Stephen was a merchant as his father and Perkins' uncles had been, but he much preferred the life of the mind and art. After his father, Samuel Gardiner Perkins' death, Stephen was able to retire to Europe and take up sculpting, at which he wasn't very accomplished. He lived for a long while near Florence, Italy.
He was married three times. His first wife Sarah Sever Sullivan, whom he married in 1831, died of consumption leaving him with three young sons to raise. His spinster sister Nancy helped him with them. Next Stephen married Elizabeth Welles in 1847. She died in 1849 just four days after the birth of their daughter Lizzie. Finally he married Ellen Blacker in 1854, whom he had met while traveling to Europe in 1852. Stephen and his boys were headed to Europe in hopes of improving his son's Richard's health.
He was married three times. His first wife Sarah Sever Sullivan, whom he married in 1831, died of consumption leaving him with three young sons to raise. His spinster sister Nancy helped him with them. Next Stephen married Elizabeth Welles in 1847. She died in 1849 just four days after the birth of their daughter Lizzie. Finally he married Ellen Blacker in 1854, whom he had met while traveling to Europe in 1852. Stephen and his boys were headed to Europe in hopes of improving his son's Richard's health.
Stephen was a merchant as his father and Perkins' uncles had been, but he much preferred the life of the mind and art. After his father, Samuel Gardiner Perkins' death, Stephen was able to retire to Europe and take up sculpting, at which he wasn't very accomplished. He lived for a long while near Florence, Italy.
He was married three times. His first wife Sarah Sever Sullivan, whom he married in 1831, died of consumption leaving him with three young sons to raise. His spinster sister Nancy helped him with them. Next Stephen married Elizabeth Welles in 1847. She died in 1849 just four days after the birth of their daughter Lizzie. Finally he married Ellen Blacker in 1854, whom he had met while traveling to Europe in 1852. Stephen and his boys were headed to Europe in hopes of improving his son's Richard's health.
He was married three times. His first wife Sarah Sever Sullivan, whom he married in 1831, died of consumption leaving him with three young sons to raise. His spinster sister Nancy helped him with them. Next Stephen married Elizabeth Welles in 1847. She died in 1849 just four days after the birth of their daughter Lizzie. Finally he married Ellen Blacker in 1854, whom he had met while traveling to Europe in 1852. Stephen and his boys were headed to Europe in hopes of improving his son's Richard's health.
