Amador
County
Biographies
ELBERT WEST PERKINS
Elbert
W. Perkins, a leading business man of Ione, Amador County, who owns and
conducts the oldest drug store in this vicinity, was born at Copper Hill, a
mining camp in Amador County, on the 1st of October, 1866, and is a
son of John Dabney and Julia Fontaine (Brown) Perkins. His father came to San Francisco, California,
in the early ‘50s and engaged in the draying business. He spent some time at Davis, Yolo County, and
at Michigan Bar, Sacramento County, where he served as superintendent of the
Held mines. For a time Mr. Perkins also
drove stage for “Bull” Hamilton between Ione and Michigan Bar, having his
headquarters at the Eldred House, Tenth and K Streets, Sacramento. In 1876 he established the family home at
Ione, where he was employed in the mercantile store of George Woolsey until
1880, when he was appointed postmaster, which office he filled for four
years. The post office at that time was
located in a portion of the storeroom now owned by his son. John B. Perkins died in 1917 and his wife
survived him a number of years, passing away in 1928. They were the parents of two children, Elbert
W. and Martha, the latter becoming the wife of A. E. Smith.
Elbert
W. Perkins attended the local grammar schools, after which he went to work in a
drug store. He mastered the business and
in the course of time received a druggist’s certificate. In 1887 he and his father bought the store
which he now owns and of which he became the sole proprietor in 1913 by buying
his father’s interest. He has prospered
in this business, which has been enlarged by the addition of several
departments, until today it would do credit to a much larger place than Ione. He carries an extensive stock of goods in addition
to the regular line of drugs, proprietary remedies and druggists’ sundries, and
his store is attractively arranged. Mr.
Perkins’ uniform courtesy and accommodations is appreciated and he enjoys a
large and steadily increasing patronage.
Mr.
Perkins was united in marriage to Miss Jessie E. Muir, whose father, Thomas R.
Muir, is one of the pioneers of this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins had three children,
Erwin F., Waldo M., and Marjorie, who died at the age of thirty-one years. There are also four grandchildren. The Democratic Party receives Mr. Perkins’
support and he has been actively interested in local public affairs, having
served as a trustee of the high school.
He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has attained
the chapter degrees, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Foresters of
America, the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Lions Club. He is fond of baseball and other outdoor
sports and is extremely popular throughout the community where he has resided
for the past fifty-four years. He has
always stood for those things which are calculated to promote the general
welfare of the community and is one of Ione’s substantial and public-spirited
citizens.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 29-30. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies