William Smith Purdy (August 28, 1822 – January 5, 1901) was an American farmer, judge, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 30th Senate district during the 1863 session. He also served as county judge of Vernon County, Wisconsin, where he famously won a Wisconsin Supreme Court case invalidating his own election defeat in 1873.

Early life

William S. Purdy was born in Carlisle, Indiana, in August 1822. His father died when he was 11 years old, and Purdy went to work assisting his mother. Because of limited funds and few schooling options, Purdy was mostly educated by subscription school. At age 15, he went to work as an apprentice saddler in his native town.^[1] He continued pursuing that trade until 1845, when he moved west to the Wisconsin Territory. He initially settled in Mineral Point, where he went to work in the booming mining industry.^[1]

Wisconsin career

After earning no money from mining, he returned to harness making and saddle making in Mineral Point and began earning a profit. In 1849, Purdy moved to what is now the town of Sterling, Vernon County, Wisconsin, and purchased a farm. At the time, the town was known as "Bad Ax" and was part of an enlarged Crawford County. During his first year at Sterling, he cut a road to Port Andrew on the Wisconsin River.^[1] He managed his farm for ten years with varying success.

Purdy authored the petition which eventually led to the creation of the Sterling as an independent town government in 1857.^[1] At the first organized town meeting in Sterling, the elected treasurer, Lee Grant Sterling, failed to qualify, and Purdy was therefore appointed the first town treasurer. It was the first of many local offices he'd hold in Sterling.^[1] In 1859 he was chairman of the town board, and was an ex officio member of the Bad Ax County board of supervisors. Purdy's land at the time was also the site of a post office, known as Purdy, which is the present site of the unincorporated settlement known as Purdy, Wisconsin.^[1]

Politically, Purdy was initially associated with the Whig Party, but then joined the Republican Party when that party was established in 1854. Purdy was admitted to the bar in 1859 but never practiced as a lawyer. That year, he was elected Wisconsin circuit court clerk for Bad Ax County, running on the Republican Party ticket.^[1]

The court was located at the county seat in Viroqua, Wisconsin, and during his first year as clerk, Purdy moved full time into the village of Viroqua.^[1] He was subsequently re-elected in 1861, 1863, and 1865.^[1] During 1863, his name was placed in nomination for state bank comptroller, which was then a state-wide elected office, but the convention renominated the incumbent William Ramsey.^[2] While living in Viroqua, Purdy again resumed his craft as a harness maker and opened the first harness shop in the village. His son, Brice Field Purdy, took over the business sometime before the 1880s.^[1] In addition to his county offices, Purdy served in several local offices in Viroqua, including village clerk, trustee, and justice of the peace.^[1]

Following the resignation of incumbent state senator Norman S. Cate, a special election was scheduled for Fall 1862 to fill the remaining year of his term. Purdy was chosen as the Republican nominee. He defeated Democratic nominee Charles Rodolf^[3] and went on to serve in the Wisconsin Senate for the 1863 session.^[4] Purdy was not a candidate for re-election to the Senate in 1863.^[1]

On June 28, 1865, a tornado swept through Viroqua, killing 22 people and destroying almost the entire village. Purdy's house was completely destroyed, the only fatality in his household was a servant girl who worked for the family at their home.^[1] His wife and children survived by running into the parlor and lying on the ground as the house was lifted from its foundation.^[5]

Purdy returned to elected office in 1869, when he was elected county judge. He ultimately served eight years in office, surviving a contested re-election race in 1873.^[1]

Later years

Purdy did not run for another term in 1877, and left office in 1878. Later that year, suffering from poor health, he decided to move south to a warmer climate. He relocated to Pratt County, Kansas, where he resided for much of the rest of his life.^[1] In his later years, he moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he died on January 8, 1901.^[7]

Personal life and family

William S. Purdy married Jane Elizabeth Lemen in 1846 at Knox County, Indiana. They had ten children together, though at least one died young.^[1]

Electoral history

References