Caledonia

PERKINS, Nathaniel

Vermont Historical Magazine, No. XI, October 1867, p 428
(extracted from a section on the history of Walden, Caledonia County, Vermont)

Nathaniel PERKINS moved his family into town [Walden, Caledonia County, 
Vermont] in 1789, being the only family there for tree succeeding years. He 
was possessed of uncommon energy, which enabled him to overcome the 
difficulties and hardships incident to living thus separated from the 
neighborhood of men. On one occasion he went to Newbury [Orange County, 
Vermont], a distance of thirty miles, on foot, and procured a bushel of 
Indian corn meal and returned with it on his shoulders. His house was the 
home of all the first settlers for the time being, and no weary traveler was 
denied its shelter, or a share in its sometimes extremely scanty stores. He 
represented his town in the state legislature in 1795, being its first 
representative, also in 1796-1799-1800-1804-1805 and 1806. Mr. PERKINS was 
one of the original members of the Methodist church, and ever one of its 
pillars. He lived to see great changes in the town of his early adoption, 
and [Nathaniel PERKINS] died at the age of ninety years, leaving numerous 
descendants.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly