William K. Perkins was a farmer, businessman, and Illinois native who came to Arkansas in 1850 as an early settler of Scott County. The area where he lived until his death in 1863 is now part of Booneville in Logan County. In 1854, Perkins was elected constable of Boone Township and held this office until 1860.
He was born in 1818 in St. Claire, Illinois, to Ephraim and Lucinda Perkins, who moved their family shortly afterwards to Benton County, Tennessee. Perkins remained in this area throughout his adulthood, marrying Parthenia Herrin on March 27, 1839, and fathering four children: James Madison (1840-1865), Elisha Crawford (1841-1863), Sarah Lucinda (1842-1923), and Martha Jane (born 1846). Parthenia died in 1846 and on November 30, 1847, Perkins married Martha Sykes.
He and Martha then moved to Greene County, Mississippi, where they lived briefly and where their first son, Samuel Huston (1849-1936) was born. Of his four other children with Martha, only Thomas (1854-1886) and Theodocia (born 1857) lived past infancy.
During the Civil War, Perkins briefly joined the Booneville Unit of Company A, Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles. He was shot and killed near his home in the fall of 1863.
This collection contains correspondence, receipts, surety bonds, sworn statements, accounts due, and legal documents relating to William K. Perkins and his 1854-1860 career as constable of Boon/Boone Township, Scott County (now Logan County), Arkansas.
- I. Corrrespondence
- A. William K. Perkins
- 1. 1855 January 10: James F. Lee to William K. Perkins
- 2. 1855 February 22: S.H. Chism to William K. Perkins
- 3. 1855 May 19: John I. Walker to William K. Perkins
- 4. 1855 November 10: W.G. Featherston to William K. Perkins
- 5. 1855 November 20: J.W. Vandever to William K. Perkins, Boone Township, Scott County
- 6. 1855 December 13: E. Perkins, Camden, Tennessee, to "Dear William"
- 7. 1856 January 18: G.W. Reed, Waldron, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins, Booneville, Arkansas
- 8. 1856 April 17: I.I. Walker, Ozark, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins
- 9. 1856 August: Beverly B. Dannely, teacher, to William Perkins
- 10. 1856 September 9: I.M. Swinney, Waldron, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins
- 11. 1856 October 6: [Morris] Rhyne, Roseville, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins
- 12. 1856 November 26: Thomas J. Price to William K. Perkins, Booneville, Arkansas
- 13. 1857 January 21: I.M. Swinney, Waldron, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins
- 14. 1857 May 10: J.J. Simco, Washington County, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins
- 15. 1857 July 13: C. Massey, Booneville, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins
- 16. 1858 October 14: E. Perkins, Camden, Tennessee, to William and Martha [Perkins]
- 17. 1859 February 21: L.G. Wright to William K. Perkins
- 18. 1859 August 6: E. Perkins, Camden, Tennessee, to William K. Perkins
- 19. 1859 September 21: John I. Walker to William K. Perkins, Booneville, Arkansas
- 20. 1859 September 28: S.L. Eastes to William K. Perkins
- 21. 1860 February 6: F.M. Scon[?], Booneville, Arkansas, to William K. Perkins
- 22. 1860 March 13: John S. Houston to William K. Perkins
- 23. Undated: George S. Virnie to William K. Perkins
- 24. Undated: John I. Walker to William K. Perkins
- B. Other
- 25. 1857 December 6: C. Massey, Lamertine, Arkansas, to Mr. Rhyne and Company, Booneville, Arkansas
- A. William K. Perkins
- II. Legal Documents
- 26. 1854 October 7: Justice's execution of debt claims, W.G. Featherston and Son v. William C. Hicks
- 27. 1855 February 21: Sworn statement, J.B. Proctor, Franklin County, Arkansas
- 28. 1856 February 2: Blank suerty bond
- 29. 1856 February 14: Notice of appeal, Alford Grigg, Scott County, Arkansas
- 30. 1856 August 8: Confirmation of election, William K. Perkins, Constable, Boon/Boone Township, Scott County, Arkansas
- 31. 1856 September 4: Surety bond, James M. Swenney vs. John W. Page
- 32. 1857 June 18: Justice's execution of debt claims, S.I. Heamby vs. David Pope
- 33. 1857 June 20: Justice's execution of debt claims, I.M. Swinney vs. John W. Page
- 34. 1857 September 4: Justice's execution of debt claims, Reed Lyons and Company vs. John W. Page
- 35. 1857 September 12: Justice's execution of debt claims, Reed Lyons and Company vs. John W. Page
- 36. 1857 October 16: Justice's execution of debt claims, C. Massey vs. John Wardroap
- 37. 1858 February 6: Justice's execution of debt claims, William Rogers vs. I.J. Mangrum and William Oliver
- 38. 1858 February 6: Justice's execution of debt claims, William Rogers vs. I.J. Mangrum and William Oliver
- 39. 1858 November 30: Justice's execution of debt claims, G.W. Carter vs. I.H. Baker
- 40. 1859 January 31: Justice's execution of debt claims, William Whitticer vs. William Lowery
- 41. 1859 February 12: Justice's execution of debt claims, A.H. Moffet vs. F.C. Oliver
- 42. 1859 March 12: Justice's execution of debt claims, Anna Manard vs. L.J. Hicks
- 43. 1859 June 15: Justice's execution of debt claims, Webster McCastlin vs. George Stanton
- 44. 1859 July 26: Justice's execution of debt claims, William Thomspon and L. Laster vs. Joseph Baker, et al
- 45. 1859 September 26: Summons, James T. Lee vs. L.C. Walton and McHamby
- 46. 1859 October 6: Sworn statement, D.M. Tucker
- 47. 1870 January 24: Letters of guardianship, Martha Perkins
- 48. Guardianship fees, Paris and Pennington
- 49. Sworn oath, J.A. Morrison vs. N. Morrison
- III. Authorizations for payment
- 1855-1860 (24 items)
- V. Miscellaneous documents
- Accounts due, statements of accounts, notes, etc. 1851-1861 (58 items)
- VI. Other material
- Miscellaneous, 1854-1887 (24 items)
- IV. Receipts 1853-1860
- A. 1853 (1 item)
- B. 1854 (9 items)
- C. 1855 (22 items)
- D. 1856 (30 items)
- E. 1857 (7 items)
- F. 1858 (7 items)
- G. 1859 (14 items)
- H. 1860 (9 items)
- I. Undated (12 items)
