William Channing Perdue, better known as "Chan" Perdue, Uncle Sam's capable and courteous postmaster of Beloit, is a native of Ohio, born at Alliance, that State, in 1854. He was the only child of Dr. Charles A. and Ann Viola (Munks) Perdue. Dr. Perdue was a native of Berks county, Pa., and is of French ancestry. He came to Greensburg, Ohio, when a youth and later took up the study of medicine. He graduated from an Ohio medical college, and engaged in the practice of medicine, which he followed for fifty years, and was one of the pioneer physicians of that part of Ohio. In 1862 he was commissioned a surgeon in the One Hundred and Fourth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, with rank of first lieutenant, and served in that capacity until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged and returned to his practice at Greensburg. In 1872 he removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he remained six years, when he became interested in coal mining at Avery and Muchakinock, Iowa, remaining there until 1878, when he came to Beloit, where he spent the remainder of his days in retirement.

"Chan" Perdue was educated in the public schools of Ohio, the Greensburg Seminary and the Iowa State College, when he entered the employ of the Iowa Central Railway Company in the civil engineering department. He was engaged in the locating and the construction of that railroad, and later he, with his father, became interested in the Muchakinock Coal Company, and for several years was manager of the company's general store at Muchakinock, Iowa. In 1875 Mr. Perdue married Sadie, daughter of Dr. Charles A. and Caroline Acheson, of Albia, Iowa. In 1884 his young wife passed away, leaving one child, Cresengia, who grew to womanhood and in 1895 became the wife of Milton Walter Mason, son of Judge A. A. Mason, of Albia, Iowa. To this union were born three children: Allen, Caroline and Channing. The mother died December 30, 1909, and the children, with their father, now reside at San Diego, Cal. In 1878 "Chan" Perdue, in company with Andrew Manifold, came to Kansas, locating at Beloit. Here they established the firm of Manifold & Perdue and engaged in the jewelry business. In 1889 Mr. Perdue received his commission from President Harrison as postmaster of Beloit and, with the exception of four years, during President Cleveland's last term, he has been connected with the post office at Beloit either as postmaster or assistant postmaster up to the present time. During two years of the interval he served as county clerk of Mitchell county. In 1894 he married Miss Jane M. Ellis, of Ionia, Mich. Mrs. Perdue is a daughter of Elmer E. Ellis and Jane M. (Halstead) Ellis and a sister of the later Judge A. H. Ellis. Mr. Perdue is a Mason, a Knight Templar, and a member of the Shrine; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a Republican. In his long and faithful career as a public official Mr. Perdue has gained a wide acquaintance, and to be an acquaintance of "Chan" Perdue is to be his friend. He is a man of pleasing personality and it is no effort for him to he obliging, to which the hundreds of patrons of his office will bear testimony. People who know Mitchell county and Beloit will affirm that he has one of the finest suburban homes in that section of Kansas.