October i, 1910.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



19 



The Obituary Record. 



COLONEL GEORGE T. PERKINS. 



THE sudden passing away of Colonel George Tod Perkins 

 at his home in Akron, Ohio, on Scpteniher 8, was an 

 event entirely unlooked for at the beginning of the 

 month, when The India Rubber World presented a record of the 

 success of The B. F. Goodrich Co. — on the occasion of the for- 

 tieth anniversary of that company — with which Colonel Perkins 

 was actively connected from its beginning. As already stated 

 in these pages, Colonel Perkins invested capital in this business 

 at the start ; when the business became a corporation he became 

 a director, continuing as such until his death; and for nearly 

 20 years he held the office of president, resigning early in 1907 

 as a step toward narrowing his business activities. 



The subject of this sketch was born on May 5, 1836. on "Per- 

 kins Hill," Akron, being the son of Colonel Simon Perkins, who 

 has been called the "'father of Akron." The mansion which the 

 son built in later year; now stands on the same elevation. George 



Perkins at greater length appeared in The India Rubber World, 

 February i, 1907 (page 143), and a history of the rubber com- 

 pany September i, 1910 (page A3g). 



It may be added that just before the war, Mr. Perkins went 

 to Youngstown, Ohio, where he was connected with the iron busi- 

 ness of his uncle, David Tod, who was later governor of Ohio. 

 He was married in 1865 to Miss Mary Rawson, and is survived 

 by their daughter, the wife of Charles 15. Raymond, now secre- 

 tary of The B. F. Goodrich Co. 



Funeral services were held at the Raymond residence on Sep- 

 tember 10, and the body was placed in the family vault in Glen- 

 dale cemetery. The pall bearers were Bertram G. Work, F. H. 

 Mason, E. C. Shaw, H. E. Raymond, W. A. Means, and P. W. 

 Leavitt, representing The B F. Goodrich Co., and George D. 

 Bates and L. D. Brown, representing the Second National Bank. 

 Military honors were paid to the deceased by a squad of Grand 

 Armv veterans of Bucklcv Post. 



Perkins was educated ni the Public schools at Akron and at 

 Marietta College, in Ohio. The military title which he wore was 

 won during the civil war, during which he saw more than four 

 years of active service, participating in many important battles, 

 and being wounded at Chattanooga. 



Colonel Perkins returned home from the war to engage in 

 business, becoming secretary to Taplin, Rice & Co., of Akron. 

 In 1870 he became cashier of the Bank of Akron and in 1876 its 

 president. Twelve years later when this was merged with the 

 Second National Bank of Akron, Colonel Perkins became presi- 

 dent of the larger institution, holding the office until March I, 

 1904. 



Colonel Perkins was among the first to encourage the late Dr. 

 Goodrich to engage in the rubber industry in Akron, and from 

 the beginning his counsel as to the finances of the company was 

 of great benefit. From the time the company became incorpor- 

 ated Colonel Perkins was its treasurer, until, upon the death of 

 Dr. Goodrich, he became president. A personal sketch of Colonel 



Colonel Perkins was a public spirited citizen and his memory 

 will be perpetuated by many of his acts for the benefit of the 

 city, including the gift of a beautiful park. He was an unosten- 

 tatious contributor to very many charities. 



FRANZ CLOUTH. 



The founder and senior head of the important German firm, 

 Franz Clouth Rheinische Gummiwaaren-Fabrik m. b. H., at Co- 

 longne-Nippes, died unexpectedly on the morning of September 7. 

 Thus is lost to the trade of his country one of the ablest, most 

 resourceful and most successful members. 



Franz Clouth was born on February 18, 1838, in Cologne, where 

 he attended school and received his business training. After 

 spending a few years abroad to complete his education, he re- 

 turned to Cologne in i860 to start in business for himself. Soon 

 he turned his attention to the rubber goods line, which was then 

 only in its infancy, hardly foreshadowing its later world-wide 

 possibilities and present commercial importance. 



