Richard S. Perkins
(1831 – 1902)
Marshal - June 30, 1854 – December 2, 1854
(1831 – 1902)
Marshal - June 30, 1854 – December 2, 1854
Richard Perkins was born and raised in Bristol, England, the son of a prominent cattle rancher. As a boy he trained as a butcher and practiced that occupation for much of his life. In 1851 Perkins immigrated to the United States where he settled in Toledo, Ohio and worked in a meat packing plant. In 1852 he took a job driving a yoke of oxen on the Oregon Trail. He arrived in Portland at the end of November with $16 in his pocket. Within a year he was a partner in the Empire Market, the city’s leading grocer, where he operated the butcher shop. In 1854 the Democratic Party’s “Businessman’s administration” took office with W.S. Ladd as mayor and William Higgins as Marshal. When Higgins resigned three months later, Perkins was appointed in his place.
Richard Perkins served only a few months as marshal and had little interest in law enforcement. The Democratic administration was severely criticized for ignoring the operation of the city and Perkins practiced a similar policy in the marshal’s office. During Perkins’ term as Marshal the City Jail was burned in a fire set by escaping prisoners. The Territorial Government refused to allocate funds to rebuild the jail and Portland refused to pay for it for the next four years. During that time the Town Marshal had to use the Territorial Prison which completed building in South Portland in 1855 and later the County Jail of newly formed Multnomah County. After serving as Marshal, Perkins returned to the cattle business making regular trips to California, Texas and Idaho and leading large cattle drives which earned him a fortune. In 1889 Perkins began planning for the Hotel Perkins at the corner of SW Fifth and Washington and the Holton House at SW Fourth and Alder. The Hotel Perkins was decorated with a large golden bull, to memorialize the source of Perkins’ wealth. The bull became a city landmark before it was permanently removed in 1957. The building was demolished in 1962.
Richard Perkins served only a few months as marshal and had little interest in law enforcement. The Democratic administration was severely criticized for ignoring the operation of the city and Perkins practiced a similar policy in the marshal’s office. During Perkins’ term as Marshal the City Jail was burned in a fire set by escaping prisoners. The Territorial Government refused to allocate funds to rebuild the jail and Portland refused to pay for it for the next four years. During that time the Town Marshal had to use the Territorial Prison which completed building in South Portland in 1855 and later the County Jail of newly formed Multnomah County. After serving as Marshal, Perkins returned to the cattle business making regular trips to California, Texas and Idaho and leading large cattle drives which earned him a fortune. In 1889 Perkins began planning for the Hotel Perkins at the corner of SW Fifth and Washington and the Holton House at SW Fourth and Alder. The Hotel Perkins was decorated with a large golden bull, to memorialize the source of Perkins’ wealth. The bull became a city landmark before it was permanently removed in 1957. The building was demolished in 1962.