The subject was born in Montgomery county, Tennessee, March 1, 1833, the
son of Jarrut and Rebecca (Farmer) Purdue, the former a native of Georgia,
and the latter of North Carolina. They went to Tennessee when young and
married there, and removed to Illinois in 1838, settling in what is now
Haines township, where they took up government land. They made the trip from
Tennessee in ox carts. When they settled here among the pioneers there was
much wild game. They developed a good farm and worked hard. They died on the
place, after becoming the parents of eight children: Margaret, Mary,
Richard, William C., John W., Jacob H., James F., our subject, and Andrew V.
Jarrut Purdue was a Democrat. His wife was a member of the Baptist church.
Our subject was six years of age when he came with his parents to Marion
county, Illinois. He was educated in the common schools of the early days,
and he has spent the balance of his life here, having remained at home until
he reached manhood. He was married the first time in 1855, to Louisa Brasel,
a native of Tennessee, and three children were born to them: Nancy Jane, who
is living in Haines township, is the wife of Zach Brasel; Joseph H. is a
farmer living in Haines township; John R. is also a farmer living in Haines
township. The subject's second marriage was in 1867, his second wife being
Loretta Price, a native of Ohio, to whom one child has been born, Louisa,
now the wife of Harry Alvis, of East St. Louis.
The third marriage of
the subject was to Vilinda Murphy, the ceremony having been performed in
1876. To this last marriage two children were born, Tence and Harry.
Mr. Purdue is a Democrat in his political relations. He has devoted his life
to farming and has been very successful. He is now living retired, having
moved to his neat, comfortable and pleasant home in Kell in September 1908.
He is well known throughout the county, being a member of old and prominent
families of this region in which he himself was one of the earliest
pioneers.
Extracted 11 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, page 228.