William's parents were:
Charles Lorenzo Perdew, b. Oct. 3, 1818 in OH. and d. Jan. 1, 1902 in Marietta, Washington county, OH. &
Mary "Polly" Lammey, b. 1819 in VA. and d. 1883 in Warren township, Washington county, OH.

Charles & Polly Perdew's children were:
1. Daniel Perdew, b. Feb. 16, 1843 in Warren Twp, Washington County, OH. and d. Oct. 18, 1874 in Loveland, Hamilton County, OH. (or Chillicothe, Ross county, OH.) Daniel marr. Minnie R. Hammon on Dec. 25, 1866 in Washington county, OH.
2. William Andrew Perdew, b. May 27, 1844 in Warren township, Washington county, OH. and d. Jan. 5, 1896 in Roxabell, Ross County, OH. William marr. Susan Priscilla Benniger/Benigar on Dec. 31, 1868 in Highland, OH.
3. Polly Perdew, b. 1846 in Warren township, Washington county, OH. and d. Jan. 29, 1864 in Warren township, Washington county, OH.
4. Jane Perdew, b. Aug. 25, 1847 in Warren Township, Washington county, CA. and d. Jun. 8, 1883 in Washington county, OH. Jane marr. Peter McGovern.
5. Charles Perdew, b. Jun. 21, 1849 in Warren township, Washington County, OH. and d. Nov. 18, 1879 in OH.
6. Rebekah L. Perdue, b. May 15, 1851 in Warren Township, Washington County, OH. and d. Sep. 12, 1915 in Briggsdale, Franklin County, OH.
7. Rachel Perdew, b. Dec. 18, 1853 in warren township, Washington county, OH. and d. Aug. 18, 1858 at the age of 4 in Warren Township, Washington, OH.
8. Lorenzo Perdew, b. Sep. 30, 1855 in Warren township, Washington county, OH. and d. Feb. 26, 1864 at age 8 in Warren township, Washington county, OH.
9. Moses Perdew, b. Oct. 22, 1857 in Warren Township, Washington County, OH. and d. Jan. 23, 1858 at the age of 3 months in Warren Township, Washington County, OH.
10. Rowena E. Perdew, b. Mar. 19, 1859 in Warren township, Washington county, OH. and d. Apr. 9, 1943 in Columbus, Franklin county, OH. Rowena marr. William Louis Roeper.
11. Julius E. Perdew, b. Sep. 17, 1862 in Warren Township, Washington County, OH. and d. Aug. 5, 1888 in Warren Township, Washington County, OH.
12. Wallace H. Perdew, b. May 17, 1864 in Warren township, Washington county, OH. and d. Dec. 8, 1891 about 8 miles from Marietta.

In the 1860 U. S. census, 17 yr. old Wm Perdue (Perdew), b. in OH., was attending school and living in Warren (Post office: Tunnel), Washington county, OH. with his
41 yr. old (inferred) father, C L Perdue (Perdew), a farmer, b. in PA.
39 yr. old (inferred) mother, Polly Perdue (Perdew), b. in PA.
18 yr. old (inferred) brother, Dan'l Perdue (Perdew), b. in OH.
14 yr. old (inferred) sister, Polly Perdue (Perdew), attending school, b. in OH.
12 yr. old (inferred) sister, Jane Perdue (Perdew), attending school, b. in OH.
9 yr. old (inferred) brother, Chas. Perdue (Perdew), attending school, b. in OH.
7 yr. old (inferred) sister) Rebecca Perdue (Perdew), attending school, b. in OH.
5 yr. old (inferred) brother, Lorenzo Perdue (Perdew), b. in OH.
1 yr. old (inferred) sister, Rowena Perdue (Perdew), b. in OH.
Charles' real estate was valued at $4,000 and his personal estate at $625.

William served in Co. E of the 85th OH. Infantry during the Civil War.

On Dec. 31, 1868, according to Ohio Marriages for 1803-1900,
William A. Perdew and Susan P. Benniger (Benigar) were marr. in Highland county, OH.

