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- from Commemorative Biographical Record, pg 518
J. ELI PERKINS, though in his very prime at the time of his death, Dec. 26, 1903, was for years one of the leading oil producers of Petrolia, Ont., and a leading cattle dealer of Lambton County.
Mr. Perkins was of English extraction on the paternal side and of Dutch extraction on the maternal side. The family was founded in Canada by William Perkins, his grandfather, who came from the United States and settled in Nova Scotia, where he married Harriet Crealman. They reared a family of five children, the youngest of whom was Alonzo Perkins, of Petrolia, and the eldest James Perkins, father of our subject.
James Perkins was born in Nova Scotia Jan. 25, 1825, and in 1846 came to Elgin County, Ont., where he engaged in farming until 1863. He then removed to Oil Springs, Lambton County, and engaged in the cattle business, and in both lines was most successfully engaged until his death, on Nov. 19, 1895. He owned considerable property in Enniskillen township, his first purchase of land being Lot 20, Concession 11, which is now owned by his son Cyrus F. Mr. Perkins was a member of the Petrolia council for many years and politically he was a Reformer. In fraternal connection he was a Mason. Both he and wife were identified with the Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Perkins was a member. On March 14, 1850, Mr. Perkins married Mary Vansickle, who was born Jan. 11, 1832, daughter of James and Susan (Minor) Vansickle, and still survives. The children of James Perkins and wife were as follows: Susan Mrs. O. Smith; Cyrus Francis, of Galicia, Austria, where he is an oil producer and a mineral valuator for the government; Jacob, an oil operator; J. Eli; and Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Loyd Harris, of the Massey-Harris Co., Brantford, Ontario.
J. Eli Perkins was born Nov. 4, 1863, in Elgin County, and was educated in the public schools of Petrolia. In 1882 he engaged in the oil business, becoming one the leading operators in the locality, and he was scarcely less well known as a feeder and raiser of fine Short Horn cattle. Mr. Perkins was the manager of Berghein & McGarvey of Hanover, Germany, in the oil business, thus gaining a very practical knowledge of the best German methods. He acquired considerable property, owing several fine farms in Enniskillen township, on Lot 20 and Lot 3, Concession 13. Though so constantly pressed with business affairs he took an active interest in the welfare and good government of the place, and for eight years was a member of the council at Petrolia; he once filled the office of reeve. Mr. Perkins was just forty at the time of his death, yet he had accomplished what few men can hope for in a long lifetime. It was not only his success as a business man and leader in public affairs, however, the made him prominent. His high character and remarkable personality gave him unusual standing among his fellow men, and no man in Petrolia occupied a more enviable position in public esteem. He was laid to rest Hilldale cemetery, mourned by all who know him.
In 1888 Mr. Perkins married Miss Sarah Becker, daughter of the late Edward Becker, an early settler and contractor at Petrolia and two sons were born to this union, namely; Edward C. and James Franklin. Politically Mr. Perkins was a Reformer, and fraternally he belonged to the the Masons and the Royal Arcanum.
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1863 - 1903 (40 years)
James Perkins, b. 18 Jan 1824, Aylesford, Kings, NS 
