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and for his surname to be associated with it. After some more negotiations, when the name of the university was chosen and he was added to the board of trustees, Purdue's donations were raised to $ 150,000 (equivalent to $ 2.9 million in 2019) and 100 acres (0.40 km) of land. The negotiations
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In 1838 or 1839, Purdue and Fowler liquidated their Ohio holdings and permanently moved to
Lafayette. Once there, they opened a dry goods business on the courthouse square. Purdue continued to gain wealth and prestige over the next several years. Most accounts show a man devoted to leading a good
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mainly because of the increase in demand for dry goods by the Union Army. Purdue supported the Union in the war, but some night-time raids by
Confederate sympathizers on local businesses were reported. To protect his assets, Purdue established the "Purdue Rifles," a volunteer protective force of
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opened a general merchandise store in
Adelphi. On December 9, 1834, Purdue purchased 240 acres (0.97 km) of land in Indiana from Jesse Spencer for $ 850 which he partially paid for in store goods. The land that he bought lies northeast of the intersection of Creasy Lane and McCarty Lane in
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also allowed the new board of trustees to choose the site of the university and on May 6, 1869, the
General Assembly established the institution in Tippecanoe County as Purdue University. Classes began at Purdue on September 16, 1874, with six instructors and 39 students.
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On
October 20, 1852, Purdue and four others were appointed as the first trustees of the new Lafayette City Public School. While various tax-related lawsuits crippled the new statewide public school budget, Purdue and others privately helped keep Lafayette's afloat.
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He died of an apparent stroke on
September 12, 1876, aged 73, on the first day of classes of the third academic year at the university he had helped found. Purdue's grave is located on the university's main campus. A bachelor, he had no heirs; his
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By 1869, Tippecanoe's bid was up to nearly $ 400,000 in cash, land, and bonds, but the legislature still stalled. Then, Purdue stepped forth with $ 100,000 of his personal wealth. His only conditions were for the college to be located in
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In 1857, he bought stock in and served as a trustee of the Battle Ground
Collegiate Institute (college preparatory classes). He also donated $ 500 in cash to help another collegiate institute in the newly-platted
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In 1844, Fowler and Purdue ended their association. In 1847, a group of five merchants, including Purdue, completed a 600-foot (180 m) wooden toll bridge across the Wabash.
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By 1855, Purdue was spending a fair amount of time in New York doing business. In 1856, he became involved in what would come to be Purdue, Ward and
Company.
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In 1867, Purdue invested money in and presided as president of the
Lafayette Agricultural Works, a Lafayette implement factory, until the mid-1870s.
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civic life, donating time, money, and expertise to various local projects including a bridge over the Wabash River, a railroad from
Lafayette to
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was passed by Congress, and the competition was on to find a location for a land grant college in Indiana. Bidding was fierce between
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Kriebel, Robert C. The Midas of the Wabash: A biography of John Purdue. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2002.
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in Indianapolis, and the Stockwell and Battle Ground Collegiate Institutes. After the death of influential Lafayette Senator
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about 100 trained, uniformed and armed men guarding Confederate prisoners, rounded up deserters and maintained order.
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In 1868, he contributed money to and was the president for seven years of the new Springvale Cemetery in Lafayette.
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Scott, Irena McCammon. Uncle: My Journey with John Purdue. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2008.
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In 1866, Purdue again challenged Orth but this time in the general election as an Independent. Despite buying the
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merchant, and his mother and at least a few of his sisters moved north and settled near
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Purdue developed a farm products brokerage that covered the Adelphi, Worthington and
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John Purdue online exhibit, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections
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He later supported some questionable business ventures, including backing the
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From 1823 to 1831, he was a school teacher around Ohio and in Michigan.
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Most details of Purdue's early life were either not recorded or lost.
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Throughout the 1860s, Purdue acquired large tracts of land in nearby
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442:"Purdue History - Office of Marketing and Media - Purdue University"
318:(which supported Orth), Purdue was again defeated 14,933 to 14,728.
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151:; October 31, 1802 – September 12, 1876) was a wealthy American
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In 1864, Purdue lost a contentious primary battle to incumbent
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was tied up in litigation for years after his death.
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In 1869, he helped found the Lafayette Savings Bank.
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Purdue's gravestone on the Purdue University campus.
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The Midas of the Wabash: A Biography of John Purdue
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423:"Moses Fowler had far-reaching influence"
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16:Indiana businessman and philanthropist
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1180:19th-century American businesspeople
671:College of Health and Human Sciences
116:Main benefactor of Purdue University
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19:For the New Zealand cricketer, see
398:"Archives and Special Collections"
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607:Purdue University in Indianapolis
803:Monon Spike (Women's volleyball)
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1185:University and college founders
242:and serving on various boards.
208:1979 Marion County History Book
176:Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
68:Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
1150:People from Lafayette, Indiana
936:Purdue Aeronautics Corporation
829:Notre Dame (Shillelagh Trophy)
701:College of Veterinary Medicine
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1155:People from Ross County, Ohio
1052:Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
681:Krannert School of Management
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1145:Philanthropists from Indiana
808:Golden Boot (Women's soccer)
788:Governor's Cup (Multi-sport)
1140:Businesspeople from Indiana
1042:Electric Vehicle Grand Prix
793:Old Oaken Bucket (Football)
307:'s candidate for Congress.
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1115:: US $ 2.59 billion (2020)
886:All-American Marching Band
465:Robert C. Kriebel (2002).
303:for the nomination of the
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824:Illinois (Purdue Cannon)
344:Indiana State University
676:College of Liberal Arts
565:West Lafayette, Indiana
21:John Purdue (cricketer)
666:College of Engineering
656:College of Agriculture
498:Lafayette Savings Bank
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336:Northwestern Christian
328:Morrill Land Grant Act
225:area. In 1833, he and
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966:Elliott Hall of Music
691:Polytechnic Institute
428:Journal & Courier
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991:Purdue Research Park
976:Horticulture Gardens
971:Engineering Fountain
661:College of Education
911:Boilermaker Special
728:Purdue Boilermakers
686:College of Pharmacy
404:. Purdue University
216:Marion County, Ohio
1057:Purdue Reamer Club
896:Big Ten Conference
870:Lambert Fieldhouse
763:Women's volleyball
743:Women's basketball
696:College of Science
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332:Indiana University
314:to counteract the
301:Godlove Stein Orth
265:American Civil War
258:Stockwell, Indiana
232:Lafayette, Indiana
212:Salt Rock Township
157:Lafayette, Indiana
87:Lafayette, Indiana
79:September 12, 1876
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1037:Purdue Grand Prix
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322:Purdue University
316:Lafayette Courier
312:Lafayette Journal
206:As stated in the
188:Westerville, Ohio
180:Ross County, Ohio
161:Purdue University
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99:Purdue University
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850:Ross–Ade Stadium
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81:(1876-09-12)
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1088:John Purdue
916:Purdue Pete
305:Union Party
202:Businessman
123:John Purdue
47: 1870
30:John Purdue
1129:Categories
1083:Presidents
1047:Purdue OWL
996:Rawls Hall
843:Facilities
753:Men's golf
630:Law School
589:Fort Wayne
560:Located in
451:2020-05-31
408:January 3,
402:purdue.edu
380:References
295:Politician
167:Early life
105:Occupation
60:1802-10-31
1113:Endowment
901:Glee Club
712:Athletics
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758:Softball
748:Football
733:Baseball
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1101:Founded
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1032:WBAA-FM
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184:Adelphi
42:Purdue
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879:Other
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620:IUPUC
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359:Death
1027:WBAA
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473:ISBN
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
