met with a
large sale. A year later he prepared
THE INDIANA PRACTICE.
| This is we'll known book; IN size and gen
eraI appearance, similar to the digest" II
| has been well received, and has sold readily
| to the profession. In 1852, in 1858, and again
in 1876 he was elected by the people to, e
| pointment of
| , PROFESSOR OF Law
in the Northwestern Christian University
| which duties ne creditably performed in addi
court. In 1864 he was candidate for re elec
| ton t. the supreme court, but, In common
| with the entire Democratic ticket was de-
feat-d He then began again the practice of law
continuing it's kept for the brief period that n,
| was editor-in chief of the indianapolis Herald
and until he was e.ected to the judegship of tn,
superior court of Marion county, in which
/ position his decisions gave general satisfaction
| py his DID place on the supreme bench in 1876
| 10 which ne was called through his election b.
the Democratic party. Ii viii thus b
seen that Judge Perkins has been
| UPON THE BENCH ALMOST CONSTANTLY
since 1885, and his decisions have been salts
fsctorily received everywhere. The editor
Appletons EneySiopae ma par,,na pa,u MN nna IN
| his decisions in that well-known publication
IN preference to other jurists who had, per
i Oliver a. Smith, in his early Trials" says
Judge Perkins went upon the bench whei
beyond his Richmond locality as lawyer. II
was however, well and intimately known I
Governor Whitcomb. from whom he receive
the bench a sound, discriminating mind,
UNrIRING ENERGY, INDusrRY AND STRICT IN
TEGRITY.
His character as q judge was nodded yer
much like those of Judges Blackford an
Denny, with whom he was first associated
J HIS close application aud great research int
bench where he has continued 10 labor sine
he took his seat with an ardor and landau
his feeble constitution. Many of his opinion
will be found in our reports. 1t Is not m
purpose 70 approve or disspprove OF the Gee
aud speak for them elves 1t is, howeve
. proper that should remark that the in
, marks between common law ar
equity yg..a;as sns wS sS,sn The the ,Ss%
were familiar, have made the labors and diff
? culties OF the Judges of the supreme court
= hundred times greater at this day than IN,
were under the Old ssttied practice, when u
court could look TO precedents for their dec
Snase Perkins Rs wss forcioIs writer His ed ea
oriai efforts on the Herald, WHOM name ne
r% gave gsysoa the se.,ss ssn'ins 81. for nov.
a. in 1850, in the United States district cou
N Governor willard, is described as a very hap
II effort, showing his familiarity with the lly
q, o.X jSass % Perkins , was married twice, first
n 1888 and again In 1855. each time to y daughi