Colonel Simon Perkins
Encyclopedia
"Colonel" Simon Perkins was an businessman, farmer, state senator, and entrepreneur. He was born in Warren, Ohio
in 1805, but spent most of his life in Akron, Ohio
. He was the oldest son of Simon Perkins
, the founder of the City of Akron. The title "Colonel
" was honorary; no records exist that show he served in the military.
to General Simon Perkins
and Nancy Ann Bishop Perkins. His first position was with his father's land company in Warren. He married Grace Ingersoll Tod of Youngstown, Ohio
on November 23, 1833. Two years later, he and his wife and baby daughter, Anna, moved to Akron, Ohio
in order to oversee his father's business affairs. Their first home was a small wooden frame house located along the Portage Path of Summit County, Ohio. John Brown (abolitionist)
would later rent this building, known as the John Brown House (Akron, Ohio) from Perkins during their business partnership.
Construction began immediately on the Perkins Stone Mansion
in 1835, and it was completed in 1837. The family moved in that spring. Perkins was mainly interested in agriculture, sheep, and livestock and therefore turned his property on Perkins Hill into a large farm. He imported the best breeds of sheep to his farm and eventually hired John Brown (abolitionist)
to oversee them. Their firm was known as Perkins & Brown. The business eventually failed and Perkins absorbed most of the loss.
Colonel Perkins encouraged the Akron Branch of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad (C.A. & C. Railroad) which was completed in 1852. He served as the president from 1851–1864 and as general superintendent until 1869. He also backed the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, but his net losses from the project kept him in significant debt for many years.
He served in the state senate from 1839–1840 and was the first representative for the newly formed Summit County from 1841-1842. He was one of the most prominent promoters of the new county. He also served as trustee for Portage Township. He was also one of the organizers of the Akron Rural Cemetery (Glendale) and served as president from 1839-1880. He also donated property for the founding of two Akron city parks, Union and Grace (which was named for his wife.)
Grace Tod died on April 6, 1867 and Colonel Perkins died July 21, 1887.
The family home, Perkins Stone Mansion
, is now a historic house museum owned and operated by The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio
. Several items which belonged to the Colonel and his family are on display.
A statue of Colonel Perkins stands near the corner of South Broadway St. and University Ave. in downtown Akron.
Several places in Akron are named for Colonel Perkins and his family. They include, Perkins St., Perkins Park, Perkins Middle School, and Perkins Square.
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
in 1805, but spent most of his life in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
. He was the oldest son of Simon Perkins
Simon Perkins
General Simon Perkins was an early settler, businessman and surveyor of the Western Reserve of Connecticut, which would later become northeast Ohio. He co-founded Akron, Ohio with Paul Williams in 1825. He served as a brigadier-general during the War of 1812....
, the founder of the City of Akron. The title "Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
" was honorary; no records exist that show he served in the military.
Biography
Colonel Simon Perkins was born on February 6, 1805 in Warren, OhioWarren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
to General Simon Perkins
Simon Perkins
General Simon Perkins was an early settler, businessman and surveyor of the Western Reserve of Connecticut, which would later become northeast Ohio. He co-founded Akron, Ohio with Paul Williams in 1825. He served as a brigadier-general during the War of 1812....
and Nancy Ann Bishop Perkins. His first position was with his father's land company in Warren. He married Grace Ingersoll Tod of Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
on November 23, 1833. Two years later, he and his wife and baby daughter, Anna, moved to Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
in order to oversee his father's business affairs. Their first home was a small wooden frame house located along the Portage Path of Summit County, Ohio. John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
would later rent this building, known as the John Brown House (Akron, Ohio) from Perkins during their business partnership.
Construction began immediately on the Perkins Stone Mansion
Perkins Stone Mansion
The Perkins Stone Mansion is a historic house museum in Akron, Ohio, USA.- Overview :The mansion is owned and operated by The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio and is also the organization's headquarters. It was built from 1835 to 1837 by Col. Simon Perkins, son of Akron's founder...
in 1835, and it was completed in 1837. The family moved in that spring. Perkins was mainly interested in agriculture, sheep, and livestock and therefore turned his property on Perkins Hill into a large farm. He imported the best breeds of sheep to his farm and eventually hired John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
to oversee them. Their firm was known as Perkins & Brown. The business eventually failed and Perkins absorbed most of the loss.
Colonel Perkins encouraged the Akron Branch of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad (C.A. & C. Railroad) which was completed in 1852. He served as the president from 1851–1864 and as general superintendent until 1869. He also backed the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, but his net losses from the project kept him in significant debt for many years.
He served in the state senate from 1839–1840 and was the first representative for the newly formed Summit County from 1841-1842. He was one of the most prominent promoters of the new county. He also served as trustee for Portage Township. He was also one of the organizers of the Akron Rural Cemetery (Glendale) and served as president from 1839-1880. He also donated property for the founding of two Akron city parks, Union and Grace (which was named for his wife.)
Grace Tod died on April 6, 1867 and Colonel Perkins died July 21, 1887.
The family home, Perkins Stone Mansion
Perkins Stone Mansion
The Perkins Stone Mansion is a historic house museum in Akron, Ohio, USA.- Overview :The mansion is owned and operated by The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio and is also the organization's headquarters. It was built from 1835 to 1837 by Col. Simon Perkins, son of Akron's founder...
, is now a historic house museum owned and operated by The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio
The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio
The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio, abbreviated SCHS, is a 5013 corporation located in Akron, Ohio. It focuses on the history of the City of Akron and Summit County, Ohio.-Purpose:...
. Several items which belonged to the Colonel and his family are on display.
A statue of Colonel Perkins stands near the corner of South Broadway St. and University Ave. in downtown Akron.
Several places in Akron are named for Colonel Perkins and his family. They include, Perkins St., Perkins Park, Perkins Middle School, and Perkins Square.