Posted on: Tippecanoe Co. In Bios Forum
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Surname: Watkins, Williams, Herzes
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Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg.
784-785
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888
PERRY WATKINS, an active and enterprising citizen of Lafayette, with whose
interest he has been identified almost a quarter of a century, is a native
of Bath, Steuben County, New York, born in the year 1841, a son of JOSEPH
WATKINS. In 1847 the family removed to Wisconsin, and settled at Beloit,
Rock County, near the Northern Illinois line. Here our subject was reared,
learning the carpenters trade at Beloit. He also lived at Madison, Wisconsin,
eight or ten years. In June, 1861, he enlisted at Rock Island, Illinois,
and at Chicago was assigned to Company A, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
He was Benton Barracks, St. Louis, for two weeks, and from there started
with his regiment to relieve Mulligan, but reaching Jefferson City found
that Mulligan had suspended. He served under Fremont in Missouri, and afterward
under Hunter. His first general engagement was at Pea Ridge. Immediately
after the battle of Prairie Grove he was promoted to Third Corporal, and
served in Missouri until after the siege of Vicksburg. He was in that memorable
siege for twelve days, and after the taking of Vicksburg went to Yazoo
City, and from there returned to Vicksburg, and later went to New Orleans.
In the spring of 1864 they started up the White River, but MR. WATKINS
being unable to march left his regiment at the mouth of that river, and
returned to Chicago, Illinois, where he mustered out in October 1864. He
is now a comrade in JOHN A. LOGAN POST, No. 3, G.A.R. He came to Lafayette
in 1864, and began work here as a journeyman carpenter. He engaged in business
for himself as a contractor about 1870, and in 1874 formed a partnership
with ADAM HERZES, with whom he was associated under the firm name of HERZES
& WATKINS until 1884, since which time he has been in business alone. He
was married at Lafayette to MISS CORA E. WILLIAMS, a daughter of ASA WILLIAMS,
who at one time was a resident of this city. MR. WATKINS is Odd Fellow,
being a member of Lodge No. 55, and Star City Encampment, and also belongs
to the Wabash Tribe of Red Men. In politics he affiliates with the Republican
party.