George Clement Perkins

George Clement Perkins is not related to my husband or myself but I came across him in my genealogy researches and found him, and his family, very interesting.

George Clement Perkins was born 8/23/1839 in Kennebunkport, York County, ME to Clement T. Perkins (DOB 3/23/1807 in Kennebunkport, York County, ME; DOD 3/4/1884 in Kennebunkport, York County, ME) and Linda Fairfield (DOB 11/20/1802 in Kennebunkport, York County, ME; DOD 12/31/1887 in Kennbunkport, York County, ME).

Since he was so well known, I found a lot about him online.

"George Perkins early years were spent working on the family farm, which he did not enjoy. His dream was to become a captain of a ship. At age 13, he applied for a position as a cabin-boy, but he was considered too young. Not to be deterred, George hid on the ship and was not discovered until the ship set sail. He was set to work as one of the cabin-boys. He arrived in San Francisco when he was 16. Perkins tried his luck at mining for several months, but was unsuccessful. He moved to a mining camp in Ophir where he drove a mule train and worked as a porter in a store. Perkins eventually became a clerk at the store and earned a salary of $60 a month. When business had slowed, Perkins bought the store. By the age of 20, Perkins grossed about $500, 000 annually through his trade in merchandise, produce and provisions. Perkins was elected to serve as a term as a state Senator in 1869 and was re-elected in 1871. This was the turning point in Perkins’ political career as well as in his business career. While Perkins was in the Senate he met Captain Charles Miner Goodall. In 1872, Perkins and Goodall formed the Goodall, Nelson and Perkins Steamship Company, which was renamed the Pacific Coast Steam Navigation Company. It was a very successful company. In 1873, Perkins was elected to fill the unexpired term of Senator Boucher, who passed away in late 1872. In 1875, Perkins moved to San Francisco, leaving his brother to run the store. In addition to his store, Perkins also owned sheep and cattle ranches, was involved in mining and lumber interests. He was also a member of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, president of Arctic Oil Works as well as president of Starr and Company. He helped establish Bank of Butte County, and was a director for the California State Bank in Sacramento and First National Bank of San Francisco. At the Republican State Convention of 1879, Perkins was selected as his party’s nomination for governor. His campaign for governor was successful garnering him 20,000 votes over the next closest candidate. Perkins was the first governor to work under the new state constitution. During his tenure, the State Normal School opened (which later became UCLA), and the University of Southern California was established. Perkins also pardoned numerous prisoners, personally interviewing each prisoner. After his term as governor, Perkins returned to his business interests. However, in 1888, he was appointed as one of the directors of the deaf, dumb and blind asylum at Berkeley and was reappointed in 1891. In 1889, Perkins was appointed a trustee of the state mining bureau. In 1893, Governor Markham appointed Perkins to fill out the unexpired term of U.S. Senator Leland Stanford, who had passed away. Perkins was re-elected to the U.S. Senate three more times. He retired from the Senate in 1915 and returned to Oakland." - Governors of California

A Biographical History With Portraits Of Prominent Men Of The Great West Manhattan Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, 1894

Came to Sacramento, California in 1855 on the clipper Galatea.


He walked 100 miles to the gold fields in Oroville, CA.



1860 U.S. Census of Wells, York County, Maine; Roll: M653_449; Page: 1048; Family History Library Film: 803449, "George L. Perkins" (I don't know if this is George Clement Perkins, DOB 1839. There is no George Perkins living with his parents in Kennebunkport, ME but this one is the right age. Probably coincidence that they have same name and age. George may not be in the 1850 and 1860 Censuses if he was on ships sailing around the world and mining in CA.)
George L. Perkins, 47 yrs old, M(ale), W(hite), Seaman, $700 Real Estate Value, $300 Personal Estate Value, Born in ME
Susan Perkins, 37 yrs old, F, W, Born in ME
George Perkins, 21 (DOB 1839) yrs old, M, W, Seaman, Born in ME
Samuel L. Perkins, 19 yrs old, M, W, Seaman, Born in Mass
Andrew Perkins, 16 yrs old, M, W, Seaman, Born in ME
Mary J. Perkins, 13 yrs old, F, W, Born in ME
Sarah E. Perkins, 11 yrs old, F, W, Born in ME
Edward A. Perkins, 8 yrs old, M, W, Born in ME
Helen Perkins, 5 yrs old, F, W, Born in ME
Willey Perkins, 8 yrs old, M, W, Born in ME
Henry B. Perkins, 6 yrs old, M, W, Born in Mass

