James Franklin “Frank” Perkins

1891 - 1940  (49 years)

• Name	James Franklin Perkins
  Nickname	Frank
  Birth	22 May 1891	Petrolia, Lambton, ONT
  Gender	Male
  Census	1901	Petrolia, Lambton, ONT
  	age 8, born 23 May in ONT, living with parents
  Census	1911	Petrolia, Lambton, ONT
  	James Frank, age 20, born Nov 1891 in Ont, single, Ediler (?), living with mother
  Census	1921	Petrolia, Lambton, ONT
  	age 29, born ONT, single, salesman for Imperial Oil Co, living with mother
  Census	3 Apr 1930	Detroit, Wayne, MI
  	age 37, born CAN, single roomer, imm in 1919, advertising manager, parents born CAN/CAN
  Census	20 Apr 1940	Detroit, Wayne, MI
  	age 46, born MI, C4 ed, single, in same place in 1935, broadcaster at radio company
  Death	14 Oct 1940	Detroit, Wayne, MI
  Burial	Hillsdale Cemetery, Petrolia, ONT
  Person ID	I781	Family Tree | 12 Generation Ancestor Chart, Descendants of Francis & Elizabeth (Peck) Perkins
  Last Modified	22 Sep 2019

  
  

  Father	James Eli Perkins,   b. 4 Nov 1863, Elgin Co, ONT d. 26 Dec 1903, Petrolia, Lambton, ONT (Age 40 years)
  Mother	Sarah Becker,   b. 10 May 1863, Petrolia, Lambton, ONT d. 11 Dec 1927, Kent, ONT (Age 64 years)
  Marriage	1888
  Family ID	F198	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  James Franklin Perkins This photo is suspected, but not verified of being James Franklin Perkins

  
  

  Headstones

  James Franklin Perkins Gravestone died 14 Oct 1940, aged 49 years Plot: Unmarked Graves section

  
  

• Notes

  from "Ontario, Canada Births, 1858-1913" (ancestry.com) James Franklin Perkins was born 22 May 1891 in Petrolia, Lambton, ONT to James Eli Perkins, an oil producer, and Sarah Becker, from "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950" (ancestry.com) James Franklin Perkins (AKA Frank Perkins), a radio commentator at WJBK, residing Detroit MI, single, born 22 May 1891 in Petrolia ONT to Eli Perkins b. in Petrolia ONT & UNK b. Port Rowan ONT, died 14 Oct 1940 in Detroit of a Coronary occlusion & terminal heart failure. Removal 17 Oct to Petrolia. Informant Mr. R.O. Laird. from "The Detroit Free Press",15 Oct 1940 (newspapers.com) Frank Perkins, forty-five-year-old radio commentator who billed himself as "The Cynic," was found dead of an overdose of drugs at 8:45 p.m. Monday in his apartment at 630 Charlotte. Police said that he apparently had taken his own life, adding that he had tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide on a previous occasion. Perkins had been broadcasting over Station WJBK, giving comments on current events. from "The Detroit Free Press", 16 Oct 1940 (newspapers.com) Frank Perkins, known to radio listeners as "The Cynic," died penniless, it was reported Tuesday by Charles G. Oakman, secretary to Major Jeffries. Oakman said that he was taking up a collection to pay for the funeral, which probably will be held Thursday from the Haley Funeral Home, 16065 Hamilton. Perkins' body was found Monday night in his room at 630 Charlotte. Police suspected an overdose of drugs, but friends believe that a heart ailment cased his death. An autopsy was held Tuesday but final decision was reserved. Detectives said Tuesday that they had erred in reporting that Perkins previously had attempted suicide. from "The Detroit Free Press", 17 Oct 1940 (newspapers.com) Arthur H. Croghan, sales manager of radio station WJBK, reported Wednesday that C.E. Perkins, brother of Frank Perkins, radio commentator billed as "The Cynic," was on his way to Detroit to take his brother's body to Petrolia, Ont., for burial. Frank Perkins succumbed to a heart ailment in his apartment at 630 Charlotte on Monday.