William L. Perkins
William L. Perkins, of the firm of William Perkins & Company, manufacturers of mantels, enamelled grates, etc., Nos. 94 and 96 Elm street, Cincinnati, was born in the year 1839. His father, Rev. Lemuel B. Perkins, was born in the year 1809, and still lives upon the field of his life-long labors in the church, in Trumbull county, Ohio. He was self-educated, and an earnest worker in the United Brethren church. He was married to Miss Phila A. Scobelle, of Philadelphia, by whom he had eight children, three of whom are still living. Mr. William Perkins, after receiving nearly a full classical course in college, entered the Forty-sixth Ohio regiment as second leader of the regimental brass band, where he remained sixteen months. In 1863 he went into a pork-merchant business, as book-keeper, and after remaining there for three years, was offered a partnership in the house, and not asked to advance a dollar for the business. In 1877 he started his mantel and grate store, with spacious salesroom and works, on Elm street. Mr. Perkins keeps a fine line of goods, his elegant and costly Mexican onyx mantels, protection grates, etc., being well worth one's inspection. He was married in 1866 to Miss Sarah E. Stokes, of Pennsylvania. He has his residence in Madisonville.
From History of Hamilton county, Ohio, Henry & Kate Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881