Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-09-13
ANOTHER PIONEER LAID TO
REST.
Remains of J. o. Birmingham Arrive
from Texas-Burial Thursday.

The remains OF the late J O. (Perk)
Birmingham arrived in Yerington
Wednesday from Paris, Texas, as
companied by ]. c. Gibbons, of that
place. who is nephew of the deceas-
ed. Mr.. Birmingham died last week
Friday from heart failure, having long
been a sufferer from rheumatism. The
funeral of deceased took place Thurs
dav afternoon from Masonic Hall un-
der the auspices of that order. OF
which deceased was member during
life. and was very largely attended by
relatives and friends in this valley
The floral tributes were numerous
and beautiful and the ceremonies verv
impressive, and great many followed
the remains to the grave where the
last sad rites were performed
In the death of Perk Birmingham
there passes from earth one of the
pioneers OF Nevada and history
maker of the State He was native
Of Paris. Texas. and at the time of his
death was II years OF age. He came
to Mason Valley in 1858, when six
teen years OF age. with Hook Mason,
and had been a resident OF this sec
iloll NNNi SiilNN, WIN ihN NNNNP Ptioi VI
few years spent in Virginia City,
where he was water rent collector for
the Virginia and Gold Hill Water Co
In 1870 or 1880 he returned to the val
ley from Virginia City and located on
the ranch he ever since owned. and
which lies few miles north of Yer
ington At this time he married Miss
Althea Brooks. a sister OF r. 5.
Brooks. who is still resident OF
lerington In the early days. when
there were Indian trouble i'll this sec
ton Perk was on one occasion. put on
horse and sent to old Fort Churchill
for aid. a number OF whites having
been surrounded in the brush by a
band OF hostile Piutes. He made the
hazardous trip and secured the aid and
the soldiers from the Fort dispersed
the edskins He was quite noted
vaquero in his younger days, and be
ing a Texan. was always handy with
sixshooter, although never hunting
trouble. and being OF jovial and
friendly disposition. In 1881 his only
surviving brother. Pat Birmingham.
was killed in pistol duel with Gus
Horton and Spaniard named Roderi-
CUES, in Ierington-theu called Green
field In 1885 Perk was elected as a
member OF the Nevada Legislature
from Lyon county. The county was
then strongly Republican and Brm-
ingham was a pretty hard Democrat,
so il will be seen that he counted his
friends by the score He made good
representative and looked after the
wlfare OF his constituents carefully.
10, M / n Rtrn,
ingham passed away and the blow was
terrible one to the bereaved husband
--one which he never fully got over
When the Alaska stampede took place
Perk visited that northern country
and there contracted rheumatism.
from which he was great sufferer
up to the time OF his death Some
months ago Perk went to Paris,
Texas. on visit to his sister, Mrs.
Gibbons. and it was at her home that
he passed away. He leaves in this
community a sister-inlaw. Mrs. Hof-
helm. three nicces, Mrs May Adams,
Mrs. Alice Lewis and Mrs. Lou Har-
ris, nephew. Jog Birmingham;
brother-in-law r. S. Brooks, and a
nephew in Texas, ]. c. Gibbons, and
sister there: niece by mar
riage, Mrs. Fred Gushing, of Car
son. who with her husband, came to
attend the funeral also sister-in-law,
Mrs. C. Fellows. OF Carson
In the passing away OF such men as
Perk Birmingham the country loses
good mcn--nen who have blazed the
trail for the more timid. who come
To- new countries afterward and gen
orally reap the benefits made possible
by the pioneer. Perk Birmingham 5
life was run; he lived to good old
age and il can truthfully be said that
the world benefited by his living
in It.