Histories

Silas was the oldest child of Greene Anderson Perkins (1841-1918) and Sarah Elizabeth (Betty), Hayden (1839-1926). Silas was born August 27, 1862.

Greene and Betty must have had a somewhat contentious relationship.  Between 1873 and 1874, when Silas was 11 to 12 years old, Greene absconded with Silas and his 4 Younger siblings.  At sometime before April 1874, all of the children, including Silas, were stolen back by Betty.

The April 11, 1874 edition of the Centralia  Fireside Guard depicts testimony from Betty that Greene left KY with only the clothes on his back for an appointment in Flatrock, (MO?) and that she retained possession of his remaining clothes, horse, books and children, and that it would be dangerous for Greene to return home after his appointment. She had the oldest child, (Silas), in her possession and Green could not get to him.

It was said that Greene was part of some “Way out” religion and there is various documentation and newspaper articles that refer to him as a minister in Lexington, KY. 

Before 1876, Greene left Lexington with a group of followers intent on founding a new church as part of the “Restoration Movement”.  He married Georgia Peeler in 1876 in Missouri. 

Silas graduated from St. Mary’s (Jesuit), College in Raywick, Kentucky in June 1881 at the age of 18. He enlisted with the US Twentieth Infantry in Cincinnati in 1882 and was assigned to Company D, then located to Fort Reno, OK, Indian Territory. The Company moved up from Reno to Fort Assinniboine in Havre, Montana. Silas was discharged from the military in 1884 with the comment of “false fractious” in the remarks section. 

(“False fractious” in a military discharge record from the late 1880s might indicate that the individual’s behavior was perceived as contentious or rebellious, but upon further investigation, it was determined to be unjustified or exaggerated, hence “false.” It could suggest that the disciplinary actions taken against the individual were unwarranted.)

His discharge records were also annotated with the abbreviation of MEB. 

(MEB stands for "Medical Evaluation Board." In a military discharge record from the 1880s, it would likely indicate that the individual underwent a medical evaluation by a board to assess their physical or mental condition before discharge.)

At some point, it appears that Silas married Rosemary (Mary) Peal. Their daughter, Marie Elizabeth “Bessie” Perkins was born on July 23, 1888. 

Silas disappeared before 1900, as Bessie and her mother appear on the Census records in 1900, as living with her sister, Minnie Edwards, and Minnie’s two children. Later, Rose Mary (Marie), Perkins was listed as widowed...by Julia White

Family lore is that Silas was a cartographer and writer of treaties. I seem to recall the story that after the stint with the army, he went to California to make some maps and never returned. I think this may have even been before Bessie was born, 1887? Bessie and her mom, Rose Mary, must have eventually given up on Silas' return and headed back east (via stagecoach?) to live with family in Jackson, MO. 

Rose Mary, was born in New Jersey in 1865. Both of her parents were born in Germany. At the age of 17, Rose Mary worked in Junction, KS as a servant.

Open questions:

Where did RoseMary and Silas meet?

When and Where did they get married?

What happened to Silas? What happened to the maps Bessie (great grandma Willett) had? Great grandma showed, Carol, some of Silas’ old maps and calligraphy that were under her bed in the “cracker jack” house in Beloit. What could have happened to them?

Can we find any marriage or divorce certificates for Greene Anderswon Perkins?...by Terri Willett Sterneman