Thank you, State of Iowa!

To the descendants of people who lived in Iowa in 1906, thank you for your tax dollars! Now you may be wondering why I said that. Simple, your ancestor's legislation on March 30, 1906, granted $500.00 (about $20,000 in today's money) for "Erection of Monument Over the Grave of George Perkins."[1] George Perkins is my fifth great-grandfather, who was born in South Carolina and served in the militia of both South Carolina and North Carolina![2] The monument was in memory of and to mark those men who fought in the Revolutionary War. Even after 250 years, we still have a lot to be thankful for the services and sacrifices of those soldiers and our current ones!

Now, did I know George Perkins was kin to me or even was my fifth great-grandfather? Zip, zilch, nada! I did not know this, nor did anyone in my mother's family. All we knew was that our Louisiana Perkins line traced back to my 2nd great-grandfather, Spencer A. Perkins, whose first wife was Ester/Esther Sinclair, and that he came from Logansport, Indiana, to Louisiana in the 1840s. Also, his nickname was "Chief Black Hawk," and he was a scout. Beyond that, his life or his parents' life was a mystery.

However, it was this Perkins line that originally got me into family history research back in the 1980s. I loved hearing stories about my grandmother's Perkins line, and believe me, those Perkins could tell a story! [My favorite story was about my grandmother's basketball and bloomers, but that is another blog post for the future.] I wanted to know more about Spencer A. Perkins. Luckily for me, I had a girlfriend who started teaching me the basics of genealogy research. Today, new researchers can easily find written genealogical standards and courses to help with their genealogical research. Please note that I am not a professional genealogist, but I do want to ensure that my research and conclusions meet the latest Genealogical Proof Standards (GPS) as noted by the Board for Certification by Genealogists.

As a "man of color," of African descent, George Perkins is recognized by the North Carolina General Assembly and the Sons of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the South Carolina General Assembly. So, from all of George Perkins' descendants, thank you again, Iowa! It was thrilling to see this monument in person, and it was my first time visiting the beautiful Great State of Iowa!

[1] “US, Revolutionary War Pensions, 1800-1900,” database with images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/25570360/perkins-george-page-1-us-revolutionary-war-pensions-1800-1900) : accessed 23 August 2025), entry for George Perkins and widow Keziah of Missouri, Pension No. R8,113, 50 pages; citing Microfilm Publication No. M804, 1911 rolls, Washington DC, National Archives and Records Administration.

[2] State of Iowa, Laws of the Thirty-first General Assembly, of the State of Iowa, (Des Moines: Bernard Murphy, State Printer, 1906), "Erection of Monument Over the Grave of George Perkins," pages 158-159, Chapter 209, S.F. 193; imaged, Google Books (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Acts_and_Joint_Resolutions_Passed_at_the/2QgwAAAAYAAJ : accessed 10 March 2026).