Dr. Percy Larkin
Mayor of Athens, Athens, TX

Two generations ago, the Larkin family resided in Virginia.  The grandfather of our 
subject was born in that state, and enjoyed the influences wrought there in his rearing.  
He moved from there to Tennessee, then to Alabama, then to Texas.  He came to 
Texas in an early day when there were no railroads, the population was sparse 
and the present condition of development was undreamed of.  W. C. Larkin was 
his son and was born and reared in Tennessee, but also moved to Texas in an 
early day.  He married a Miss Holloway in 1859.  Five children were born unto 
them, four of whom are yet living.  W. C. Larkin was a physician also, did a wide 
practice in the early days of Athens and Henderson Co., and is one of the old 
landmarks whose memory is yet green in the minds of many citizens.  The 
Larkin family succeeded well on commercial lines and accumulated large 
property for those days and enjoyed the esteem of the people socially and 
commercially.  February 22, 1862 in the home near Athens, Percy was born.  
He is therefore, on his native heath, a typical Texas product.  He grew up a 
Texas boy, genial as a sun’s ray, hunted, fished and worked on the farm and 
went to school.  He grew up full of sunshine and affability.  His father being a 
physician, right early he also decided to follow in his footsteps and so began 
the preparation for this line of life.  He chose the Kentucky School of Medicine, 
in Louisville, Ky., as his professional Alma Mater, where he took his course, and 
began active professional life in his own country and among his friends and 
kindred in the year 1890.  The first of December, 1887, he married Miss Collins.  
Three children have been born unto them, one is living, two have already been taken 
away, one having passed away, only a few weeks since.  It was after we met the Doctor, 
who had been as full of sunshine as a June day, turning his hand to every good 
cause for the development of Athens, and Henderson county, appearing as if no 
cloud ever passed the horizon of his life and no thorns had been permitted to grown
 in his pathway.  After meeting him again after a short absence, his face was beclouded, 
his eyes had been bedimmed with tears, and upon a question of his welfare, he remarked 
with an unusual tenderness “My baby has been taken from me.”  I knew it all then, and 
could here the music of the little feet, and the prattle of the little tongue and see the grace 
of the little form as they faded away.  Yes, they are gone, but their memory, still clusters 
about us, and their dimpled hands beckon us onward and upward.  Dr. Larkin having 
been born and reared in the county, and being of genial disposition, has made many 
friend,  few men are more popular with all classes that he.  He has built up a good 
practice to which he gives his best attention but he has succeeded financially in other 
lines and has acquired some elegant city property in Athens, is a director in the First 
National Bank, and has other interests.  He has recently erected a modern and most 
elegant home on a choice lot in the city.  At the last election he was chosen Mayor, 
which office he graces with discretion and judgment.  on our visit to the city and 
upon a presentation of our work for the advancement of his county and city, he 
readily took hold of it, with the remark, that it was a good proposition for this county 
and that he was in for anything for her advancement.  He has rendered us every 
assistance reasonable, and withal, has impressed us as one of the wide awake 
citizens of that country and as a useful officer in the mayoralty of the city.  The doctor
 is now forty, strong and healthy, in the prime of life with a useful profession and a 
growing income.  We cannot but express the wish that many good things may yet 
come to him.

The Southland. Waco, Texas February, 1903 VOL. Xl No 1