Individual Details

Born after the marriage in 1816, as all children are listed as under 21 in 1835.
Possible marriage: 28 Nov 1850. John R. Perkins & Ophelia V. Rountree. Greene Co MO. His estate settlement says that he was never married.

1860 Census. Chico, Butte, CA, Hh 229
Jos. Eddy, 31, Farmer, b. England
Laura, 27, b. Canada
Robt D., 9, b. IL
Geo H., 3, b. CA
J. R. Perkins, 39, Stock Raiser, b. VA
Wm C Wright, 29, Laborer, b. MO
Wm York, 27, Laaborer, b. AL
Jas. Brammen, 31, Laborer, b. TN
Geo. Grayson, 33, Laborer, b. OH

1870 Census. Chico, Butte, CA, Hh 427
Jno R. Perkins, 51, Farmer, b. VA
Manly Perkins, 42, Farmer, b. IL
Wm R. Holland, 33, Farmer, b. IL

Found in Butte Co, California
4 Aug 1883. Will of John Richard Perksin, age 64 years. 1st - body to buried in plain and decent manner. 2nd - all just debts and liabilities first paid including expenses of sickness, burial, & costs of administration. 3rd - to beloved sister Mary Jane Haden of Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas, $1200. 4th - to my dear brother William Grief Perkins of Green County, MO, $1000. 5th - to my beloved sister Olive Judith Wilson of Marionville, Lawrence County, MO, $800. 6th - to be paid first to Mary J. Haden, second to William G. Perkins, third to Olive J. Wilson. Each of the bequests to draw interest at 7% per annum from the date of the issuance of letters of administration until paid. Each to be paid and sent to them without cost or expense to them. 7th - to Mrs. Laura Eddy (wife of Joseph Eddy of Butte County) for the time of her natural life, the undivided one half of 80 acres of land to be laid out as she may direct and to include the buildings from the 600 acres on which the testate and the said Joseph Eddy now reside and lying about four miles south of the Town of Chico and bounded on the North by Mrs. Farrell and Cronin - On the East by Miller and Hutchins - On the South by Mrs. Lowery and Mrs. Bateman - and on the West by McEnespy and John Crouch. 8th - to my friend Joseph Robert Eddy, the grandson of the said Joseph Eddy of Butte County - 100 acres to be taken from the east side of the land know as the Bowman place, adjoing the Miller and part of the said 600 acre tract. 9th - to my friend Josie Cynthia Eddy, daughter of the said Joseph Eddy, all my remaining interest in the 600 acre tract. 10th - to said Josie, the undivided one half of 80 acres bequeathed to Mrs. Laura Eddy, to revert to Joside at the termination of the life estate. 11th - said bequeathed lands shall not be subject to mortgage for any purpose or liable for any debt; nor leased for more than one year at a time. Joseph R. Eddy and Josie E. Eddy, are prohibited for selling his or her portion until they have each reached the age of thiry year - only to have and use the income until reaching said age. 12th - to my fired Mrs. Laura Eddy, all the household and kitchen firniture in the dwelling on the above land. 13th - to my friend Joseph Eddy, all the farming tools, implements belonging to the said tract. 14th - in case of the death of either Joseph R. Eddy or Josie E. Eddy, unmarried and without issue, the portion shall revert to the survivor. In case of death of both unmarried and without issue, the estates shall revert to my brother and two sisters.
Executor to be Joseph Eddy. Not required to give bond.
Signed: John Richard Perkins. Witnessed: J. H. Williams and W. L. Kosh, both of Chico, Butte County, California.

Will of John Richard Perkins dated August 4th 1883, filed March 22nd 1884. On 7 Apr 1884, this instrument was admitted to Probate as the last Will & Testament of John R. Perkins who died on or about 15 Mar 1884 in the county of Butte, state of California. It was signed in the presence of W. L Kosh and John H. Williams.
7 Apr 1884. Application for Probate of Will in the Matter of the Estate of John R. Perkins.
W. L. Kosh stated he lived in Butte County. He knew John R. Perkins on the 4th day of August 1883, the date on the instrument shown to me on 22 Mar 1884, purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of John R. Perkins.
The said instrument was signed by the said John R. Perkins at Chico, in the County of Butte on the 4th day of August 1883 in the presence of myself and of the said John H. Williams and John R. Perkins. John R. Perkins was of the age of sixty years or thereabouts.
Joseph Eddy also testified that he was shown the will of John R. Perkins on 23 Mar 1884. He knew the said John Perkins who died aabout the 15th day of March 1884 at Chico Township, Butte Co. At the time of his death he was a resident of said county and left estate real & personal in the said County of Butte.

