SOURCE: 20th century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908)
DAVID T. PERKINS, who has been prominently identified with the development of Ostrander, was born Oct. 25th, 1840, in Dover Township, Union Co., Ohio, on Little Mill Creek, and is a son of Schuyler and Rebecca (Rittenhouse) Perkins.
Schuyler Perkins was born in Albemarle Co., Virginia, a son of Samuel Perkins, and he remained in his native state until after marriage and the birth of one child, when he moved to Ross County, Ohio. He remained there two years, when having found land to suit him better in Dover township, Union Co., Ohio, he brought his family to this section, where he secured 137 acres for $1.37 an acre. In order to make his payments he was obliged to sell his "dandy-wagon" to chop down trees and to exercise every known principle of strict economy. He gradually cleared his land and put in a first crop, but the work was wearisome and often discouraging as he had neither farm implements nor machinery. He built on his land the log cabin in which his son David T. Perkins was born and continued to live in it until he erected a substantial frame house. At the time of his death he was the owner of several hundred acres of excellent land which he had acquired through farming and stock raising. He married a daughter of Henry and Martha (Turner) Rittenhouse, and they had 12 children born to them, of whom the following reached maturity: William H. Perkins, residing in Dover township; Samuel Price Perkins, who died aged eighteen years; Martha Jane Perkins, who is the widow of Perry J. Sherman, residing in Dover Township; James H. Perkins, residing in Hutchinson, Kansas; David T. Perkins, Frances Elizabeth Perkins, deceased, who was the wife of William Abrams, of Iowa; Daniel Morgan Perkins, residing in Oklahoma; and Adoniram Judson Perkins, residing at Ostrander, Ohio. Schuyler Perkins was a faithful member of the Baptist Church and in early days frequently rode six miles on horseback in order to attend religious exercises.
David T. Perkins obtained his education in a log school house near his home, three months in the winter being all that was afforded him, as from boyhood he was kept busy on the home farm, on which he continued to live until he was 21 years old. He then visited Indiana and remained one winter in Fulton County, during which time he was first married, after which he returned to Dover Township and engaged in farming for a few years. After his wife's death, he went back to Indiana and lived for two years with his father-in-law, and then returned once more to Dover Township, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, which he operated until 1907. He now owns 165 acres of land which he used for grazing in summer, also owns 54 acres in and adjoining Ostrander, Ohio.
Mr. Perkins was one of the organizers of the Ostrander Banking Company. In 1891 he bought 66 acres of land from Dr. John Fields, which he platted and made into town lots. He erected his own fine two-story brick residence on the southwest corner of North and Fourth Streets. All of the attractive and substantial houses which stand on Fourth Street and on the south side of North Street, west of Mr. Perkins residence, are built on the land which he has improved since 1891. Probably more than any other individual, Mr. Perkins has developed and improved Ostrander, Ohio.
Mr. Perkins was married (first) in Fulton Co., Indiana, March 31st, 1863, to Lydia A. Hudkins, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Hudkins, residence of Kewanna, Indiana They had three children: Marion P. Perkins, born March 3rd, 1864, residing at Muscatine, Iowa; Sarah Rebecca Perkins, who died in infancy; and Olive Candace Perkins, who was born Sept. 6th, 1866, and died age 26 years. Mrs. Perkins died April 12th, 1871. She was a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Perkins was married (second) Sept. 18th, 1873, to Melissa G. Rittenhouse, who was born March 23rd, 1851, and died February 18th, 1905. She was a daughter of Thomas Rittenhouse and a granddaughter of Samuel Rittenhouse and a grandniece of Henry Rittenhouse, who was a Revolutionary soldier. To his second marriage Mr. Perkins had born the following children: Floron D. Perkins, born July 4th, 1874, who is a member of the faculty of a Baptist College at Williamsburg, Kentucky; Norman B. Perkins, born June 17th, 1877, residing at Williamsburg; Cora Belle Perkins, born June 13th, 1878, who married Frank Shover, of Ostrander; James E. Perkins, born July 18th, 1880, residing at Westburn, Tennessee; Maude M. Perkins, born April 18th, 1883, who married Prof. Harvard Valance, residing at Columbus, and Ervin C. Perkins, born May 2nd, 1893, residing at Williamsburg, Kentucky.
In political preference, Mr. Perkins is a Democrat but he is not active in politics. On several occasions he has accepted office, but has never sought it and has served as trustee of both Dover and of Scioto Townships. He is member of Palestine Lodge, F & A. M. at Marysville, Union County, Ohio. He is a member of Springdale Baptist Church.
NOTE: I have NO further information to provide. The source of where this information was obtained from is listed at the top of this posting.
Denise Perkins Ready