THOMAS L. PURDY, whose accidental death, at Lima, Ohio, February 21, 1907, brought grief to a devoted family and sadness to a wide circle of friends all through Ohio, where be was very well known, as a native of Covington and a member of one of the old and representative families of Miami County. He was born at Covington, Ohio, December 22, 1850, and was a son of James L. Purdy.

Thomas L. Purdy was reared at Covington, Ohio, and obtained his education in her schools. He entered into business as a traveling salesman for a commercial house of Piqua, but after his marriage he resided for seven years on his father-in-law's farm in Newberry Township, Miami County, after which he returned to Covington and entered the Weaver & Kendell store as a clerk. Subsequently, in association with L.A. Dollinger, he bought the store and continued to operate it until 1888, when he sold, having been connected with that place either as clerk or proprietor for a period of ten years. He then accepted a position as traveling salesman, with the Columbus Pharmical Company, of Columbus, and later was connected, in the same capacity, with other concerns. Just prior to the accident which resulted in his death he had accepted a position as mail weigher in the railway mail service and as on his way to enter upon his duties at Napoleon, Ohio. He was struck by a locomotive at Lima and was hurried to a hospital, but no, surgical skill was able to save his life.

On June 1, l871, Mr. Purdy was married to Katherine Darner, who is a daughter of John L. and Mary (Mutz) Darner. John L. Darner was born near Frederick, Maryland, a son of Jacob Darner, and in boyhood accompanied his parents to Montgomery, County, Ohio, and was reared on a farm six miles south of Dayton. In that county he was married, in 1848, to Mary Mutz, and they came immediately to Miami County, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres in Newberry Township, three and one half miles north of Covington. On this farm Mrs. Purdy was reared. She was the eldest of five children, the others being: Mrs. Lucy Bartmess, who died in 1896; Mrs. Laura Reisner, whose husband, James W. Reisner, is connected with the Government service, in the U. S. Pension office, at Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Addie Darst, who lives on the old home farm; and Jessie, who is the wife of Dr. William Arthur Minton, of Bradford. The father of this family died in 1884 and the mother in August 1907.

To Mr. and Mrs. Purdy were born four children, namely: Grace, who is the wife of James W. Brandon of Piqua; Lucy E.; Ethel, who is in partnership with Miss, Gertrude Whitmer in the conduct of a millinery store at Covington; and John L., who is a resident of Dayton. He married Nellie Coppock, of Pleasant Hill, and they have one son, Thomas Henry. John L. Purdy is employed in the office of the Barney & Smith Car Company of Dayton.

The late Thomas L. Purdy was a man of Christian life and for many years had been a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was identified with the Knights of Pythias. During his many years of travel as a representative of business houses, he had formed many acquaintances and in almost every section had made personal friends.