Real estate of the value of $15,000; with annual rents or profits of about $1000 and personal property of the value of $1500. The same acquired without marriage, the deceased never having been married.
The document was in the box of said deceased in the Bank of Butte County and once open by the cashier therof and I believe it to be his last Will and Testament
Next of kin are his sister Mary J. Haden, aged about 55 years residing in Fannin County, Texas. His brother Wm. G. Perksin, aged about 63 residing in Green County Missouri, his sister Olive J. Wilson aged about 59 years residing in Lawrence County, Missouri. Deceased was never married, left no parents, no issue. On 4 Aug 1887 when the said will was executed deceased was of the age sixty four years and of sound and disposing mind.
Another document lists all heirs as above and adds Laura Eddy, aged 51, Joseph R. Eddy, age 11, Josie C. Eddy, aged 12 and Josph Eddy, aged 55, residents of Butte County.

Final settlement includes the payments to M. J. Haden, Apr 17, 1885, $1290.40. To W. G. Perkins, on Sept 19, 1885, $1108.50. To O. J. Wilson, on Sept 19, 1885, $887.50

Buried with large monument in the Chico Cemetery, Chico, Butte Co, CA in the Perkins & Eddy family plot, with the following inscription:
NO PAIN NOR GRIEF NOR
ANXIOUS FEAR
CAN REACH THE PEACEFUL
SLEEPER HERE
THESE RUINS SHALL BE
BUILT AGAIN
AND ALL THAT'S DUST SHALL
RISE.


The Weekly Butte Record (Chico, Calif.), Saturday, March 22, 1884, pg 1 col 6: Death of a Pioneer. – Mr. John Richard Perkins, for many years a partner with Capt. Wm. Eddy, extensive farmers in this vicinity, died at his residence about half past eleven o’clock on Saturday night last, after an illness of five weeks’ duration. Deceased was a native of Virginia and lacked only a few months of being sixty-five years of age. Mr. Perkins was one of our pioneers, coming to California in 1849, and has resided in Colusa and Butte counties ever since. Ever since his residence here he has been known as an extensive farmer and stock raiser, and at the time of his death he had accumulated considerable property. He leaves no relatives in this State but has numerous connections in Missouri. His death was caused by cirrhosis, commonly known as hard cancer, a disease of the liver that has made him a sufferer for years. He had consulted all the prominent physicians of the State, without getting relief, and died in great pain, although everything was done to alleviate his suffering. The funeral procession left the Perkins & Eddy farm, about four miles south of Chico, at eleven o’clock, and came to the Fourth street M.E. Church, where Rev. J.A. Bruner preached the sermon. The remains were followed to the grave by a long line of carriages, bearing the numerous friends of the deceased. Mr. Perkins was one of those quiet, good-natured souls who always had about him a host of friends. He was a man of much ability and was noted for his excellent management of farming affairs. The old pioneers are “going home.” They came to California in the flush of their youth and the sturdy vigor of enthusiastic, hopeful manhood. None of them intended to remain, and form “The Fall of ’49” to the breaking out of the war, they were all “going home,” save to that long home from which none have ever returned. They remained to build up an empire beside the sunset seas, creating a new race known to the world as Californians.

Birth	28 Aug 1819	Virginia
Death	15 Mar 1884	Chico, Butte County, California

Father	JOHN PERKINS (1789 - 1835)
Mother	MARY JANE "POLLY" DUNLAVY (1789 - 1849)
Sibling	William G. "Grief" Perkins (1821 - 1908)
Sibling	Benjamin C. Perkins (1822 - )
Sibling	Olive Judith "Judy" Perkins (1821 - 1904)
Sibling	MARY JANE PERKINS (1826 - 1918)
Sibling	Frank Perkins ( - )