The many friends and acquaintances of Ben Perkins were shocked Monday morning when they learned of his sudden death which occurred Sunday evening about midnight. He worked in the shop until they closed late Saturday evening and was to take charge of the barber shop Monday morning, as Mr. Julson was leaving Waseca.

Ten or eleven years ago he came here from London to learn the barber trade with R. P. Gibson. Later he purchased and conducted a shop on Main street. Ben was a genial, good hearted, young man, was a good barber and made many friends. The appetite for strong drink, which has claimed many, made him his own worst enemy and the sympathy of the community goes out to the stricken family in their hour of sorrow.

Silas Benjamin Perkins was born at Westport, Pope County, Minn., May 9th, 1880. Later the family moved to Staples, Minn., where he lived until he located in this community, working one year at London, for M. Stewart, before coming here. Nov. 26th, 1908 he was united in marriage to Miss Helen Johnson and to them four children were born, the oldest being 8 and the youngest 1 year old. He leaves besides the widow, a mother and father of Staples, Minn., 3 brothers and 3 sisters, Miss Esther Perkins of Pine Island, Marvin Perkins of Sebeka,
Carl Perkins of Staples, Mrs. Ray Stickney of Kilbrook, Minn., Mrs. J. Howard of Kimberly, Idaho, and Dorvan Perkins of Crosby, N.D.

The funeral was held from the Lutheran church Wednesday afternoon and interment was made in Pleasant Hill cemetery. Rev. A. Elmer Moe officiated.