E. G. Perrine, the leading hardware and implement dealer of Pleasanton, Kan., is a native of Summerville, N. J., where he was born April 29, 1854. His parents were James and Catharine (Smith) Perrine, both of whom were also natives of New Jersey. On both the paternal and maternal sides the ancestors can be traced back to Colonial days, the Perrine family having located in New Jersey long prior to the American Revolution. James and Catharine Perrine spent their entire lives as agriculturists in New Jersey, the former dying in 1889, at the age of seventy-four, and the latter in 1872, at the age of fifty-four years. They became the parents of nine children, of whom F. G. was reared to farm life and educated in the common schools of New Jersey. At the age of nineteen, or in 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Hettie Colyer, the only daughter of Wilson Colyer, of New York City. Mr. Colyer, at that time, was the receiver of the Atlantic Street Railway Company of New York City. Mr. Perrine decided to come West, locating on a wild tract of unbroken prairie land in Floyd county, Iowa, near Charles City. His entire capital to begin life with on his Iowa purchase was a one dollar bill, but through perseverance and industry he succeeded in developing a fine homestead. At the time he bought the land it was worth about ten dollars an acre and he secured possession without having to pay any of the purchase price down. In 1882 he disposed of the farm and removed to Linn county, Kansas, where he had purchased a farm near Pleasanton. There he engaged in farming and stock raising until 1909. In connection with his farming and stock raising, he also added the hardware and implement business, about 1896, and since retiring from the farm he has devoted his entire time and attention to that business. His store is stocked with a full and complete line of both hardware and farm implements, in fact almost every article needed in the home or on the farm can be found in the E. G. Perrine establishment.

Mr. and Mrs. Perrine have three daughters: Ada, the wife of Arthur Ellis, a partner with Mr. Perrine in the hardware business; Wave, the wife of Merton Stoffel, also a partner of Mr. Perrine; and Lila, the wife Harry D. Evans, of Pleasanton. Mr. Perrine is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Methodist Episcopal church. Much of the growth and prosperity of the great State of Kansas is due to such sturdy men as Mr. Perrine. He is a man of exceptional probity and judgment and one who takes a pride in securing results and in making his life work a success. As stated, he began at the bottom rung of the ladder and no matter what reverses or obstacles came to him, he lost courage, but met them with that courageous determination that has ever marked the lives of all successful men.