Hon. Eli C. Perkins, of Delhi, has served acceptably for two terms in the lower house of the state assembly and since 1912 has been state senator. His knowledge of the basis of law and government has enabled him to determine which measures are best adapted to the permanent well being of the people as a whole, and he has been instrumental in securing the passage of such bills and the defeat of unwise measures. He also practices law and has been connected with much important litigation.

        Mr. Perkins was born at Bethel, Maine, August 30, 1850, a son of Rev. Charles and Amazing (Cushman) Perkins, both of English extraction. They came west and located at Buchanan, Iowa, but later removed to Pomeroy, Calhoun county, where both passed away. They were the parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy, those who grew to maturity being: Charles G., who died in 1914; A. Gustava, the deceased wife of Alpheus Fuller; Eli C., of this review; and Luther, a resident of Bethel, Maine.

       Eli C. Perkins received a common-school education in the public schools of Maine and Iowa and subsequently attended Lenox College at Hopkinton, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1875. He then attended the State University of Iowa, taking a law course, and receiving his degree from that institution in 1879. In the same year he came to Delhi and began the practice of his profession. He was well fitted for his work and industrious in the preparation of his cases, and his clientage grew steadily as his ability became more widely known. His incisive mind enables him to go immediately to the heart of the matter without wasting time on nonessentials, and he displays sound judgment in determining upon the facts and arguments most pertinent to the case in hand. He is skillful in cross examination and effective in his presentation of his case before the court, and as the result of his able work his percentage of cases won is unusually high. From 1887 until 1893 he was county attorney, and in 1908 he was elected state representative, his record in the house winning him reelection in 1910. In 1912 he was elected senator and his work in the senate has been distinguished by the same ability and conscientiousness that marked his record in the house of representatives.

      On the 13th of September, 1882, Mr. Perkins was married to Miss Kate M. Galpin, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (White) Galpin, natives of Weymouth, England. To Mr. and Mrs. Perkins two daughters have been born. Gwendolyn L., who was a teacher in the high school at Spencer, Iowa, married Arthur Bentz and became the mother of one daughter, Ethel. Hazel E. is a teacher in the high school at Onawa. Mrs. Perkins and the daughters are members of the Methodist church and are interested in all phases of its work.

      Mr. Perkins is a republican in his politics and is one of the leaders of the party in this part in this part of Iowa. He has won prominence in his profession and has taken an active part in the public affairs of county and state, and in all that he has done he has placed the public welfare and the principles of justice and right above personal gain. All who knew him respect and honor him for his sterling manhood and this esteem of his fellowmen he values even more than the material success that has come to him.