Rutherford-Williamson County TN Archives Biographies.....Perkins, Daniel Price
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Author: Will T. Hale
DANIEL PRICE PERKINS. Noteworthy for his good citizenship and many excellent
traits of character, Daniel Price Perkins, of Murfreesboro, has been closely
identified with the development of the industrial interests of the city, and as
an honored representative of the courageous pioneers of Tennessee is eminently
deserving of especial mention in this work. A son of Peter Perkins, he was born
in Hinds county, Mississippi, and was there brought up and educated.
His grandfather, Col. Nicholas Tate Perkins, was born in North Carolina, a
son of Charles Perkins, and grandson of one Nicholas Perkins. In early manhood
he migrated to Tennessee, locating about 1800 in Williamson county in pioneer
days. The country roundabout was then in its primitive condition, its dense
growth of timber being inhabited by the wily red man, and the beasts of the
forest, neither of whom were pleasant neighbors. The Indians strenuously opposed
the entrance of the white settlers into their happy hunting grounds, and in the
numerous wars instituted by the savages Colonel Perkins commanded large bodies
of brave troops. Purchasing a tract of wild land on the Big Harpeth river, a few
miles from Franklin, he began the improvement of a homestead, bravely and
cheerfully laboring in common with his pioneer neighbors to clear the land, and
with them left footprints where the coming generations are now following with
far less exertion, and with a far greater number of the comforts and luxuries of
this world, for which they, mayhap, are not sufficiently grateful. Colonel
Perkins married his cousin, Annie Perkins, and both lived to a ripe old age,
passing away on the home farm. There they reared a large family of children,
thirteen in number.
Peter Perkins was born on the home farm, in Williamson county, and grew to
man's estate amid pioneer scenes. Not content to till the soil for a living, he
settled in Hinds county, Mississippi, and was there engaged in mercantile
pursuits until his death, in 1842, while yet in the prime of life. He married
Sarah P. Camp, who was born in Virginia, and died, in 1852, in Williamson
county, Tennessee, where she settled soon after the death of her husband. She
reared three children, namely: James Camp, Charles, and Daniel Price.
Having acquired his early education in the rural schools and at Harper
Academy, Daniel Price Perkins began life for himself in Williamson county,
Tennessee, as a farmer. Soon after the breaking out of the war between the
states he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-fifth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, which
was later consolidated with the Forty-fourth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, and
with his regiment was on duty in Nashville until after the surrender of Fort
Donelson. With his command, Mr. Perkins subsequently took an active part in the
battle of Shiloh, continuing with the western army until after the fall of
Chickamauga. Going then to Knoxville with his regiment, he remained for some
time in eastern Tennessee, going thence to Virginia, where he was at the front
in many of the engagements in and around Richmond and Petersburg. At the battle
of Hatcher's Run, on April 2, 1865, Mr. Perkins was captured by the enemy, and
taken to Fort Delaware, and was there confined as a prisoner-of-war until the
close of the conflict.
Returning home, Mr. Perkins was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in
Williamson county until 1882. Coming in that year to Murfreesboro, he was for
several years prominently identified with the advancement of the lumber
interests of this city, carrying on a substantial business in company with
George W. Ransom. At the present writing, in 1913, he is serving as president of
the Perkins Crichlow Lumber Company, a well-known and prosperous organization.
Mr. Perkins has been three times married. He married first Kate Morgan,
daughter of Rufus and Jane (Williams) Morgan. She passed to the life beyond in
1872, leaving five children, namely: Mary, Morgan, Charles F., Jennie and Kate.
He married second Mrs. Florence Fletcher, nee Ewing, who died in 1896, leaving
two children, Rebecca and Sarah. Mr. Perkins married for his third wife Mrs.
Mattie (Curran) Wilson. Religiously Mr. Perkins is a valued member of the
Presbyterian church, in which, he is a deacon.
Additional Comments:
From:
A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in
commerce, industry and modern activities
by Will T. Hale
Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913
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