From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

Typed by Carol Taylor Lanza.

Pages 750 & 751

WILLIAM L. PERRINE, who has been engaged in the harness-making business 
at his present location in West Liberty since 1832, was born in Ohio 
County, Virginia, January 12, 1820.

Mr. Perrine is a son of Lewis and grandson of William Perrine.  His 
grandfather was born in England, and was a sea-faring man during his 
younger days.  He decided to abandon the life of a sailor, came to 
America, and settled in New Jersey.  He was married and remained there 
until 1795, when he moved to Wheeling, where he lived until his death, 
in 1823, at the advanced age of eighty years.  At the time of coming to 
this country he brought with him half a case of gallon bottles, one of  
which has been in the possession of the family more than one hundred 
and fifty years, and is kept by William L. Perrine at the present time.

Lewis Perrine was born at Wheeling in 1798, and died at the age of 
seventy-seven years.  He married Eleanor Donahue, whose mother, Nancy, 
had presented to her a snuff box, which Mr. Perrine still retains in 
his possession.  The following children blessed this union:  William 
L., the eldest, and the only one of the children now living; George W.; 
James F.; Ellen M.; Louisa; and Samuel.

At the age of twelve years William L. Perrine began to learn the saddle 
and harness-making trade with his uncle, upon the historic grounds 
where he now lives.  It was there that the first cabin in the county 
was built, which was called Black's Cabin.  In his yard also is the 
famous spring which for two centuries was widely known as a watering 
place for the Indians and for the white men when in this locality.  The 
Indians, located just over the line in Ohio, had the forests of this 
locality for a hunting ground, and camped at this spring.  They fought 
hard against the white men obtaining possession of this ground, and 
many a man has breathed this last upon this plot of land, not only 
during the Indian warfare but in the contest for supremacy between 
England and France, before the days of the American Revolution. In 1778 
the town of West Liberty was made the county seat and the officials of 
the town and the citizens fall procured their drinking water from this 
spring.  Mr. Perrine continued to work in the shop at this place until 
1850, when it was vacated as being to old to use.  He built another 
shop beside it, where he has since continued to ply his trade with good 
results.  He has led a serene and uneventful life, being content to 
remain at home and give his entire attention to his business.  In fact, 
he has been away from home very little, and has never rode on a street 
car or a railway train. 

William L. Perrine was twice married, but both wives have passed away, 
as well as all his children, and he is left alone to enjoy the fine 
home he has built and the competency he has laid by.