From The Blade
June 12, 2012
On June 26, 2012, Archie Perkins will become a centenarian! A Birthday Open House will be held in his honor on Saturday, June 23, from 2-4 p.m. in the Fairview Haven Family/Activity Room. All are welcome.
The world was still reeling from the April shipwreck of the Titanic when Archie Theodore Perkins was born on June 26, 1912. He was the second child of Elisha and Ida (Deck) Perkins. Archie had one sister, Verna Hoxworth, who is deceased, and one brother, Elery Perkins of Chatsworth.
Archie has vivid memories of his youth on his parents’ dairy farm in rural Chatsworth. When he was little, he remembers playing with his little wagon and riding Bessie, the family pony. When he was 10 or 11 years old, he began waking up every morning to help milk the cows. He remembers his father’s morning wake-up call, “Boys, wake up; it’s quarter till four!” The Perkins family had up to 23 cows on their farm. They ran a milk route in Chatsworth, delivering milk and cream door-to-door. Archie remembers making the deliveries in their old Ford. When asked what he did for fun in his youth, Archie says, “More chores! There was no fooling around in those days!”
Archie attended the Franey country school near Chatsworth through the eighth grade. He then went to Chatsworth Township High School, graduating in 1931.
The milk route ended up being a route to romance for Archie. When new folks moved into town, the Perkins milk route driver would visit the home to enlist potential customers. Archie heard about a widow that had moved to Chatsworth with her four children to be near her brother and family. When he visited the house, Myrtle Bailey came to the door. It turned out that Myrtle had moved from Missouri with the widow to help her take care of her children.
Archie and Myrtle dated for three years before they got married in 1934 at Myrtle’s hometown of Swinton, MO. Archie recalls it was during the Depression and they didn’t have any money. But they were able to provide for themselves on the farm. They had one son, James (Joanne) Perkins of Kempton, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Archie is proud of the many beautiful photos of his family in his room at Fairview Haven.
Archie and Myrtle had their own dairy farm near Chatsworth. They also raised beef cattle, hogs and grain. Traveling together was a highlight of their life. They visited all 50 states in the USA, as well as Canada, Europe and Mexico. For several years, Archie had his own airplane and he and Myrtle attended many Flying Farmer events by air.
After 40-plus years of farming together, Myrtle got pneumonia in the wintertime for three years straight. Archie was concerned about her health and, when the doctor advised him to take her south for the winter, they decided to quit farming. Archie says they “called in the auctioneers” and promptly sold all the livestock. Archie continued with grain farming, operating his combine until the age of 93.
In 1978, the Perkinses began a new phase of life as snowbirds, spending their winters in Florida. Archie fondly recalls many happy times there with friends, playing horseshoes and cards and visiting over coffee. After Myrtle passed away on Dec. 26, 2003, he continued to winter in Florida until 2010, when he moved to Fairview Haven. Archie delights in visits and phone calls from his many friends, including his special friend, Lois Shelby, whom he met in Florida.
Archie is affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Fairbury and his faith is very important to him. He enjoys reading the Bible daily and listening to sermons.
The world was still reeling from the April shipwreck of the Titanic when Archie Theodore Perkins was born on June 26, 1912. He was the second child of Elisha and Ida (Deck) Perkins. Archie had one sister, Verna Hoxworth, who is deceased, and one brother, Elery Perkins of Chatsworth.
Archie has vivid memories of his youth on his parents’ dairy farm in rural Chatsworth. When he was little, he remembers playing with his little wagon and riding Bessie, the family pony. When he was 10 or 11 years old, he began waking up every morning to help milk the cows. He remembers his father’s morning wake-up call, “Boys, wake up; it’s quarter till four!” The Perkins family had up to 23 cows on their farm. They ran a milk route in Chatsworth, delivering milk and cream door-to-door. Archie remembers making the deliveries in their old Ford. When asked what he did for fun in his youth, Archie says, “More chores! There was no fooling around in those days!”
Archie attended the Franey country school near Chatsworth through the eighth grade. He then went to Chatsworth Township High School, graduating in 1931.
The milk route ended up being a route to romance for Archie. When new folks moved into town, the Perkins milk route driver would visit the home to enlist potential customers. Archie heard about a widow that had moved to Chatsworth with her four children to be near her brother and family. When he visited the house, Myrtle Bailey came to the door. It turned out that Myrtle had moved from Missouri with the widow to help her take care of her children.
Archie and Myrtle dated for three years before they got married in 1934 at Myrtle’s hometown of Swinton, MO. Archie recalls it was during the Depression and they didn’t have any money. But they were able to provide for themselves on the farm. They had one son, James (Joanne) Perkins of Kempton, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Archie is proud of the many beautiful photos of his family in his room at Fairview Haven.
Archie and Myrtle had their own dairy farm near Chatsworth. They also raised beef cattle, hogs and grain. Traveling together was a highlight of their life. They visited all 50 states in the USA, as well as Canada, Europe and Mexico. For several years, Archie had his own airplane and he and Myrtle attended many Flying Farmer events by air.
After 40-plus years of farming together, Myrtle got pneumonia in the wintertime for three years straight. Archie was concerned about her health and, when the doctor advised him to take her south for the winter, they decided to quit farming. Archie says they “called in the auctioneers” and promptly sold all the livestock. Archie continued with grain farming, operating his combine until the age of 93.
In 1978, the Perkinses began a new phase of life as snowbirds, spending their winters in Florida. Archie fondly recalls many happy times there with friends, playing horseshoes and cards and visiting over coffee. After Myrtle passed away on Dec. 26, 2003, he continued to winter in Florida until 2010, when he moved to Fairview Haven. Archie delights in visits and phone calls from his many friends, including his special friend, Lois Shelby, whom he met in Florida.
Archie is affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Fairbury and his faith is very important to him. He enjoys reading the Bible daily and listening to sermons.
See Photo here.
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