Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County, Michigan Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884 [346-349] WILLIAM H. PERRIN, a land-holder in the Huron Peninsula, resides at Clinton, Huron Co., Ont. He is heavily interested in Canadian lands, and on personal examination, became satisfied of the feasibility and practicability of agricultural investments in Michigan, as land of equal quality with that of Canada could be bought much cheaper. He purchased 500 acres in Elmer Township, Sanilac County, of which he continues to hold 200 acres, 120 acres of which is improved, is under cultivation and rented on shares. He has sold 300 acres to men in his employment, whom he has assisted in locating. He owns 320 acres of land in Oliver Township, Huron County, to the management of which he gives his personal attention. Of this tract 200 acres are in tillage. The Canadian land interests of Mr. Perrin include 40 acres in Clinton, where he resides, a fine farm of 100 acres in Huron County, and 640 acres in Beadle County. Of the latter, 200 acres are improved. All the tillable lands are rented on shares. MR. PERRIN was brought up on a farm. At the age of 18 years he began to buy grain. He owned a grist-mill and a saw-mill in Stratford, Perth Co., Ont., which he managed four years, and afterward gave his attention exclusively to buying grain. He continued that branch of traffic 10 years, in the interests of AUGUST GIRARD, of Montreal, and after that operated in his own behalf, in the same direction, until 1883, when he determined to prosecute his agricultural interests. He was, for many years, the most extensive exporter of grain in the Dominion loading sometimes 400 cars daily for transportation on the Grand Trunk & Canada Rail- road. His points of foreign shipment were Liverpool, London and Edinburg. MR. PERRIN was born in Brantford, Ontario, Aug. 15, 1832. His father, DAVID PERRIN, was a native of Connecticut, and the son of THOMAS PERRIN, one of the most prominent settlers of Brant Co., Ont. The latter erected the first mill built in Western Canada, in the closing years of the 18th century. He built two mills for the celebrated Indian Chief, JOSEPH BRANT, for which he received a tract of 2,000 acres of land, under a lease of 99 years, from BRANT himself, and which was made perpetual by the Government. The mother and a brother of MR. PERRIN reside on a part of the original acre- age, holding respectively 200 and 100 acres, situated in and near Mount Pleasant, Brant County. One of the mills constructed for BRANT (THAYENDANAGA), near Brantford, comprised a saw-mill, grist- mill and distillery, arjd was burned in the war of 1812. THOMAS PERRIN was a Colonel in the British army, and took a prominent part in the second struggle between Great Britain and the American Colonies. BRANT was one of the most powerful coadjutors of the English government in the war of the Revolution, but his splendid traits of character were manifested in the influence he exerted after the close of the war in the restoration and maintenance of peace. He possessed fine intellectual accomplishments, was the secretary of GEN. JOHNSON, and assisted in the compilation of text books of the Mohawk language. DAVID PERRIN married CHARLOTTE McMULLEN, a native of Nova Scotia, and a descendant from a Pennsyl- vania family. He died in 1855, at Mt. Pleasant. The mother is still living there, as stated. MR. PERRIN maintains his residence at Clinton, in Brant County, where he has erected a fine business building, of brick, two stories in height, containing a bank and four stores. He also owns three dwellings besides his own handsome residence in the town. He is a communicant in the established Church of England. His marriage to MATILDA M. LINCOLN took place at Clinton, Ont., Aug. 14, T859. She was born in London, Eng., and died at Clinton, leaving two children: WILLIAM G., a clerk in the employment of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company, and MATILDA M., an accomplished young lady, and a graduate of the Literary Department of Helmouth Col- lege at London, Ont. She is at the head of the domestic department of her father's household. Although MR. PERRIN is a Canadian by birth and training, he entertains a favorable opinion of the States, especially of the localities where he has business interests. June 29, 1881, while traveling between Duluth and St. Paul, the train was derailed, and MR. PERRIN sustained injuries from which he was confined two months at the Merchant's Hotel, St. Paul. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================