Ruth Parker’s family moved to Marysville, California when she was eight years old. Upon arrival in California, Ruth’s father, Edward Parker, went into business with a young George C. Perkins, creating the successful firm of Parker and Perkins.

1850 U.S. Census of Ophir, Butte County, California; Roll: M653_56; Page: 789; Family History Library Film: 803056, Lines 22-26, "Edward Parker"
Edward Parker, 50 yrs old (DOB 1810), M(ale), W(hite), Liquor Dealer, $500 Real Estate Value, $4,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in England
Francis P. Parker, 50 yrs old (DOB 1810), F, W, Born in England
Ruth Ann Parker (sic, she went by Ruth Amelia Parker the rest of her life), 17 yrs old (DOB 1843), Born in Ireland
Katun Endora Parker, 2 yrs old, F, W, Born in CA
F.L. Holden, 40 yrs old, M, W, Barkeeper, Born in England

1852 California State Census, Lines 17-19, "Edward Parker"
Edward Parker, 40 yrs old (DOB 1812), M(ale), W(hite), Syrup Manufacturer, Born in England, Last residence in England
Francis Parker, 41 yrs old (DOB 1811), F, W, Born in England
Ruth Parker, 8 yrs old (DOB 1844), F, W, Born in Ireland

California, Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790-1950
Name: George Clement Perkins
Birth Place: Kennebunkport, Maine
Birth Date: 23 Aug 1839
Death Place: Oakland
Death Date: 26 Feb 1923
Father: Clement Perkins
Mother: Lucinda Fairfield
Spouse: Ruth Amelia Parker
Marriage Date: 3 May 1864
Marriage Place: Marysville, California
Previous Residence: Maine
Index Card Year: 1935
He married Ruth Amelia Parker. Ruth Parker was born Abt. 1845 in Ireland to Edward Parker (DOB Abt. 1810 in England; DOD 10/20/1861 in CA) and Francis ? (DOB Abt. 1810 in England; DOD ? in CA).




They had 7 children:

1) Francis "Fanny" Isabel Perkins (aka Francis "Fannie" Isabel Perkins) (DOB 4/28/1864 in Butte County, CA; DOD 9/16/1931 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA) married John Edward Adams (DOB Abt. 1858 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; DOD 12/13/1912 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA). They had:
....A) Ruth Adams (DOB 11/1887 in CA; DOD 4/23/1979 in Alameda County, CA) married Donald Edward Kessler (DOB Abt. 1886 in Yreka, Siskiyou County, CA; DOD 11/22/1962 in Alameda County, CA). They had Barbara Kessler (Allan Earle Peck, Jr.) and Elinor Kessler (Edward Francis Moran).
....B) Helen Adams (DOB 3/1889 in CA; DOD 5/14/1962 in Contra Costa County, CA) married Harry Scott Martin (DOB 7/6/1884 in KS; DOD 4/19/1948 in Contra Costa County, CA).
....C) Edna Adams (DOB 10/1894 in CA; DOD 3/25/1913 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA).

