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Obituary of Vianna J Coward, wife of Rees W Perkins, Sr. probably from the Lake Charles Echo or the Daily Press of Tuesday, May 6th 1890
DIED
PERKINS - At her residence, in this parish on Monday, May 5th, 1890
Mrs. Viena J Perkins, Aged 74 years.
Mrs Viena J Perkins, nee Coward, wife of Rees W Perkins, departed this life on May 5th, 1890, after a protracted illness of several months. She was in the 74th year of her age when death, the king of terrors.......
She united with the Primitive Baptist Church, Antioch, Big Woods, forty seven years ago where her membership continued till her death.......
She has been, indeed, the wife , partner and bosom companion of her venerable husband, Rees W Perkins for fifty-six years. To them were born three sons and four daughters. One son and daughter having some years ago crossed the dark river of death, three sons and two daughters are still living: A J, I A, and I K Perkins; Martha wife of John Lyons of Sugartown, La and Minerva, wife of O S Lyons of St Landry Parish.......
This obituary in its entirety can be found in the file of Rees W and Viena Coward Perkins. It was written by W M Perkins, Pastor. (her gr-nephew and pastor of Antioch Primitive Baptist Church) 117
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Rees Washington Perkins' obituary appeared in The Daily Press of Lake Charles, LA about July 6 1895. It reads thus:
A CALCASIEU PIONEER
A Sketch of the Long and Upright Life of the Late
Rees W Perkins
Mr. Rees W. Perkins died on the 4th inst., at his home near Edgewood in this parish, and was burried at the old family graveyard, on Hickory Branch by the side of his first wife, who was burried there in July 1890. Mr. Perkins, or Grandpa Reese, as he is generally called, was born in Mississippi, Dec 8, 1812, and was 82 years, 6 months and 26 days old. His father, who was named Rees, with his mother and several brothers and sisters immigrated to this state in 1824, and settled in the western part of the parish, hence Mr. Perkinswas raised and lived the balance of his life, from 12 years of age, within a radius of 18 miles from Westlake, having lived at Hortmans Ferry, Big Woods, Hickory Branch and finally settled, about 25 years ago, in the pine woods, near Edgewood.
Mr Perkins outlived all his early associates except one uncle, Jacob Ryan, of this city, who can give a graphic and interesting description of the many episodes of thier boyhood days in Calcasieu, then St. Landry Parish. Mr. Perkins was married Nov. 18, 1834 to Miss Vianna Coward, a daughter of Major Hardy Coward fo Big Woods. By this union he was blessed with seven children, four boys and three girls. One of the girls died in childhood; the others were reared to manhood and womanhood, and the mothers and fathers of large families. His sons were Allen J Perkins, lately deceased, Iven A Perkins and Jack Perkins, who are living in the neighborhood of Edgewood, and who were almost daily companions of thier venerable and aged parent and who lived on an intimacy with him that was child like in it's simplicity, confidence and affection, furnishing a picture of parential and filial devotion that is rarely met with in life.
His fourth son, Reese W Perkins, preceeded him across the river several years ago dying in early manhood, in the very bloom of his life. His eldest daughter, Mrs. O. S. Lyons, died several years ago. His youngest daughter, Mrs John Lyons of Sugartown, arrived at her fathers bedside a few hours before he expired, but too late to receive any recognition from her idolized father. Her grief was indescribable and incomprehensible to the average mortal, and only appreciable by that type of noble and truehearted daughters, among whom she is a shining light.
Mr Perkins had five brothers; James Perkins, father of Rev Wm. Perkins, Hon. E A Perkins, Samuel J Perkins and Eugene Perkins, deceased,
Mrs David A Lyons and Mrs J W Fancher, all of this parish; Miranda Perkins,
father of W E Perkins, Irwin Perkins and Mrs Dave Morgan, also of this parish; William K Perkins of Copiah Co. Miss; Samuel Perkins, who moved to Clear Creek, Galveston Co, TX, and whose family now live in Houston Texas and Jackson Perkins, the youngest brother who died in early manhood. His sisters, six in number, were Margaret, Hempsy, Rebecca, Letha Ann, Martha, and Harriett. Hempsy Perkins married Willis Butler, Letha Ann married Wm. Coward, Eliza married Needham Coward and Margaret married Allen Coward - these four sisters and their families finally moving to and settling in and near Houston, TX. Martha married a Mr. Townsend, of East Feliciana Parish, moved to that parish, reared a family there, and is living there yet. Harriett married D W Neelan who moved to Jasper Co TX.
Mr Perkins had a progeny numbering 2,6 (sic) children, 52 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. Mr Perkins lived a very exemplary life and was noted for doing good and living in peace with all. 117
2627. Vienna J. COWARD 118 (Isaac Hardy10, Needham M.9, Edward (Cowherd)8, John7, William Coward6, William Coward5, William Coward4, Thomas3, John2, Robert1) was born on 18 Nov 1816 in Mississippi,115 118 died on 5 May 1890 in Sugartown, LA 117 118 at age 73, and was buried in Holbrook Cemetery, Calcasieu Parish, LA.118 Other names for Vienna were Viena COWARD, and115 Viena COWARD.117
Noted events in her life were:
• She appeared on the census in 1840. 118 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
• Census 5: 1870. 118 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
• Census 4: 1860. 118 Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
• Census 3: 1850. 118 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
• Alt Birth: 18 Nov 1816, Calcasieu Par. La. 117
Vienna married Rees Washington Sr. PERKINS,117 118 son of Reese (Rees) W. PERKINS and Martha MORGAN, on 18 Nov 1834 in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana/Calcasieu, Rapides Co., LA.117 118 Rees was born on 8 Dec 1812 in Marion Co., MS,117 118 died on 4 Jul 1895 near Englewood, Calcasieu, Louisiana 117 118 at age 82, and was buried in Holbrook Cemetery, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.118
Noted events in their marriage were:
• Alt Marriage: 8 Nov 1834, Opelousas CT. House, St. Landry, Parish, La.. 117
Noted events in his life were:
• He appeared on the census in 1840. 118 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
• Census 5: 1870. 118 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
• Census 4: 1860. 118 Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana
• Census 2: 1850. 118 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
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