Hi Adina, Do you have any Purgetts or Purgitts or various spellings in your book I have a Henry Purget in Tip. Co. in 1840. Thanks in advance for your time Diane Kleinke - Purgett Adina Watkins Dyer wrote: > Hope someone finds this helpful. > > Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, > 1888, pp. 463-464 > > JAMES McCORMICK, one of the successful farmers of Wabash Township, > residing on section 24, is a native of Ohio, born in Greene County, > January 8, 1822, a son of PHILLIP and MARY (CRAIN) McCORMICK. The > father was born in the year 1792, and was married in Greene County, > Ohio, where he resided until 1826. In that year he came to Tippecanoe > County, Indiana, and settled on section 24, Wabash Township, where he > entered 200 acres of land from the Government. He had visited the > county in the year 1825, and assisted in building the first hewed log > house where Lafayette now stands. He added to his original tract of > land until he had 720 acres, which by years of toil and perservering > energy he improved and brought under fine cultivation, this land being > as good as could be found in Wabash Township. He died an honored and > respected citizen February 6, 1855, his widow surviving him until > January 1865. They were the parents of six children, of whom three yet > survive--JAMES, the subject of this sketch; MRS. SARAH A. YOUNG and MRS. > RACHEL RUSSELL. MATILDA J., ELIZABETH and ANDREW J. are deceased. > > JAMES McCORMICK was but four years of age when brought by his parents to > this county, and here he was reared amid the wild surroundings of > pioneer life, and his educational advantages were very limited. His > youth was passed on a farm, and farming has been the principal vocation > of his life. He was united in marriage to MISS ALCINDA MEEKENS, who was > born in Hampshire County, Virigina, August 30, 1825, a daughter of > JOSEPH and ELIZABETH (LUNFORD) MEEKENS, who were among the early > settlers of Tippecanoe County. MR. MEEKENS settled in Lafayette in > November, 1832, and established the first market in that now prosperous > city. He removed with his family to Jasper County, Indiana, where he > died June 15, 1857. MRS. MEEKENS died in the same county, November 7, > 1847. They had eight children born to them, of whom MRS. McCORMICK is > the only one living at the present writing. The names of the deceased > are: JAMES, LOUIS, THORNTON, MARGARET, TAMOR, RICHARD and ELIZABETH. > > Of the twelve children born to MR. and MRS. McCORMICK, but six are > living: REBECCA, wife of THOMAS BACEY; WASHINGTON F., THOMAS J., JOSEPH > P., ANDREW J. and ULYSSES G. The deceased are: MARGARET, MARY, JAMES C. > and three who died in infancy unnamed. > > MR. McCORMICK is one of the substantial men of his township, and by his > fair and honorable dealings and strict integrity he has gained the > confidence and respect of the entire community. He is the owner of 390 > acres of choice land, which is well improved, and his residence and farm > buildings are comfortable and commodious. In his political views he > affiliates with the Republican party.