2) George Edward Perkins (DOB 5/1867 in CA; DOD 6/18/1931 in Alameda County, CA) married Eva Quatmann (DOB 5/1871 in CA; DOD 11/28/1938 in Alameda County, CA). They had:
....A) Ethel Perkins (DOB 6/18/1892 in CA; DOD 10/16/1944 in Martinez, Contra Costa, CA) married Dr. William Mills, Sr. (DOB 1/14/1896 in Nebraska; DOD 3/9/1987 in Alameda County, CA). They had William Perkins Mills, Jr. (DOB 10/5/1931 in Oakland, Alameda County, CA; DOD 3/3/2011 in Danville, Contra Costa County, CA) and Jane Elinor Mills (DOB 1934 in Alameda County, CA; DOD ? in ? ) married Robert Benjamin Sheldon.
....B) George Clement Perkins III (DOB 7/10/1894 in CA; DOD 4/9/1971 in Alameda County, CA) married Violet Consuelo Marshall (DOB 2/12/1899 in CA to Henry Peter "Harry" Marshall and Hilda Josephine Olsen; DOD 9/2/1973 in Alameda County, CA).
....C) Ruth Amelia Perkins (DOB 12/1897 in CA; DOD 1/16/1987 in Alameda County, CA) married Howard Newcomb Pratt (DOB 8/17/1892 in CA; DOD 9/20/1959 in Humbold County, CA). They had Carol A. Pratt (DOB Abt. 1928 in CA; DOD ? in ? ).

3) Susan "Susie" C. Perkins (DOB 7/1869 in Oroville, Butte County, CA; DOD 4/13/1917 in Alameda County, CA) married William Henry Schmidt (aka William Henry Smith) (DOB 11/30/1875 in Oakland, Alameda County, CA; DOD 1951 in Lee County, FL). They had:
....1) Alice Smith (DOB 5/9/1893 in Oakland, Alameda County, CA; DOD 12/12/1960 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA) married Leo Vallejo Belden (DOB Abt. 1887 in Wyoming, DOD 1949 in ? ). They had Richard Belden and Robert Belden.

4) Frederick King Perkins (DOB 11/15/1872 in Oroville, Butte County, CA; DOD 7/11/1955 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA) married Lillian Lampel (DOB 9/3/1887 in Milwaukee, WI to Herman Lampel and Minnie Mary Miller; DOD 5/15/1930 in Alameda County, CA).

5) Milton Goodall Perkins (DOB 5/27/1876 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; DOD 2/21/1918 in Alameda County, CA of heart failure). Never married.

6) Mae Ruth Perkins (DOB 10/12/1882 in Oakland, Alameda County, CA; DOD 10/26/1957 in Alameda County, CA) married 1st George Greer MacKinnon (DOB 9/12/1879 in Oakland, Alameda County, CA; DOD 1/2/1945 in Oakland, Alameda County, CA) and 2nd William Parry (DOB ? in ? ; DOD ? in ? ).

7) Grace Pansy Perkins (DOB 10/12/1882 in Oakland, Alameda County, CA; DOD 6/19/1971 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA) married Cleveland Hall Baker (DOB 6/27/1882 in Eureka, Eureka County, Nevada; DOD 12/5/1912 in Carson City, Carson City County, Nevada). She had a daughter after her husband's death, Margaret "Peggy" Baker (DOB 6/19/1914 in CA; DOD 12/12/2009 in Murrieta, Riverside County, CA) married Allan Robert Catheron (DOB 8/25/1910 in Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; DOD 6/19/1980 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts).  They had Suzette Catheron and Reeves Nelson Catheron.















