Frank Perkins
Sketch of Life of Frank Perkins, First Collin County Atty by Willa G. Largent
In busy, thriving St. Louis, a young architect, William H. Perkins, married a pretty and charming young school marm, Miss Elmira Dunn. Soon afterward he was given a commission by the government to build two academies in the wild and hostile Indian Territory. In company with the young bride's sister and her husband, who was a Methodist minister, they began the long tedious journey for this place and work was begun on the academies. In those days the timber had to be cut, seasoned and then hewn by hand before it could be used; so it is no wonder that Mr. Perkins labored NINE YEARS to complete his buildings. So well did he make them that ONE STILL STANDS TODAY as a monument to his memory.
During this period a son was born to the architect and his wife. He was given the name of Frank.
After building the academies, William Perkins and his family moved to Texas, settling in McKinney on the site of the present home of J. T. Couch on West Virginia Street.
they later moved to a farm of 100 acres south of town near McKinney Country Club. While on this farm, Mr. Perkins was given a contract to build the COURT HOUSE for the TOWN OF McKINNEY, but he died before beginning the work.
The young widow, knowing little about the management of a large farm, called her eldest son, Frank, to her side, and told him he would have to be the "man of the family", shoulder the responsibilities of carrying on the necessary work, and take care of his three little brothers and herself.
The mother, gentle, kind and cultured, had taught her children carefully and continuously, not only literature, mathematics and science, but nature, ever charming and always new and full of the constant beauty of God's creations. Books were not easily obtained, but this little family was able to acquire what in those days was considered a fine representation of the classics and languages. These books were eagerly read and discussed by the mother and son and always Frank would express the hope that some day his ambitions would be satisfied.
At last he started on the great all-absorbing quest. The timber must be cut, rails split, fences built, wood stacked, and a crop planted and laid by, in order that she and the younger brother might be able to live without his father help. A man was hired, but Frank now 16 years old and six feet tall, did a man's share of work, early and late. Mile long rows he plowed with oxen, while a younger brother dropped the seeds by hand and another covered them with a hoe.
One of Frank's outstanding habits was the daily bath--twice a day if the work was unusually hard, and no day was TOO COLD or TOO SHORT for the filling and emptying of a large tub in his room.
As was the custom in the early days, neighbor shared with neighbor and all strangers were fed. therefore, on afternoon when a cattle train, on its way to the Northern market, was halted and bedded down near the farm home of the Widow Perkins in the Fairview community, the cowboys ate supper with the Perkins family. The leader, a kindly intelligent man, was introduced to the sons, and during a conversation with Mrs. Perkins, he learned that Frank was ambitious to go to school. The man asked where Frank thought of going? He told Mrs. Perkins that he was short of a hand and that if she would entrust her son to his care, he would give him a pony and saddle and take him as far as Kansas City where he hoped to market his cattle. Arrangements were made, clothing hastily gathered and food for a few meals ahead was cooked.
At the beginning of a new day, Frank bade his mother and brothers farewell and started on his great adventure.
While passing through the Indian Territory, Frank was stricken with typhoid fever and lay gravely ill for many days. When it seemed that he would surely die, and since the cattle must be moved on, Frank was left in the care of a kindly family who promised to notify his family when death had claimed. Tender care and skillful nursing, however, cheated death of his victim.
When he had recovered sufficiently he made his way to the home of his uncle, a Mr. Dunn, in St. Louis. While here he decided he would go to Farmdale, Ky. and enter Kentucky Military Institute.
So, in September he approached Colonel R. T. P. Allen, head of Kentucky Military Institute. Colonel Allen told him the tuition and board would be one thousand dollars per year and there would be other expenses for his needs. Frank pleaded his case and was so efficient in the role that Colonel Allen declared that since it was so unusual for a lad of his few years to travel so far and plead his case so ably and earnestly, he would give him a chance. Arrangements were soon outlined for Frank to begin his studies in that famous institution.
He studied hard and proved his ability and worthiness at the end of the year by making the highest grades in the freshman class, and was awarded highest honors and a silver medal. he was then given an opportunity to teach in the class he had just finished while pursuing his studies in the sophomore class. Each summer he remained in Kentucky and worked, saving his earnings t apply on his education.
When Kentucky Military Institute opened its doors the coming fall, Frank was on hand and again was given the post of student teacher in the classes he had so creditably finished. Again at the end of the school year hes record earned for him the coveted highest honors and a silver metal.
The fourth summer and school year were repetitions of previous years except that he was awarded a gold medal for his outstanding record as an honorary student.
But Frank had only partially reached hiss goal, as he desired to study law. There was no law course in the curriculum of Kentucky Military Institute, but in nearby Frankfort there was a law school. He made arrangements to teach in Kentucky Military Institute in the mornings and attend classes in law in the afternoon, riding back and forth in a buggy. He worked in the summer for two years, at the end of which time he had completed his law course.
One night the stage coach arrived in McKinney, with a stalwart and handsome man dressed in a major's uniform as a passenger. At the age of 23 Frank had returned home having realized his fondest hopes and ambitions. Great was the joy of the mother, and her pride knew no bounds.
Morning came, and the younger brothers were told Frank had returned and was still asleep in the spare bedroom. When they cautiously opened the door, saw the major's uniform carefully spread on the chairs, saw the fair, handsome face with classical beard which added dignity and age and an appearance of much wisdom to the tall slender form, a surge of doubt entered their hearts. one openly express his doubt that this could be the brother so long away in school. When Frank awaked, doubting Thomas asked him to push back his hair and display a scar he had received from an accident in early childhood. Proof established he was acknowledged the ABSENT BROTHER with pride akin to worship.
Frank soon found his place in his home town. He opened a law office, and was highly esteemed for his gentility and superior knowledge. Soon he was married to Miss Florence Heard and took his place as a successful lawyer and was elected and served as the FIRST COUNTY ATTORNEY OF COLLIN COUNTY.
Later he was recalled to teach again in Kentucky Military Institute, where he died at the age of 33 years, leaving a widow and a young son.
The brothers of the heart broken widow traveled to Kentucky for the body of Frank Perkins. As embalming was not yet practiced, the coffin was packed in ice at intervals en-route.Thus the body was brought to McKinney for burial. First the body was carried to the home of Mr. Hubert Hamilton, which stood on the grounds where the Wysong Clinic stands at the present time.
The funeral was held in the Methodist Church and was largely attended. As the services were being concluded, a main in the rear arose and asked to be allowed to speak. He said he was a Methodist minister and had in his youth drive cattle through this country with his father, and he wanted to know if this Frank Perkins, so openly mourned and highly esteemed was the same lad who was stricken with typhoid fever while driving cattle with them and whom they had left in the Indian Territory with a friendly couple, thinking that he would surely die. The fact was easy to establish. The appearance of this minster was purely a coincidence but cause wonderment among many as to God's plans of life for each individual.
Undoubtedly, Frank Perkins was A VERY REMARKABLE MAN. Much he owed to the constant and assiduous teachings of his devoted mother, but without the fire and zeal within himself, his failure to halt at any obstacle and his power to overcome adversities, he could NEVER HAVE MADE AN ENVIABLE RECORD and reached his goal.
It is men like this who give strength courage, and inspiration to the ambitious and make us realize how much our traditions cost in labor and toil and love. How devotedly we should cherish them.
Thus Frank Perkins, at the age of 33, brother of our noble neighbor and friend, Mr. Wesley Perkins, and father of our townsman and civic leader, F. Dudley Perkins, whose own enviable record speaks for him finished with this world. His remains rest among those of his family in Pecan Grove Cemetery, not so far from where he spent his childhood and dreamed of the world he would conquer and did. He left behind a heritage and a history the world can be PROUD TO REMEMBER.
