Submitted by Jim Perkins
THE ALFRED PERKINS FAMILY-COLORADO/NEBRASKA PIONEERS
Alfred Perkins was born Aug. 26, 1846 in Greig, Lewis, NY. His parents were Allen Perkins born Nov. 3, 1820, Greig, NY and Amanda Melissa Brown born Jan. 26, 1828 in Rensselaer, NY. This family line can be traced back to 14th Century England.
When eighteen, Alfred enlisted in Co. "F" , 186th New York Infantry on Apr. 30, 1864 and was discharged June 2, 1865 at Alexandria, VA. He was in the Battle of Petersburg and other skirmishes.
Alfred married Emma Josephine Gaylord born Aug. 25, 1852 in Greig, NY on Oct. 12, 1869. Alfred and Emma had a daughter, Belle Alimine born Aug. 2, 1870 in Greig, NY. They farmed there until 1872.
Alfred and Emma moved to Blue Springs, Gage, NE where Alfred was in the hardware and dry goods business. Alfred was a member of Tyer Lodge, No. 85, A,F & AM in Blue Springs. Alfred was active in the Lodge leadership as Senior Deacon (1881) and Senior Warden (1882) He was a member of this Lodge untill his death.
During their stay in Blue Springs the following children were born:
Alice Cora Aug. 19, 1873 ( d. Oct. 23,1874 Blue Springs, NE)
Dora Augusta Feb.29, 1876
Eva LuElla June 9, 1878 (d. June 6, 1880 Blue Springs, NE)
Jessie May Dec. 5, 1880 in Greig, NY
Viola Ethal Mar. 16, 1883
Emma Grace June 26, 1885
Flossie Generia Jul 18, 1887
Allen Edwin Apr. 26, 1890.
Alfred and Emma along with Govenuer Perkins also homesteaded in Phillips Co, KS from 1884 to 1889. Govenuer Morris Perkins was born Jan. 1, 1831 (NY). He enlisted Sept. 8. 1861 from Omro, WI. in Co. “C”, 14th, Wisconsin Infantry and was wounded at the Battle of Cornith and discharged with disability on Dec. 19, 1862. He seemed to be involved with Alfred in business and homesteading during their migration west.
Alfred was in Dodge City, KS in 1878 where he purchased a Model 1874 Sharps Sporting Rifle (Cal 45 using 2 7/8 case) from Zimmerman of Dodge City. This rifle is in excellent condition and a prized heirloom of the author.
Alfred moved on west to Denver, CO in 1890 to look for work ahead of the rest of the family. Scarlet Fever raged in NE and two of the girls (Alice and Eva) died in Blue Springs.
While in Denver a child, Leona Lou was born Dec. 27, 1893. Two sisters died of Diphtheria (Emma and Leora) in Denver after the family move there in 1891. They finally settled in Sunset, CO where. Alfred worked for McAllister Lumber Co. and helped build the old Masonic Temple at 14th and Pearl in Boulder.
In 1894 after the Boulder flood, Alfred bought and operated the Boulder to Sunset Stage. He sold the business in 1898 and built the Columbine Hotel in Sunset. The children worked along with the adults to keep the Hotel going. They waited on tables, made beds, and carried water several times daily from a well 150 feet from the Hotel. They cooked on a hugh coal range with a water tank attached to the right of the stove. Evenings were spent singing and playing a Arion standup grand piano which has been preserved and is still in use at the author's home. The family operated the Hotel untill it burned down from a spark from a passing train in 1912. A son, Charles Bryan was born in Boulder Jan. 1, 1897.
Allen Edwin was a rancher in the Sunset /Ward area. Charles worked the tungsten mines, drove stage, cowboy’d, worked in the CA oil fields and played guitar in a band in Glenrock, WY. I remember many dances attended by Charles and my mother Mollie in Boulder and surrounding hills. At the time of his death he was a retired carpenter and lived in Boulder where he was active in the senior citizens center.
The family remained in Sunset until 1912 when they moved to Boulder. Alfred died on June 2, 1915. Emma died Oct. 13, 1929. Govenuer died Feb. 9, 1917 at Allen’s ranch where he lived for eighteen years. They are buried in Sunset Cemetery.