1870 U.S. Census of Ophir, Butte County, California; Roll: M593_70; Page: 108B; Family History Library Film: 545569, Lines 1-5, "Geo. C. Perkins"
Geo. C. Perkins, 30 yrs old (DOB 1840), M(ale), W(hite), Merchant, $25,000 Real Estate Value, $55,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in ME
Ruth Perkins, 25 yrs old (DOB 1845), F, W, Keep house, Born in Ireland, both parents foreign born
Fannie Perkins, 5 yrs old (DOB 1865), F, W, Born in CA, Mother is foreign born
Geo Perkins, 3 yrs old (DOB 1867), M, W, Born in CA, Mother is foreign born
Susan Perkins, 1 yr old (DOB 1869), F, W, Born in CA, Mother is foreign born


Centennial History of Oakland Lodge No. 188 1868-1968
Oakland Durant Rockridge Masonic Lodge #188, F.&A.M.
Chartered by the Grand Lodge of California, F.&.A.M.
ISBN 978-0-9907053-0-7












1880 U.S. Census of Sacramento, Sacramento County, California; Roll: 71; Page: 114C; Enumeration District: 083, Lines 27-34, "George C. Perkins"
George C. Perkins, W(hite), M(ale), 40 yrs old (DOB 1840), Head, Married, Governor of the State of California, Born in ME, Both parnts born in ME
Ruth A. Perkins, W, F, 35 yrs old (DOB 1845), Wife, Married, Keeping House, Born in Ireland, Both parents born in Ireland
Fannie Perkins, W, F, 15 yrs old (DOB 1865), Daughter, Single, At home, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in Ireland
George Perkins, W, M, 13 yrs old (DOB 1867), Son, Single, At home, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in Ireland
Susie Perkins, W, F, 10 yrs old (DOB 1870), Daughter, Single, At home, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in Ireland
Fred Perkins, W, M, 8 yrs old (DOB 1872), Son, Single, At home, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in Ireland
Milton Perkins, W, M, 5 yrs old (DOB 1875), Son, At home, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in Ireland
May Perkins, W, F, 2 yrs old (DOB 1878), Daughter, At home, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in Ireland






1900 U.S. Census of Perkins Street, Oakland Ward 5, Alameda County, California; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0373; FHL microfilm: 1240082, Lines 1-12, "George C. Perkins"
George C. Perkins, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Aug, 1839, 60 yrs old, Married 37 yrs, Born in ME, Both parents born in ME, Merchant and Steamship, Can read and write, Owns home free of mortgage
Ruth Perkins, Wife, W, F, Born Aug, 1840, 59 yrs old, Married 37 yrs, Born in England, Both parents born in England, Can read and write
Milton G. Perkins, Son, W, M, Born May, 1875, 25 yrs old, Single, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in England, Banker, Can read and write
May Perkins, Daughter, W, F, Born Jan, 1878, 22 yrs old, Single, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in England, Can read and write
Pansey Perkins (sic), Daughter, W, F, Born Oct, 1882, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in England, Can read and write
Fred Perkins, Son, W, M, Born Nov, 1871, 28 yrs old, Single, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in England, Paymaster U.S. Navy, Can read and write
Susie Schmidt, Daughter, W, F, Born July, 1869, 30 yrs old, Married 8 yrs, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in England, Can read and write
Helen Gerstenberg, Servant, W, F, Born Sept, 1852, 47 yrs old, Single, Born in IL, Both parents born in Scotland
Nellie Moriarty, Servant, W, F, Born Jan, 1873, 27 yrs old, Single, Born in Ireland, Both parents born in Ireland
Lenora Kger, Servant, W, M, Born June, 1866, 33 yrs old, Single, Born in Germany, Both parents born in Germany
Alice Schmidt, Granddaughter, W, F, Born May, 1894, 6 yrs old, Single, Born in CA, Both parents born in CA
Gus Clement, Servant, W, M, Born Aug, 1862, 37 yrs old, Single, Born in Denmark, Both parents born in Denmark