In busy, thriving St. Louis, a young architect, William H. Perkins, married a pretty and charming young school marm, Miss Elmira Dunn. Soon afterward he was given a commission by the government to build two academies in the wild and hostile Indian Territory. In company with the young bride's sister and her husband, who was a Methodist minister, they began the long tedious journey for this place and work was begun on the academies. In those days the timber had to be cut, seasoned and then hewn by hand before it could be used; so it is no wonder that Mr. Perkins labored NINE YEARS to complete his buildings. So well did he make them that ONE STILL STANDS TODAY as a monument to his memory.
During this period a son was born to the architect and his wife. He was given the name of Frank.
After building the academies, William Perkins and his family moved to Texas, settling in McKinney on the site of the present home of J. T. Couch on West Virginia Street.
they later moved to a farm of 100 acres south of town near McKinney Country Club. While on this farm, Mr. Perkins was given a contract to build the COURT HOUSE for the TOWN OF McKINNEY, but he died before beginning the work.
The young widow, knowing little about the management of a large farm, called her eldest son, Frank, to her side, and told him he would have to be the "man of the family", shoulder the responsibilities of carrying on the necessary work, and take care of his three little brothers and herself.
The mother, gentle, kind and cultured, had taught her children carefully and continuously, not only literature, mathematics and science, but nature, ever charming and always new and full of the constant beauty of God's creations. Books were not easily obtained, but this little family was able to acquire what in those days was considered a fine representation of the classics and languages. These books were eagerly read and discussed by the mother and son and always Frank would express the hope that some day his ambitions would be satisfied.
At last he started on the great all-absorbing quest. The timber must be cut, rails split, fences built, wood stacked, and a crop planted and laid by, in order that she and the younger brother might be able to live without his father help. A man was hired, but Frank now 16 years old and six feet tall, did a man's share of work, early and late. Mile long rows he plowed with oxen, while a younger brother dropped the seeds by hand and another covered them with a hoe.
One of Frank's outstanding habits was the daily bath--twice a day if the work was unusually hard, and no day was TOO COLD or TOO SHORT for the filling and emptying of a large tub in his room.
As was the custom in the early days, neighbor shared with neighbor and all strangers were fed. therefore, on afternoon when a cattle train, on its way to the Northern market, was halted and bedded down near the farm home of the Widow Perkins in the Fairview community, the cowboys ate supper with the Perkins family. The leader, a kindly intelligent man, was introduced to the sons, and during a conversation with Mrs. Perkins, he learned that Frank was ambitious to go to school. The man asked where Frank thought of going? He told Mrs. Perkins that he was short of a hand and that if she would entrust her son to his care, he would give him a pony and saddle and take him as far as Kansas City where he hoped to market his cattle. Arrangements were made, clothing hastily gathered and food for a few meals ahead was cooked.
At the beginning of a new day, Frank bade his mother and brothers farewell and started on his great adventure.
While passing through the Indian Territory, Frank was stricken with typhoid fever and lay gravely ill for many days. When it seemed that he would surely die, and since the cattle must be moved on, Frank was left in the care of a kindly family who promised to notify his family when death had claimed. Tender care and skillful nursing, however, cheated death of his victim.
When he had recovered sufficiently he made his way to the home of his uncle, a Mr. Dunn, in St. Louis. While here he decided he would go to Farmdale, Ky. and enter Kentucky Military Institute.
So, in September he approached Colonel R. T. P. Allen, head of Kentucky Military Institute. Colonel Allen told him the tuition and board would be one thousand dollars per year and there would be other expenses for his needs. Frank pleaded his case and was so efficient in the role that Colonel Allen declared that since it was so unusual for a lad of his few years to travel so far and plead his case so ably and earnestly, he would give him a chance. Arrangements were soon outlined for Frank to begin his studies in that famous institution.
He studied hard and proved his ability and worthiness at the end of the year by making the highest grades in the freshman class, and was awarded highest honors and a silver medal. he was then given an opportunity to teach in the class he had just finished while pursuing his studies in the sophomore class. Each summer he remained in Kentucky and worked, saving his earnings t apply on his education.
When Kentucky Military Institute opened its doors the coming fall, Frank was on hand and again was given the post of student teacher in the classes he had so creditably finished. Again at the end of the school year hes record earned for him the coveted highest honors and a silver metal.
The fourth summer and school year were repetitions of previous years except that he was awarded a gold medal for his outstanding record as an honorary student.
But Frank had only partially reached hiss goal, as he desired to study law. There was no law course in the curriculum of Kentucky Military Institute, but in nearby Frankfort there was a law school. He made arrangements to teach in Kentucky Military Institute in the mornings and attend classes in law in the afternoon, riding back and forth in a buggy. He worked in the summer for two years, at the end of which time he had completed his law course.
One night the stage coach arrived in McKinney, with a stalwart and handsome man dressed in a major's uniform as a passenger. At the age of 23 Frank had returned home having realized his fondest hopes and ambitions. Great was the joy of the mother, and her pride knew no bounds.
Morning came, and the younger brothers were told Frank had returned and was still asleep in the spare bedroom. When they cautiously opened the door, saw the major's uniform carefully spread on the chairs, saw the fair, handsome face with classical beard which added dignity and age and an appearance of much wisdom to the tall slender form, a surge of doubt entered their hearts. one openly express his doubt that this could be the brother so long away in school. When Frank awaked, doubting Thomas asked him to push back his hair and display a scar he had received from an accident in early childhood. Proof established he was acknowledged the ABSENT BROTHER with pride akin to worship.
Frank soon found his place in his home town. He opened a law office, and was highly esteemed for his gentility and superior knowledge. Soon he was married to Miss Florence Heard and took his place as a successful lawyer and was elected and served as the FIRST COUNTY ATTORNEY OF COLLIN COUNTY.
Later he was recalled to teach again in Kentucky Military Institute, where he died at the age of 33 years, leaving a widow and a young son.
The brothers of the heart broken widow traveled to Kentucky for the body of Frank Perkins. As embalming was not yet practiced, the coffin was packed in ice at intervals en-route.Thus the body was brought to McKinney for burial. First the body was carried to the home of Mr. Hubert Hamilton, which stood on the grounds where the Wysong Clinic stands at the present time.
The funeral was held in the Methodist Church and was largely attended. As the services were being concluded, a main in the rear arose and asked to be allowed to speak. He said he was a Methodist minister and had in his youth drive cattle through this country with his father, and he wanted to know if this Frank Perkins, so openly mourned and highly esteemed was the same lad who was stricken with typhoid fever while driving cattle with them and whom they had left in the Indian Territory with a friendly couple, thinking that he would surely die. The fact was easy to establish. The appearance of this minster was purely a coincidence but cause wonderment among many as to God's plans of life for each individual.
Undoubtedly, Frank Perkins was A VERY REMARKABLE MAN. Much he owed to the constant and assiduous teachings of his devoted mother, but without the fire and zeal within himself, his failure to halt at any obstacle and his power to overcome adversities, he could NEVER HAVE MADE AN ENVIABLE RECORD and reached his goal.
It is men like this who give strength courage, and inspiration to the ambitious and make us realize how much our traditions cost in labor and toil and love. How devotedly we should cherish them.
Thus Frank Perkins, at the age of 33, brother of our noble neighbor and friend, Mr. Wesley Perkins, and father of our townsman and civic leader, F. Dudley Perkins, whose own enviable record speaks for him finished with this world. His remains rest among those of his family in Pecan Grove Cemetery, not so far from where he spent his childhood and dreamed of the world he would conquer and did. He left behind a heritage and a history the world can be PROUD TO REMEMBER.