William & Susan's children were:
1. William Edward Perdew, b. Feb. 23, 1870 in OH. and d. Aug. 4, 1890 at the age of 20 in OH.
2. Daniel E. Perdew, b. Jul. 31, 1872 in Chillicothe, Ross county, OH. and d. Feb. 2, 1875 in Chillicothe, Ross county, OH. at the age of 2.
3. Charles B. Perdew, b. Sep. 18, 1880 in Chillicothe, Ross County, OH. and d. Dec. 6, 1882 in Chillicothe, Ross County, OH. at the age of 2.
4. Clarence McGinty Perdew, b. Nov. 3, 1883 in Mineral, Athens County, OH. and d. Apr. 29, 1947 in Hamilton County, OH.
5. Eustace Vickers Perdew, b. May 22, 1888 in Blanchester, Clinton County, OH. and d. Jul. 28, 1942 in Columbus, Franklin County, OH.

In the 1880 U. S. census, 36 yr. old William Perdew, a R. R. Conductor, b. in OH., was sick with liver disease and living on East Fourth St. in Chillicothe, Ross, OH. with his
30 yr. old wife, Susan Perdew, keeping house, b. in OH.
10 yr. old son, Edward Perdew, b. in OH.
William's father was b. in OH. and his mother in VA.

Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, OH.), P. 4, Col. 1
Tue., Dec. 3, 1895
Item from: SPIKES
Mr. William A. Perdew, luggage master on B.and O. S.-W. trains 13 and 14, is laying off ill, and Mr. Charles Swan is at work again this morning

Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, OH.), P. 1, Col. 6
Mon., Jan. 6, 1896
WILLIAM A. PERDEW BURIED IN A WRECK
An Old Employe of the B. & O., S.-W. Meets Death in a Head-End Collision at Roxabel.
THE FREIGHT CREW FORGOT.
The Second Section of East-bound Freight No. 80, Running Fifty Miles an Hour, Crashed Into West-bound Accommodation Train No. 13, on the Roxabell Hill, Yesterday Evening - The Baggage Master Killed, Fireman Charles Agin's Left Leg broken, and Engineer Dora Scott Seriously Injured - Brakeman John Erwin's Hurts.
KILLED - BAGGAGE MASTER WILLIAM A. PERDEW, City.
Yesterday evening, at about half past seven o'clock, not twenty-four hours from the time of the disastrous wreck on the B. & O., S.-W., at Schooley's station, another frightful accident happened on the same road, two miles west of Roxabel, two trains colliding with terrible force, resulting in the death of Mr. William Perdew, the serious injury of Mr. Dora H. Scott and Mr. James Agin, engineer and fireman on one of the wrecked trains, beside the injury, more or less seriously, of half a dozen other persons.
The second section of east bound freight No. 80, pulled by engine 225, with Engineer Mat Ryan and Fireman Charles McCord in the cab, with Conductor Joseph Cook in charge, and Mr. Dan Clifford, acting as front brakeman, pulled into a siding at Lyndon, to let passenger train No. 3 pass, it being four hours and a half late.
They had orders to take a siding for the second section of No. 3, containing the officials of the road, and after the first section had passed, started for Roxabel, to take a siding there, and give the second section a clear track. In thinking of the second section of No. 3, the whole crew forgot all about the regular west bound accommodation train, No. 13, and this was what caused the terrible accident.
The freight was running east, the crew thinking that had a clear track, and was coming down the long grade west of Roxabel, fully fifty miles an hour, and pulled by one of the best engines on the road. The accommodation, on the other hand, was going west, those in charge never dreaming but that all second class trains were on sidings, giving them a clear track.
The train was pulled by engine 67, with Engineer Dora H. Scott at the throttle, and Mr. Ames Agin with him, as fireman. Mr. Andrew Cleveland was in charge of the train, and Brakeman John Erwin and Baggage Master William Perdew comprising the remainder of the crew. Mr. Cleveland says the train was running up the grade about thirty-five miles an hour.
The two trains did not come in sight of each other until too late to stop, and met in a cut. Mr. Ryan did not have time to apply the brakes, but he and his fireman jumped. Engineer Scott whistles for brakes, and applied the brakes, halloaing to Fireman Agin to jump, and then jumped himself.
The two engines collided without their speed being diminished, and the result is indescribable. The engines are welded together, one running nearly through the other. The tank of the passenger engine run through the end of the baggage car, completely demolishing that part of it, but leaving the end containing the mail undamaged. The momentum of the heavy freight train pushed the whole mass about a car length east, and four cars, three loaded with shelled corn and one with poultry, piled up, around and on the engine.
Conductor Cleveland was sitting in a seat in the smoking car, and it was broken off and his left ankle badly strained. He immediately ran outside to find the injured. Engineer Scott was found lying on the ground, with no apparent injuries of any consequence, but suffering intense agony about the chest. Fireman Agin lay on the left side of the cut, with his left left fractured, and with the end of a finger cut off.
Engineer Ryan, when he jumped, fell against the side of the cut. His right shoulder and left leg were badly bruised, and he was cut about the face. Fireman McCord also fell against the side of the cut, badly bruising his left shoulder. Brakeman Clifford told THE DAILY GAZETTE reporter that he was standing on the third car from the engine, and it was smashed to splinters. the only thing he remembered was coming to consciousness in a big pile of shelled corn.
Baggage Master Perdew could not be found. Mr. Cleveland crawled in the baggage car, and under timbers, calling for his fellow trainmen all the while, but got no response, and could not find any trace of him except his overcoat. In the smoke, Mr. John Erwin, the brakeman, was also injured. He was sitting in the center of the car, and when the brakes were applied, started for the rear door. He had taken but two or three steps when the crash came. He was thrown over the seats and rendered unconscious.
The injured were placed in the smoking car and started back to this city, an engine from Musselman's bringing them. In the meantime, Drs. J. B. Scearce, G. H. Welch and J. M. Leslie, and two squads from the Hospital Corps, and linemen, wreckers, etc., were sent from this city on the wrecking train.
The injured were met at Musselman's, and the physicians and one squad of the Corps returned with them. Another squad was sent to the scene of the wreck, to care for the remains of Mr. Perdew. The doctors applied temporary dressings to the injured, all being attended to but Mr. Scott, who could not be properly examined on the train. The injuries were all as given above. Mr. Erwin had his left clavicle broken and sustained a very severe scalp wound.
When the inured arrived here, they were sent to their homes. When Mr. Scott was examined, three ribs were found to be broken, one penetrating the right lung. To-day he is doing very well, even better at noon than the physicians had expected, and with careful nursing, he maypole through.
Engineer Mat Ryan is confined to his bed to-day, but his injuries only consist of bad bruises, Dr. J. M. Hanley was summoned to Mr. Ryan's home on his arrival here last night, and though the injured man was suffering considerably, the doctor says his injuries are not all serious.
Mr. Perdew was found at half past four o'clock this morning, buried under the refrigerator car containing the poultry, and badly crushed. Death was doubtless instantaneous.
He leaves a wife and two children. He has been on the road for thirty-three years, and was a trusted and popular employe. The injured are resting easily to-day.
The wreck was cleared away at 9:21 this morning, and at 11:10 the track was repaired and the first train passed through, arriving here at 11:45. In the baggage car lay the body of poor Will Perdew, horribly crushed and mangled. The time for the funeral has not been set, but the body will be interred at his father's home, at Tunnel's station, near Marietta.

Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, Ohio), P. 4, Col. 1
Tue., Jan. 7, 1896
The funeral of Mr. William Perdew will be held this evening, at seven o'clock, at his home at 79 South Hickory street. Rev. W. S. Bayne will officiate.
The body will be taken to the home of his father, at Tunnel's Station, near marietta, on No. 6 at 1:40 to-morrow morning, and the body will be interred there to-morrow. There was no truer, kinder-hearted, more trustworthy and popular man than Mr. Perdew, and his employers and associates have lost a man whose place will be hard to fill, and whose memory will live forever.

The Marietta Daily Leader (Marietta, OH.), P. 2, Col. 2
Sat., Jan. 11, 1896
Tunnel.
Mr. W. A. Perdew, who was killed in the terrible wreck on the B. and O. S. W. Ry. last Sunday night, was buried here Wednesday. The deceased was well and favorably known here as a kind-hearted Christian gentleman, and by his acts of kindness and gentle forbearance gained the love and respect of all.
The aged father, in speaking to the writer on the subject, said, "This is my last boy. I have followed six of them to the tomb." Three were killed on the railroad (William, Daniel and ?), one by a fallen tree (Wallace), one died of consumption (Julius or Lorenzo), and one died when quite young (Moses).
He was importuned time and again by his father to leave the road and come home, and last summer he consented to do so and removed his family here, but not being very well-satisfied with life on the farm, he went back to his old place on the road and to his death. He leaves a wife and two small children, who have the heartfelt sympathy of all in this their hour of sad bereavement.