1910 U.S. Census of Palm Knoll, Perkins Street, Oakland Ward 5, Alameda County, California; Roll: T624_70; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 0124; FHL microfilm: 1374083, Lines 11-21, "George C. Perkins"
George C. Perkins, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 70 yrs old (DOB 1840), Married 43 yrs, Born in ME, Both parents born in USA, United States Senator, Can read and write, Owns home free of mortgage
Ruth A. Perkins, Wife, F, W, 66 yrs old (DOB 1844), Married 43 yrs, 7 children with 6 still living, Born in England, Both parents bonr in England, Can read and write
May R. Perkins, Daughter, F, W, 32 yrs old (DOB 1878), Single, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in England, Can read and write
Alma Perkins, Niece, F, W, 26 yrs old (DOB 1884), Single, Father born in ME, Mother born in CA, Can read and write
Susie Smith, Daughter, F, W, 41 yrs old (DOB 1869), 1st Marriage, Married 17 yrs, 1 child with 1 still living, Father born in ME, Mother born in England
Alice Smith, Niece, F, W, 16 yrs old (DOB 1894), Single, Born in CA, Both parents born in CA
Marie Finnegan, Servant, F, W, 27 yrs old, Single, Born in CA, Both parents born in Ireland, Servant in private family
Katie Funk, Servant, F, W, 23 yrs old, Single, Born in CA, Both parents born in Germany, Servant in private family
William Petman, Servant, M, W, 32 yrs old, Single, Born in England, Both parents born in England, Chauffeur in private family
Chris Clement, Servant, M, W, 48 yrs old, Single, Born in Denmark, Both parents born in Denmark, Gardener in private family
Wong Yen, Servant, M, W, 27 yrs old, Single, Born in China, Both parents born in China, Cook in private family

1920 U.S. Census of Perkins Street, Oakland, Alameda County, California; Roll: T625_89; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 77, Lines 91-89, "George C. Perkins"
George C. Perkins, Head, Owns home free of mortgage, M(ale), W(hite), 81 yrs old (DOB 1839), Married, Can read and write, Born in ME, Both parents born in ME, No occupation
Ruth Perkins, Wife, F, W, 75 yrs old (DOB 1845), Married, Can read and write, Born in USA, Both parents born in USA
Alma Perkins, Niece, F, W, 36 yrs old (DOB 1884), Single, Can read and write, Born in CA, Father born in ME, Mother born in CA
Marie Finnigan, Secretary, F, W, 37 yrs old (DOB 1883), Single, Can read and write, Born in CA, Father born in NY, Mother born in CA, Secretary
Julia Ryan, Nurse, F, W, 34 yrs old (DOB 1886), Single, Can read and write, Born in Ireland, Both parents born in Ireland, Nurse
William Pittman, Servant, M, W, 57 yrs old, Single, Can read and write, Born in England, Both parents born in England, Chauffeur
Christian Clement, Servant, M, W, 57 yrs old, Single, Can read and write, Born in Denmark, Both parents born in Denmark, Gardener

Ruth Amelia Parker Perkins died 2/4/1921 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA.

California, Death Index, 1905-1939
Name: Ruth P Perkins
Birth Year: abt 1845
Death Date: 4 Feb 1921
Age at Death: 76
Death Place: San Francisco, California, USA

FindAGrave.com
Ruth A. Parker Perkins
BIRTH 1845
DEATH 1921 (aged 75–76)
BURIAL Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA
PLOT Section 27
MEMORIAL ID 22270960




FindAGrave.com
George Clement Perkins
BIRTH 23 Aug 1839 in Kennebunkport, York County, Maine, USA
DEATH 26 Feb 1923 (aged 83), Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA
BURIAL Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA
MEMORIAL ID 5989
California Governor, US Senator. At the age of twelve he ran away from home and went to sea as a cabin boy. After several years being on ships at sea, he engaged in banking, milling, mining, farming, ranching, whaling, and operating steamships on the coasts of Western America. He was a member of the California State Senate (1869-76) and he was elected the 14th Governor of California, in 1879, serving until 1883. In 1893, he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Leland Stanford and was reelected four times, serving until 1915. He was the third-longest serving US Senator in California State history. Not a candidate for reelection due to ill health, he returned to California and lived in retirement until his death at age 83.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith

















Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings on the family: