Perkins, Peter Emery “P. E.” 1826 – 1914

PERKINS, COFFMAN, CRAWFORD, GLENN, BOYER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/19/2023 at 14:11:18

OLD BRADFORD IN 1854
Was An Early Blacksmith in This Locality—Son, George, Followed Same Trade in Nashua.

From the pen of Mrs. Vadie M. Crawford of Sabethka, Kansas, comes this story of the Perkins family, pioneers of Old Bradford.
It is another of the stories of pioneer residents of the county, sent in in answer to the request for pioneer stories, published in this paper last spring. The stories or biographies, are being collected by the D. A. R., to make a more complete history of the development of Iowa. Mrs. P. E. Stuart of Nashua is chairman of Chicakasaw county in this history gather{i}ng movement.

P. E. Perkins was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, near Cincinnati, Nov. 28, 1826. When he was a small boy, his parents moved on a farm near Indianapolis, Ind., where he grew to manhood. He was of a mechanical turn of mind, making different kinds of vehicles when a small boy. At the age of 19 years he decided to learn the blacksmith trade, which he mastered in 11 months.
September 28, 1848 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Coffman and moved to Oaklandon, Ind. He worked at his trade in that vicinity for several years. Three sons were born to them, John I., Geo. C. and one who died in infancy.
In 1854, Mr. Perkins with, some relative and neighbors decided to come west. They came overland with ox teams. They crosses {sic} the Mississippi river at Dubuque. Some of the party settled in Cedar Rapids and other places, but the most of them did not stop until they reached Bradford, which was then a lively trading post.
There were many Indians in the vicin{i}ty then, and it was a common sight to see an Indian peering in the window.
Mr. Perk{i}ns soon opened a blacksmith shop, where he worked at his trade for many years. He had L. C. Pettit as a partner for some time. His oldest son, John and George, learned the trade from him, and worked at it many years in Nashua. George was called “The Village Blacksmith.” He bought his brother’s interest in the shop and carried on the business as long as he was physically able.
John is living in Selah, Wash., with his daughter, Mrs. Iva Glenn.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Perkins in Bradford, Vadie M. Crawford of Sabetha, Kansas and William B. Perkins of Lantry, S. D.
In later years Mr. Perkins became interested in farming. He was always considered an authority on the early history of Bradford, as he had seen the rise and fall of the town, which has since become famous as the home of “The Little Brown Church.”
Mrs. Perkins passed on very suddenly May 10, 1906, at the same hour their son, George and his bride, Mrs. Cora Boyer were exchanging marriage vows, which was a great shock to George, because he was very fond of her.
After Mrs. Perkins death, Mr. Perkins made his home with his daughter, who did everything she could to make his last years happy ones. He passed on March 18, 1914, in the old home, after a month’s illness.

Source Unknown – probably local newspaper

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows this was Peter Emery Perkins.