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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
A Standard History of Allen County, Ohio
Vol. II
by Wm. Rusler - Publ.
1921
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JOHN E. PURDY.
While it is true that Allen County farm land is remarkably
fertile, the present prestige of this region would never have
been reached had it not been for the real and industry of the
owners of this land, and of them one deserving of particular
mention is John E. Purdy of Spencer Township, whose farm
is located two and one-half miles west of Spencerville. He
was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, on July 14, 1860, a son of
Ephraim and Susan (Gray) Purdy. Ephrai Purdy was born
in Holmes County, Ohio, on May 31, 1837, and she was born in
same county and state in 1842. They were married in Holmes
County, Ohio, and same to Van Wert in 1859 settling on a farm,
where he lived until 1912, when he moved to Spencerville, and
and was active in the Baptist Church of this city. For
many years prior to her demise his wife was also a devout member
of that denomination. In politics he was a life-long
democrat.
The children born to Ephraim Purdy and
his wife were as follows: John E., who was the
eldest; Ed, who is a carpenter, of Spencerville; Flora,
who is the wife of Joseph Wolfe; Jane, who
is the wife of Conrad Baker, of Auglaize County,
Ohio; Richard E., who is a farmer of Allen County;
Daniel, who is a resident of Lima, Ohio; Maude, who
is the wife of George Baker, of Mercer County,
Ohio; and Frank, who is deceased.
John E. Purdy was reared on the old homestead
that is adjacent to the one he now owns, and he attended the
district schools. Remaining at home until he was
twenty-one years old, he not only learned farming, but also the
carpenter trade. This trade he followed for twenty-eight
years. Later he bought his farm of seventy-eight acres of
land, and is principally occupied in conducting it.
Beginning with practically nothing but his willingness to work,
he has advanced until he is now one of the substantial men of
his township.
On Mar. 1, 1882, Mr. Purdy was united in
marriage with Mary Miller, a daughter of Eli Miller,
who was born in Allen County in 1863, and educated in its
district schools. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy became the
parents of the following children: Susie, who is
the wife of Daniel Kennedy, of Mercer County; Emma,
who is the wife of John J. Roberts, of Spencerville;
Huldah, who is the wife of Emery Masher, of Van Wert
County; Lillie who is the wife of Harmon Rocko of
Allen County; Lois, who is the wife of Edward Lauer,
of Spencer Township, was graduated from the Spencerville High
School; Orville G., who is a farmer of Van Wert County;
Iona, who is the wife of Chester McTurn, of
Oklahoma; and John B., who is unmarried and living at
home. Mr. Purdy belongs to Deep Cut Lodge No. 311,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics, like his
father, he is a democrat. In addition to a number of
residences which he built at Spencerville and other places,
Mr. Purdy also built several business blocks in the former
city, and he is further interested there in that he is a
stockholder in the Farmers Union Elevator Company of
Spencerville.
Source: A Standard History of Allen County, Ohio
- Vol. II - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1921
- Page 334 |
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