Eleventh Generation

67. John James PURDY (`) (~) was born on 11 August 1854 in Middleport, Niagara County, NY.^{2,5,16,20,27,52} He appeared in the census in 1860 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰ He appeared in the census in 1870 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁴ Between 1880 and 1920 John was a farmer in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.^16,50,53 He owned a 40-acre farm in the northeast corner of Section 11 as well as an 80.88-acre farm in the north end of Section 1. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶ He appeared in the census in 1900 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁷ John appeared in the census in 1910 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁸ He appeared in the census in 1920 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵³ He appeared in the census in 1930 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁴ He was a widower and living by himself. John died on 2 April 1937 at the age of 82 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,27,52

From "The History of Monroe County, Wisconsin," by Richards, 1912, pages 841 and 842.

BIOGRAPHY: John Purdy, one of the substantial farmers and leading citizens of Pleasant Valley , Greenfield township, was born in Middleport, N. Y., August 11, 1854, and is the fourth child d of a family of six children born to Daniel C. and Susan (Savage) Purdy, natives of New York state. They came to Wisconsin in 1859, when our subject was five years old.

Soon after their arrival in Sparta, they moved to Greenfield township, where they located and settled on three forties of wild land, to which they afterwards made addition. He cleared the land and made a home for himself and family, and engaged in general farming and stock raising, and there the parents made their home until their decease. The father died in 1881, at the age of sixty-four, and the mother passed away in 1884. They were thrifty and energetic, and considered among the best class of pioneer settlers and held the confidence and esteem of all who knew them, and in honor of the family, the section where they lived was named "Purdy Valley."

Of their other children besides our subject, E. A. Purdy died in Purdy Valley in April, 1911, at the age of sixty-four years; Mary resides in Tomah, and is the wife of Albert Dixon (Dickenson); Frank also resides at Tomah, Emma married Fred Heser, of Greenfield, and Byron is al so a resident of Greenfield.

John J. Purdy, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the district school and remained at home assisting with the work on the farm until he reached the age of nineteen, when he started life on his own resources; he first rented a farm, which he carried on until 1876, when he purchased the first forty acres of his present farm, to which he added until now he has one of the best farms of 100 acres, where he lives, to be found in the county .
He has purchased forty acres in Grant township and forty acres in La Grange.

When he began on this farm, the greater part of it was covered with heavy timber, which he cleared, subdued and brought to a high state of cultivation, erecting a commodious residence and outbuildings, and has made various other improvements a as conditions demanded. He keeps his place well supplied with modern equipments, and in his farming operations employs the most up-to-date methods. Mr. Purdy comes from one of the old line and representative families of the county, and is considered one of Monroe county's well-to-do and most influential citizens.

In all public matters of his town and county, he take s a prominent part, and any movement for the betterment of his community receives his hearty support. He has been a member of the Side board for two years and assessor for his town for two years.

He was married October 24, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Oakley, an accomplished daughter of Nehemiah and Fannie (Woodard) Oakley, pioneers and influential citizens of Greenfield township whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Purdy have been born five children, viz.: Adelbert, who resides in town of La Grange; Estella is the wife of Albert Griffin, of Grant township; Lettie, the wife of Leslie Hart, who resides in the town of Grant; Milo A. lives on the homestead farm and Mabel A. lives at home.

Mrs. Purdy is the third child of a family of seven children; the others are: Sarah, deceased; Elveretta, wife of Stowell Brown; Wellington, of Oregon; Oscar, of Washington; Mina, the wife of H, Griffin, of Grant township, and Arcenith, wife Edwin Purdy, of Greenfield township.

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He was buried in Tunnel City, Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁵ in the Greenfield Cemetery.

John James PURDY (`) (~) and Mary Elizabeth "Lib" OAKLEY were married on 24 October 1875 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,46,52,55 Mary Elizabeth "Lib" OAKLEY, daughter of Nehemiah OAKLEY and Fannie Helena WOODARD, was born on 13 May 1860 in Springford, Oxford County, Ontario Province, Canada.^16,52,53 She appeared in the census in 1861 in North Norwich Township, Oxford County, Ontario Province, Canada.⁵⁶ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁴ Lib appeared in the census in 1900 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁷ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁸ She died on 3 January 1929 at the age of 68 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,52 Lib was buried in Tunnel City, Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.^25,52 in the Greenfield Cemetery.

John James PURDY (`) (~) and Mary Elizabeth "Lib" OAKLEY had the following children: