Ohio History Journal

GENERAL SIMON PERKINS.   BY WALTER W. SPOONER. From advance proofs of the sixth volume of Randall and Ryan's History of Ohio. By permission of the publishers, the Century History Company, New York. Simon Perkins, of Warren, was one of the earliest and most influential promoters of settlement and progress in northeastern

Ohio, and a citizen of distin- guished reputation and use- fulness in varied activities and affairs.  A  native of Con- necticut, he first came to Ohio in the summer of 1798 on a commission to survey, explore and sell the large un- developed holdings of the Erie Land Company in the Western Reserve. Becoming a permanent resident of War- ren some years later, he was the foremost man of that community until his death in 1844. He was long engaged in land transactions of great volume and scope, with es- pecial reference to the settle- ment and development of the new country; was a pioneer in  financial interests  and management; founded the city of Akron; served with distinction as a brigadier-gen- eral on   the  northwestern

frontier at a critical period in the War of 1812; held responsible civil positions, and was a trusted representative and adviser of the United States government in western affairs. (284)

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General Simon Perkins.              285

General Perkins was born in Lisbon, Connecticut, Septem-

ber 17, 1771, son of Captain Simon and Olive (Douglass) Per-

kins. Through both his parents he was descended from early

and notable Puritan families of New England. In the paternal

line his first American ancestor was John Perkins, who came

over with Roger Williams; and on his mother's side he traced

his descent from William Douglass, one of the company from

Boston that founded New London, Connecticut. His father was

a captain in the Revolutionary War, and died in the service.

Several of his maternal uncles held officers' commissions in that

conflict.

At an early age he assumed the responsibility for the admin-

istration of his father's estate, consisting partly of lands which

had been in possession of the family since it first settled in Con-

necticut in the seventeenth century. From the experience thus

obtained he became familiar with business forms and methods,

particularly as related to landed property. In 1795, when about

twenty-four years old, he removed to Owego, New York, at that

time one of the outposts of settlement on the western frontier.

There he was busily engaged for some three years in connection

with land sales and other matters incidental to the opening of a

new region.

After the acquisition by the Connecticut Land Company of

the proprietary right to the Western Reserve-with the exception

of the "Fire lands,"-by purchase from the state of Connecticut

(1795), various projects for settlements on the shores of Lake

Erie and in that general section began to develop. In 1797 some

of the principal members of the Connecticut Land Company, re-

siding in Windham and New London Counties, Connecticut,

united their stock holdings and formed a new organization under

the name of the Erie Land Company.

On the 14th of April, 1798, Moses Cleaveland, Joseph Per-

kins, and Daniel L. Coit, as "agents and trustees for the Erie

Company," entered into a formal agreement with Simon Per-

kins, by which he was commissioned to proceed to the com-

pany's lands, make surveys and explorations, effect sales to the

best advantage, and generally discharge the duties of a trusted

representative with large discretionary powers. He was directed

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286       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

to start from Owego by the 1st of July following and continue on

the lands for three months at least, and was authorized to em-

ploy all necessary assistants. While the details of transactions

were left to his judgment, it was stipulated that nothing should

be sold for less than a dollar an acre. The agreement embodied

specific arrangements for the acquisition by him, in his own

right, of one thousand acres of the property. In a personal com-

munication to him of the same date he was more particularly in-

structed and advised concerning the work to be done.

Both these important documents-in a perfect state of pres-

ervation,-bearing the signatures of all the parties in interest,

are now in the custody of the Western Reserve Historical So-

ciety in Cleveland. The same society also has in its possession

a number of subsequent agreements between the Erie Land

Company and Simon Perkins, various autograph accounts of the

latter with the company, and a large and most valuable collection

of the private papers of General Perkins, covering most of his

active career.

In the month of June, 1798, Mr. Perkins left Owego, ac-

companied by James Pumpelly, whom he had selected as his

chief assistant. They went by the way of Cayuga and Ontario

lakes to Buffalo, where they obtained a batteau, and thence

coasted up Lake Erie. Arriving at the Grand River on the ₄th

of July-just two years after the historic landing of the Cleave-

land party some miles farther west,-they debarked and started

for the interior. A camp was established four miles south of

what is now the city of Painesville, and steps were at once taken

to survey a road-the first in northern Ohio. It ran by the

camp, and at that point the original name, "The Girdled Road,"

is still retained; farther west the road becomes the far-famed

Euclid Avenue. On June 14, 1912, the New Connecticut Chapter

of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed tablets at

the sites of Perkins Camp and the Girdled Road.

Mr. Perkins assigned the surveying part of the work to

Pumpelly and others whom he had employed, and himself under-

took the more important business of examining the country, de-

termining as to the relative advantages, values, and prospects of

the lands, and in general acquiring the necessary information for

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General Simon Perkins.              287

the financial results that he expected to derive later. After three

months of diligent work he returned East and made his report to

the company in Connecticut. This proved so satisfactory that he

was again sent out the following year, under an arrangement vest-

ing in him the entire agency for the lands; and he continued

on the same basis for several years afterward, spending the sum-

mers on the Reserve and the winters in Connecticut.

Upon his marriage in 1804 he decided to locate permanently

in Ohio, and with his bride journeyed to Warren, then a place of

only sixteen log habitations. He continued to reside there for

the rest of his life, and, as already remarked, was a leading and

most influential citizen. Devoting his energies principally to

the land business, his extensive knowledge, discriminating judg-

ment, and high integrity secured for him a larger share of pat-

ronage from non-resident proprietors than any other man in

Ohio. In the year 1815 he paid, as agent or owner, one-seventh

of the entire amount of land taxes collected by the state govern-

ment. In his transaction it was his invariable policy to encourage,

favor, and assist the pioneer and indeed every purchaser acting

in good faith, by liberality of terms and leniency of treatment.

Thus many acquired homes by his kindly co-operation and even

more kindly forbearance. The early development of the eastern

portion of the Western Reserve was due to him far more than

to any other man. It may justly be said that he contributed

something, and frequently much, toward starting or stimulating

the development of every community in that section which arose

during the period of his business activity. He founded and laid

out the village of Akron in 1825, and six years later had a lead-

ing part in establishing North Akron. To the latter locality he

donated ground for public buildings, parks, schools, and churches.

Before becoming a citizen of Ohio his prominence and use-

fulness in promoting settlement and his thorough acquaintance

with the country in process of development had brought him to

the favorable notice of the government officials in Washington.

In 1801 the first mail route northwest of the Ohio River was

instituted, running from Pittsburg to Warren via Beaver, Youngs-

town, and Canfield. Mr. Perkins was appointed as the first post-

master at Warren on the 24th of October, 1800, and he retained

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288       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

that position until October, 1829. After Gideon Granger be-

came postmaster-general in 1802, Mr. Perkins was frequently

consulted for information and advice respecting the laying out

of new routes, the opening of other post offices, and the se-

lection of appointees. His intimate familiarity with local cir-

cumstances and knowledge of individuals all over the Reserve

enabled him to be of great service to the department and also to

secure the best results for the various communities and the public.

In December, 1809, Postmaster-General Granger wrote to

him in the following somewhat remarkable terms: "You cannot

be ignorant of the unpleasant aspect of public affairs between this

nation and Great Britain, nor of the vigorous preparations mak-

ing for war in upper Canada. In this state of things it has be-

come necessary to establish a line of expresses through your

country to Detroit. We avail ourselves of the energy of your

talents at this crisis. I have to solicit you (and even more to

express my opinion that it is your duty) to depart immediately

for Detroit. I know of no person whose exertions would at this

time be as satisfactory to the government, and however inconve-

nient the discharge of this duty may be to yourself, it is what

you owe to your country and to the southern shores of Lake

Erie in particular." Thus appealed to, he set forth without delay

for Detroit, and the important work confined to him was per-

formed with singular efficiency and thoroughness. At that period

the country west and south of the Reserve was Indian territory,

except tracts twelve miles square at Fort Miami and two miles

square on the Sandusky River, which were ceded by the treaty

of Greenville in 1795. Mr. Perkins, in addition to laying out

the desired route from Cleveland to Detroit, conceived and

brought to completion the project of securing a cession of land

for a road from the Reserve to the Maumee River. He proposed

the matter to several influential Indians and obtained the ap-

proval of Governor Hull at Detroit. The treaty of Brownsville

was the substantial result. It was on the basis of this cession

that the turnpike road from Perrysburg to Fremont was built.

He was commissioned brigadier-general in the fourth divi-

sion of Ohio militia, under Major-General Elijah Wadsworth, on

the 31st of May. 1808. In that capacity he put into the field and

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General Simon Perkins             289

commanded the third brigade of the division after the breaking

out of hostilities in 1812. The surprising and pusillanimous sur-

render of General Hull exposed the whole northwest to imminent

danger, and in the emergency General Perkins demonstrated

great promptness and signal military ability. Being assigned to

command the troops detailed from the Reserve to protect the

frontier, he marched to the Huron River and thence sent scouting

expeditions to all quarters where it was apprehended hostile In-

dians might be gathering. Although not under the necessity of

leading any movement, either aggressive or defensive, while he

remained in command, his thorough system of information and

general exercise of his responsibilities were most strongly com-

mended by his superior officers. When the term of enlistment

of the militia expired, General William H. Harrison having mean-

time been reinforced by troops sufficient to maintain his position,

General Perkins retired from the service. On that occasion Gen-

eral Harrison in an official communication expressed high appre-

ciation of the zeal and ability with which he had performed his

duty. General Perkins was tendered by President Madison a

commission as colonel in the regular army, but declined it on

account of the claims of his family and his many private obli-

gations.

He was the principal organizer of the Western Reserve Bank

of Warren, chartered November 24, 1813, and served as its presi-

dent from the beginning until April 5, 1838. This was the first

bank established in the Western Reserve, and it survived all other

banks in the state which entered the field before or with it.

On the 7th of February, 1826, he was appointed by the

legislature a member of the State Board of Canal Fund Com-

missioners. By successive reappointments he continued in that

honorable position until February 13, 1838, when he resigned.

As a citizen General Perkins was at all times conspicuous

for public spirit, earnest support of religious, educational and

moral interest and causes, and the highest standards and soundest

integrity in both his business and private relations. His death

occurred at Warren on the 6th of November, 1844.

He married, in Connecticut, March 18, 1804, Nancy Bishop.

She was born in Lisbon, Connecticut, January 24, 1780, and died

Vol. XXIII-19

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290       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   in Warren, Ohio, April 24, 1862. A lady of most estimable char- acter and wide usefulness, she is held in honored memory in the community where she so long resided. General and Mrs. Per- kins were the parents of nine children-Simon, Anna Maria, Olive Douglas, Alfred, Martha, Charles, Joseph, Jacob, and Henry Bishop. Their present descendants in the Perkins line are comprised in the several families which sprang from their four sons who survived to manhood, Simon, of Akron; Joseph, of Cleveland; Jacob, of Warren and Cleveland, and Henry Bishop, of Warren-all of whom were men of prominence, forceful abil- ity, and high character.

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