Ross County OhArchives News.....PURDUE IS NAMED FOR OHIOAN WHO GAVE $200,000 January 1, 1917
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Janet King JPerdue192@aol.com October 3, 2009, 1:55 pm

Ross County Courthouse, Chillicothe, Ohio January 1, 1917
     Purdue University would not be competing in the annual Rose Bowl contest 
at Pasadena if it were not for an Ohio man, Myron Seifert who has done research 
on Purdue will tell you that.
     John Purdue was a wealthy bachelor who contributed $200,000 to the Indiana 
State Agricultural college at Lafayette, Indiana giving it the name Purdue 
University.
     Purdue died in 1878 but his estate was so large that it was not until 1891 
when his heirs met in Westerville, Ohio at the residence of John McCamman to 
wind up the affair.
     The only Purdue in the telephone book is Sam Purdue city editor of the 
Citizen Journal who said his father told him what a fine gentleman John Purdue 
was but that they were not relatives.
     There is one relative in Columbus, Mrs. Irs Swartz, 2920 Olive St., who is 
the wife of the Huntington National Bank cashier.
     Seifert reveals other highlights in his history of the Purdue family as 
follows.
     The five surviving sisters who met in 1881, at Westerville to resolve the 
balance of the John Purdue estate had been residents of Franklin and Delaware 
counties for over 60 years. They were : Mrs. Catherine Sinkey, 86 years old: 
Mrs. Margaret Beaver, 80: Mrs. Susan Thompson 71; Mrs. Mary Miller, 70; and 
Mrs. Hannah Clark, 67.
     Referring to the hardships of Purdue and his seven sisters, an Ohio State 
Journal news reporter in that day, 1881, observed that much good came from the 
early hardships that the Purdues endured, and he spoke of the cares, troubles 
and absolute suffering of the Franklin Co., Purdues during those pioneer 
days. "Speaking of the surviving sisters" the reporter noted; "Much could be 
written of their persistence and toil, their characteristic economy and 
ultimate prosperity, and how they crossed the meridian and have made many 
strides beyond. They have all competence, comfortable homes and every want 
supplied."
     Mr. Purdue was born Oct. 31, 1809, in Huntington County, Pa. Local 
newspapers recount activities of "eight Purdue children" here; however, the 
history of Purdue in the university files of T. R. Johnston, Purdue director of 
information show that there were nine in the Purdue family.
     The Purdue family migrated in Adelphi, where John learned to do farm 
chores. Here he found in the southern Ohio hills the problems incident to 
farming.
     Purdue reputedly read almost every kind of good literature that he could 
lay his hands on, and was an astute student in school. By virture of his 
interest in education, he vowed that if every he were fortunate in his 
investments, he would endow some worthy school.
     In his early twenties he had designs on teaching others many of the 
lessons he had learned by experience and at school. For four years he was a 
pedagogue in a Pickaway country school.
     Wanting to be nearer the Ohio Capital City, the Purdue family pushed north 
in the environs of neighboring Worthington and Westerville.
     His first investment in real estate was made in Marion County where he 
decided to buy a quarter section of land. From the start his Marion county 
neighbors gained confidence in the 29 years old youth, and entrusted him with 
the responsibility of marketing 400 head of their hogs on the New York market. 
This experience gave him insight into the commission business.
     On his first visit to Lafayette, Indiana in 1837 he liked the town 
returned two years later, and became a potent force in the development of that 
city. He became a city councilman, and member of the school board.
     From his "hog driving" experience in Marion County, he eventually made the 
top-run in produce marketing in that Hoosier metropolis in addition to his 
wholesale and retail operations he engaged in livestock feeding and marketing. 
During the 1850's he built the Purdue block in Lafayette, "the largest brick 
business house west of New York".
     Mr. Purdue never married, but had an abiding interest in "bachelor's 
children," and underwrote schools where he thought the need was the greatest. 
He aided schools like Buehlel College (now University of Akron), the Alamo 
Academy, Stockwell Institute, and the Battle Ground Institute in Tippecanoe 
County, Ind.
     When he proffered in the Indiana legislature, May 6, 1889, his generous 
gift, he was made a permanent member of the board of trustees at Purdue. He was 
largely responsible for planning and locating the first building on that 
beautiful campus.
     And at his death, it was his desire to be buried on the campus of 
Purdue "in front of University Hall". This was the last building at Purdue that 
he fully financed and contracted.
    A small stone marks the grave surrounded by a juniper hedge. At the foot of 
the grave is a flagpole.   

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