Perkins Bigelow
Born 11 November 1814 at Marlboro, New Hampshire. Before coming to Ohio he worked as a dry goods clerk. He relocated in Newark, Ohio, and continued as a dry goods clerk for three years. He joined a group to form a colony in Texas in 1841 and went with them as far as Arkansas and then up the White River to the boundary of the Cherokee Nation. He assisted in the building of the first log cabins of the colony, but he was not very strong and soon was compelled by reason of sickness to return to Newark. He then secured employment in a drug store and began the study of medicine. In 1846 he married Miss Anna Marie Palmer of Cincinnati, and in 1847 moved to Mansfield. Perkins joined the Mansfield Lodge by demit from Newark, April 12th., 1848, and served as Master in 1851 and 1852. Later he was elected Master for the years 1856, 1863, 1864, 1865 and 1866. During the years 1852 and 1853 he was Mayor of Mansfield. He was active in the affairs of Grace Episcopal church, acting as Senior Warden and was Sunday School superintendent for many years. He continued in the drug business and at one time was interested with Mr. Z.S. Stocking, and later Dimon Sturges in the Sturges building. He later bought out these two businesses and continued the business alone. Mr. Perkins would reserve a room on the second floor over his drug store for the citizens of the city to send or bring old clothes and shoes for distribution to the needy before the establishment of the Mansfield Humane Society. The trees in the park on the square in Mansfield were all planted by Mr. Bigelow. He was also on the very first board of directors for the Mansfield Cemetery Association, founded in 1865.
From HISTORY OF MANSFIELD LODGE NO. 35, F. & A.M., 1814-1951, pp. 46-48
