| Notes |
- from "The Milwaukee Journal", 22 Jul 1892 (genealogybank.com)
Waukesha, Wis., July 22. - Abram E. Perkins, of Mukwonago died this morning. He was one of the best-known citizens in this county, having lived in Mukwonago, near which place he owned 1200 acres of land, for over 45 years. The funeral will take place on Monday.
- from "History of Waukesha County" 1880
A. E. Perkins, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Mukwonago; born in the town of Lyme, New London Co., Conn., Dec. 16, 1816; was a native of the same town, and a schoolmate of Morrison R. Waite, now Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court; leaving his native State at 18, Mr. Perkins located on Cape Cod, Mass., his mother's birthplace; spent six years here, part of the time as master of an ocean schooner, and part as a teacher; removed in 1840 to Monroe Co., N. Y., and engaged in farming with his father; in 1846, he came to Mukwonago and bought 146 acres of his present estate, at $10 per acre, settled here with his family in the spring of 1847; to sum up his work during these 33 years, we may state that his estate now comprises over 1,200 acres of as good land as Wisconsin affords, lying in a body, though it is in three counties, and four towns; on this he has expended about $10,000 for buildings, his spacious and elegant residence alone costing nearly $6,000; Mr. Perkins carries on about 560 acres, the remainder being managed by his son and son-in-law; married in Churchville, Monroe Co., N. Y., 1845, Miss Hannah E. Hadley, a native and resident of that town; her parents being New Hampshire people; Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have three children, N. Louisa, Charles A. and Grace; the elder daughter married Joseph Pratt, of Perry, N. Y., who occupies part of the farm; the son married Miss Julia, daughter of O. B. Dickinson, of Mukwonago; Grace is now pursuing her musical studies in the Conservatory of Music, Boston; Mr. and Mrs. P. have, for 33 years past, been members of the Congregational Church, and were leading spirits in building and supporting the Mukwonago Church; he is a Republican, and was Chairman of the town three successive years; the family dates back about 150 years in America, a grandfather of Mr. Perkins being one of Connecticut's patriots in the Revolution; about 1850 Mr. P. bought a flock of merino ewes of Elam Beardsley, of Racine Co., one of Wisconsin's pioneer stock-men, and during the next ten years, improved his stock of sheep by purchasing and judicious breeding, paying as high as $130 for a single animal; in 1861 he went into partnership with E. S. Lake, of Saxton's River, Vt., they shipping from that State the same year a flock of 20 selected rams; the next year they invested about $4,000 in 60 rams and 15 ewes, which were placed on Mr. P's farm and rented out during the next eight years; this was the operation which gave an impetus to the now immense wool-growing interest of this section; the next importation was from the splendid flock of George Campbell, of Westminster, West Vt.; these 16 sheep were used by Mr. Perkins until 1878, when he bought a prize ram bred from Stickney's ram Centennial, which animal was awarded the $400 prize offered by Pennsylvania at the Exposition of 1876; Mr. P. usually has about 500 pure-bred sheep on his farm, and says that to his success in this business he owes most of his prosperity; illustrative of the growth of the fine-wool sheep industry, he says farmers in his vicinity, prior to his introduction of improved stock, considered four pounds a good fleece, while they are now barely satisfied with seven.
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1816 - 1892 (75 years)
