Hon. Cyrus E. Perkins, ex-judge of probate, Kent county, is a New Englander, born in the city of Lawrence, Mass. On the 9^th day of October, 1847. His father, Cyrus E. Perkins, and mother, whose maiden name was Lydia Birney, were natives of New Hampshire, where the ancestors of both families lived for many years.

Judge Perkins is the first born of two children, and at the age of seven was brought by his parents to Grand Rapids, Mich., from the high school of which he was graduated in the year 1866. The year following was spent in traveling through New England states, and upon his return he accepted a clerkship with a business firm, and was thus employed until February, 1872. In that year Mr. Perkins yielded to a desire of long standing and began the stud of law,. Entering the office of Judge B. A. Harlan, one of the leading jurists of Grand Rapids, under whose instructions he continued for a period of five years. In 1884 he was admitted to the bar and continued the active practice of his profession for two years, but in the meantime, 1876, he had been elected to succeed Judge Harlan as judge of probate. He took possession of the office in 1877, and continued to discharge the duties incident thereto for a period of eight years, being re-elected his own successor by the republican party, of which from early manhood he had been a stanch supporter. By Gov. Luce he was appointed judge of probate to fill the unexpired term of Judge Follett in1886, and in 1888 was regularly elected, and again in 1892, filling the office, in all, eighteen years. He served one year as treasurer of the Penn Trust company, and since 1898 has been associated in the practice of the legal profession with L. W. Wolcott, his present partner--a firm which does a very extensive business in Grand Rapids and elsewhere.

Judge Perkins has been a close student of his profession and thoroughly believes in the dignity of the law. His thirst for useful knowledge has increased with years, and, like most men of distinction, he has utilized every advantage possible within his reach that could in any way add to his stock of legal information. The salient features in his career are close application, thorough mastery of fundamental principles of the law, and the ability and tact to apply these to cases in hand. His professional ability and profound knowledge have brought to him a merited success and today he is the peer of any member of the bar where he practices.

Judge Perkins was married September 20, 1876, to Della A. Foote, a native of New York, though a resident of Grand Rapids, having come here when a child with her parents.

This union is pleased with two children viz: Mabel H. and Edward F.

In addition to his professional duties, Judge Perkins is interested in the industrial growth of Grand Rapids, being a director of the Grand Rapids Chair company, president of the Grand Rapids Veneer works, president of the Grand Rapids Cold Storage company, and also chief executive of the New Erie Life Insurance company; additional to the above he is also a director of the board of trade, a member and director of the executive committee of the Citizens’ Telephone company, director of Grand Rapids Hook & Eye company, and at this time fills the office of president of the Michigan Home & Hospital association. As already stated, the judge is a leading republican; his service as an orator are in great demand during political campaigns, and he has contributed greatly to his party’s success, as a political organizer and worker. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and in religion belongs, with his wife, to the Congregational church.