Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-06-23


w. Perkins, ex-senator, and for years
n representative from Kansas, died
suddenly ut his home in this city yes
terday afternoon. His death was due
to cholera morbus contracted In the
Indian territory few days ago. lie
leaves wife. two daughters and a
son, all of whom were present ut the
deathbed.
A week ago he returned to WASH
ington from Kansas and since then
has been suffering from bowel trouble,
but until Tuesday night steadfastly
refused to call u physician. During
the night he became worse and DIR.
lirumbaugh, the family physician,
was called in.
lie pronounced the attack cholera
morbus. The ex-senator passed q
quiet night. No serious alarm was
felt during the day until 3 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, when the symp-
toms grew much worse. Drs. Bellach
and Sewers were hastily summoned.
Their efforts to afford relief were
futile. lie sank rapidly and ut 4 o'clock
passed away. No arrangements have
yet been made for the funeral,
though the remains probably will be
taken for intcrment to the home Of
the family in Kansas.
Hon. Bishop W. Perkins was born in
Rochester, Lorain county, Ohio, Octo-
Der IS. 1s42. His education was re-
ceived in the common schools of his
native state and in Knox college in
Galesburg, Ill. He spent two years
In Colorado after leaving college, and
in lsGa he returned from that terri
tory and enlisted in Company ID,
Eighty-third Illinois volunteer in
fantry. rs sergeant lie was after.
wards transferred to The Sixteenth
n ljutant and captain for over two
years. lie was mustered out of the
service in 1865. When he left the
army Mr. Perkins returned to Illinois
and began the study of law. reading
with Hon. U. {. Gray of Ottawa, and
in 1856, was admitted to the bar.
During that year he located mt
Picrcetown, Ind, where he remained
for two years when he removed to
Oswego. Kan. In the spring of 1869
Mr.. Perkins was appointe county
attorney of Labette county ami held
the position until his successor was
elected. himself declining the nomin.
alton for the office,
lie was elected probate Judge in the
fall of 1870. and in 1873 was appointed
district Judge for the Eleventh ju-
dicial district. ana in November OF
ALuN alA N..I IN h..
office. In 1874 he was reelected and
again in 1873. At the November
election Mr.. Perkins was chosen to
represent the Third congressional
district in congress, and also served
the same district In the Fifticth and
Fifty-first congresses. but was de-
feated in 1890 by II. ii. Clover, the
Populist candidate.
In 1892 he was appointed By Cover.
nor Humphrey to the United States
senate to fill the position made vacant
by the death OF senator Plumb, which
occurred in December, 1891.
Mr.. Perkins was one Of the famous
"big four congressman - Morrill,,
Peters, Perkins and iIanback--elected
at large from the third di>tric. lie
was potent factor in Kansas politics
and was one of the best posted men in
Kansas upon state and national
issues. Always an intense partisan,
he was .vertheless patriotic,
thoroughly imbucd with state pride
and was always ready and enger to do
his utmost for the welfare of the COM
and its citizens. lie had
hosts Of friends throughout the state
and hal he lived would have been /
candidate for the United {
States senatorship to succeed Senator
Martin.
Mr.. Perkins was n ready speaker
md an able parliamentarian. While
q member of the house he was often
chosen to fill the chair in the absence
of Speaker Reed. Since his retire
ment from the senate in March, 1893,
he had been engaged in the practice
of law in Washin yton, being asso.
ciated with ex-Assistant Secretary of
the Interior Chandler in ths prose GU .
ton OF Indian depreciation claims be-
fore the interior department.
Mr.. Perkins was comparatively n
poor man, but while he hal been in
business life he male a number of
ventures, and 1t Is believed
that he leaves not less than $780, to 4
his family which Is not covered by
will. II Is also known that he has
carried heavy life INSURANCE, for sew
eral years. He has in the Connecticut
Mutual Sl4,O Massachusetts, Mutual
$40. 900, and in another company Sl0,-
900 and in Masonic insurance COM