Henry Clay Perkins, of Perkins & Son, civil engineers and surveyors, of Leavenworth, was born at Homer, Cortland county, New York, April 16, 1832, a son of Augustus and Martha (Williamson) Perkins. His parents were both natives of Vermont, who removed to New York state. They belonged to some of the early New England families, who settled in the country at an early day.

Henry C. Perkins received his elementary education in the schools of East Bloomfield, Ontario county, New York, and then studied civil engineering, which profession he has followed all his life. In 1854 the family moved to Danville, Ind., and lived there for ten years. On Jan. 10, 1862, Mr. Perkins enlisted as a private in the Fifty-third Indiana infantry, and served under Col. Walter Q. Gresham. The next year he was promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, at Atlanta, and was with General Sherman during his famous march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned to Danville, but two years later went to Indianapolis, where he was engaged in railroad work. In 1886 he came to Leavenworth, where he has since resided. Mr. Perkins is one of the pioneer railroad construction men of the country, having built some of the first roads in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Utah. He helped build the first line of the Chicago & Alton, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, from Naples to Hannibal, Mo. He has also been engaged in civil engineering and general construction work. Mr. Perkins served three terms as county surveyor, and is one of the well known men of Leavenworth. He was reared in the Republican party, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont. He has always taken an active part in politics, and works in the interest of the party. He is a member and acting quartermaster of the Grand Army of the Republic, Custer Post, No. 6.

In 1855 Mr. Perkins married Mary L. Steel, and three children were born to the union—two of whom are living: Mrs. E. T. Joslin, of Spencer, Ind., and C. F. Perkins, who is an express messenger on the Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroad, running between Cleveland and Cincinnati. Mrs. Perkins died in 1865 and Mr. Perkins married Martha A. King for his second wife. She was a native of Fulton, Mo., and was reared in Danville, Ind. Three children were born to them, Henry Clay, and two who died in infancy. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen years began to study surveying with his father, and has been engaged in general engineering, construction work and as surveyor, and has served two terms as county surveyor of Leavenworth county. He married Annetta McCreary, of Atchison county, and five children have been born to them: Cora, William, Albert, Margaret, and Louise. Mr. Perkins was reared in the beliefs of the Republican party, is one of its stanch supporters, and always does his part toward winning victories at the polls.