Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-01-09
TIE NEW SENATOR.

Brief Biographical sketch OF Hon. I8ishop
w. PerIEins, the Newly-App0lnted sem
atOr.
Following Is n sketch of the life Of
Hon. Bishop W. Perkins:
Bishop w. Perkins In native Of Rochester,
Lorain county, o., and was born October 49, 1871.
He n descendant OF John Perkins, who sailed
from Windsor, England, for the colonies In 1880,
and the family gencalogy is preserved upon
tomb nc Beckett, Mass. Some o. the family were
soldiers In the revolutionary war. His grand
father, d. c. Perkins, was for several years .
member OF the Massachusetts, Legislature. His
father, Judge ID. g. Perkins, was leading man
In politics. an abolitionist OF the Brney school.
and for several years OF the associate judges
OF Lorain county, o.
When Bishop W., the subject of this sketch,
was eight years OF age, his mother died When
he was fourteen he moved to Mercer county,
Ill, Ut the place which Is now known rs Viola.
OF which his father was ono OF the founders.
When Bishop w. Perkins was about sixteen
he entered Knox college at Galesburg, Ill,
where he remained part OF two years. On 10.
turning home during the winter vacation OF
lS5o-dO his father told him that he could not re-
turn TO college until the following September,
and accordingly young Perkins made arrange
ments 10 60 TO Colorado, where he en-
gnged in mining nt California Gulch.
his means He was then employed by
the month Us laborer in the gold diggings In
the winter OF iS606l. In the summer he went
into the grocery business at Gold Dirt with
partner. In short time after commencement
this partner was intrusted with all the capital
OF the firm TO 60 TO Omaha, Neb., and lay in
new stock OF groceries and took that occasion
ITO go for parts unknown" without taking Mr..
Perkins in his confidence on the subject. For
\. L. N,a fn IN mi
the month ut Missouri Gulch, where he re-
NAMED until his father wrote for him to return
home, in January, 1885,.
After returning to Illinois, in july, 1882 he en-
listed In company D, Eighty-third Illinois vol
unteer infantry, and at the organization Of tho
company was made one OF Its sergeants. This
regiment was ordered TO the held and stationed
ut Forts Henry and Donelson, spending great
deal of time scouting through the surrounding
country looking for guerillas
In December, 1853, by order Of Adjt Gen.
Thomas, he reported 1t GAINESVILLE, Tenn, to
act rs adjutant OF the Sixteenth United States
colored infantry, which regiment he then as
sisted in organizing Soon after entering the
field in this capacity he was sent 70 Chat
tanooga, and was in the raids under
Gems. Stedman, Rosseau and other
commanding officers from that place.
He then served through the Nashville
campaign under Gen. Thomas, soon after which
he was commissioned captain and assigned to
duty in charge OF company G, and given indie
pendent command Of the block houses anu ap-
proaches to Chattanooga on the north side or
the Tennessee river. He served In this capacity
until detailed by Cen Stedman 10 oct as judge
advocate Of o general court martial convened ~
Chattanooga, which position he held f,r several
weeks. Returning TO his comma I'd, In
short time he was again detsiled for
the same duty by Gen. Gillem, who
had succeeded Gen. Stedman In command Of the
district However, he did not serve long until
he was detailed acting adjutant general Of the
post of Chattanooga. This position WAS very
important one, rs Chattanooga was ut such time
the supply depot OF the army OF the CumDer-
land, and the post at which the refugees drew
their supplies for large section OF country.
He held this position until May, 1885 when he
returned 10 Nashville, Tenn, and was mustered
out OF service.
After leaving the service Capt. Perkins made
ARRANGEMENTS TO go TO South America. He was
offered position in the treasury department at
Washington which he declined. He gave up his
South American project and returned TO Hi
nois and entered the study OF law at Ottawa with
o. C. Gray, one OF the prominentlawyers OF that
place, and was admitted TO the bar in July, 1850.
He then went on visit to Princeton. Ind, and
was induced by friends to locate at that place.
He was doing well in the legal profession, when
in April, 1859, he resolved TO 60 west. After
looking over Kansas for several weeks he de-
cided to locat6at 0swego With W. p. Bishop
he entered intohis profession.
Judge PerlSinswas married April II, 1872 at
Columbus, O., to Louisa Cushman, daughter OF
George W. Cushman, o relative OF Charlotte
Cushrlan, and merchant OF that place.
Soon after his arrival in oswego, in May 1859,
he was appointed county attorney. In the fol-
Loving November on account OF his partner, MT
bishop being candidate for the legislature, h9
refused to be o candidate for that ONCE. In
November, 1870 he was elected probate judge,
reelected in 1872 and held that ONCE un-
I'll February, 1879 when he was appointed
by Gov Osborn Judge Of the Eleventh judicial
district, upon the resignation OF Judge Webb:
He served Us Judge until he was elected to the
Forty-eighth congress as congressmnn-at-large.
He was reelected TO the Forty-ninth, Ftftieth
and Fifty-hrst congresses and was candidate
for reelection last year. This time he was not
40 successful and was defeated by the alliance
candidate Benjamin II. Glover. Since that
time he has been practicing law in washington
UNEASY MEXICO.