Nicholas County, West Virginia Biography of Clarence L. PERKINS This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 276 Nicholas County CLARENCE L. PERKINS. From the beginning of the postal service the representative men of each community have been chosen to fill the important office of postmaster. As so much responsibility reposes in them it is necessary for them to be men of strict honesty, reliability and solidity, as well as to be possessed of a capacity for careful work. At Gassaway, West Virginia, the post office is in charge of Clarence L. Perkins, who possesses all the qualifications noted above, and who is discharging the duties of the office in a capable and expeditious manner. Mr. Perkins was born April 9, 1882, in Nicholas County, West Virginia, a son of H. C. and Mary (Nutter) Perking, the former a native of Greenbrier County, Virginia, and the latter of Nicholas County, West Virginia. H. C. Per- kins received a common school education, and as a youth located in Nicholas County, where he became a teacher in the free schools. When the war between the states came on he enlisted in the Confederate service and established a brave and honorable record during the course of the struggle, at the close of which he returned to Nicholas County, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He became one of the prosperous community farmers and was highly respected by all with whom he came in con- tact. A man of high principles, he was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to which also belonged his worthy wife. He was a democrat in politics and on several occasions was called to public office, serving as county assessor and deputy sheriff of Nicholas County. By his second wife he became the father of four children: S. B., who is engaged in farming in Nicholas County; Rev. C. C., presiding elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for the Parkersburg District; C. G., who is en- gaged in merchandising at Gassaway; and Clarence L., of this review. Clarence L. Perkins was reared on the home farm in Nicholas County, in which community he received his early education in the rural schools. Later he enjoyed the ad- vantages of attendance at the Summersville Normal School, and after his graduation therefrom became a teacher in the free schools of his native county, a vocation which he followed for several years. Not caring for the educator's profession, Mr. Perkins then turned his attention to busi- ness, his experience in this connection being gained as a clerk in the general store conducted by the Curtin Lumber Company at Curtin, West Virginia. In 1905 he came to Gassaway, where he embarked in the general merchandise business, in which he has continued to the present time, with constantly increasing success. He is now the head of a prosperous business, which has been developed along legitimate lines and which has the confidence of the commu- nity, being noted for its honest representation and straight- forward dealing. In 1916 Mr. Perkins was appointed post- master of Gassaway, a position which he has continued to fill with capability, courtesy and commendable expediency. His public record also includes one term as mayor of Gassa- way and three terms as recorder, in both of which offices he sustained his record for superior ability and conscien- tious performance of duty. On September 12, 1906, Mr. Perkins was united in mar- riage with Miss Bessie Criss, who was born in Braxton County, West Virginia, .and received a public school edu- cation. They have no children. Mrs. Perkins is a member of the Christian Church, and Mr. Perkins, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. As a fraternalist he is affiliated with Gassaway Lodge No. 133, A. F. and A. M., Sutton Chapter, R. A. M.; Sutton Commandery, K. T.; and Beni- Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Charleston. He like- wise holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Follows, in which he is a past noble grand.