My Genealogy Hound
Below is a family biography included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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J. M. Purdy, manager of the Missouri Land and Live Stock Company, Neosho, Mo., was born in Chenango County, N. Y., and is a son of Alfred and Charlotte (Miller) Purdy, who were also natives of the “Empire State.” The father was a merchant by occupation, and he and his wife were the parents of six children, J. M. being the second son and child. Our subject was reared in Chenango and Cortland Counties, N. Y., spending his early life in laboring on the farm and in gaining a mercantile experience, working the greater portion of the time in the grain and commission business in Oswego. He came to Southwest Missouri in 1877, and since that time has been closely identified with the interests of Newton County. He was for some time agent for the sale of railroad land in the county, until it was purchased by the Missouri Land and Live Stock Company. Since September, 1887, he has been its manager, and has proved to be the right man in the right place. He possesses fine business qualifications, and in all his business ventures his efforts have been attended with success. Mr. Purdy was married to Martha A. Pride, of Honeoye Falls, N. Y., who died leaving one daughter, Catherine C.
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This family biography is one of 220 biographies included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published in 1888. For the complete description, click here: Newton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps
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