History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Charles E. Perkins
CHARLES E. PERKINS is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was born November 24, 1840. Receiving his early education in his native city, at the age of sixteen he came to Burlington, Iowa, and in 1859 secured a clerkship in the office of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company. He was soon promoted to paymaster, holding that position until 1860 when he became assistant treasurer of the company. In 1865 he became superintendent and during the construction of the road to the Missouri River, he also served as vice-president. He continued to act as director of the Nebraska and Iowa division and as vice-president of the former company until the consolidation with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. In 1875 Mr. Perkins was chosen director of the Burlington road and the following year became vice-president, still retaining the vice-presidency and general management of the road west of the Missouri. In May he was elected president of the Burlington & Missouri River in Iowa. The road in Nebraska being consolidated with the C. B. & Q. in 1880, Mr. Perkins remained vice-president of the entire system until 1881 when he was chosen president. He has been reëlected each term until he is now serving his twenty-second year in that capacity. Mr. Perkins is also a director and president of the Hannibal & St. Joseph, and the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs railroads.