Burial: Brown
Cemetery, Dakota, Winona County, Minnesota
Mustered Out
Date: September 6,
1865
Rank: Private
Age: 32
Residence following
military service: New Hartford Township, Winona County,
Minnesota; Dresbach Township, Winona County, Minnesota
Vocation following
military service: Farmer
Alfred Purdy Biography and Civil
War Narrative
Alfred Purdy was born April 1833
in Ohio. At the age of 31 he enlisted in the 5th Minnesota Volunteer
Infantry Regiment toward the end of the Civil War on November 14, 1864.
Private Purdy and 18 other brand new recruits were quickly transported
from Minnesota to join up with the rest of the regiment in time to
participate in the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16, 1864. Before
the end of the war, the regiment also participated in the campaign
against Mobile, Alabama, from March 7 to April 12, 1865. Following the
war, the regiment served garrison duty at Montgomery, Selma, and
Demopolis, Alabama. They were mustered out on September 6, 1865.
Alfred married Mary R., born about 1827 in Canada. At the time of the
1870 U.S. Census, Alfred and Mary lived and farmed in New Hartford
Township, Winona County, Minnesota, along with 5-year-old daughter
Hattie and 1-year-old son, Joseph "Scott," both born in Minnesota.
By 1880, Alfred was married to Christina E., born October 5, 1839, in
Canada to Scottish parents. Christina had come to the United States in
1855. In addition to 14-year-old Hattie and 11-year-old Scott, the
Purdy household also included 14-year-old step-daughter Dora Jones, and
8-year-old George S. (born April 1872). Both Dora and George were also
born in Minnesota.
The 1900 Census shows 67-year-old Alfred and and 59-year-old Christina
still living and farming in New Hartford Township, Winona County. Son
George was living in Dresbach Township, Winona County, with his second
wife, Nellie. His first wife, Amelia, had died on May 3, 1894, and was
buried in Brown Cemetery, Dakota, Winona County. George was employed as
a Day Laborer. Alfred's other son, J. Scott, died on January 31, 1905,
and was also buried in Brown Cemetery.
In 1910, Alfred and Christina lived on River Street, Dresbach Township,
Winona County, Minnesota, near their son George, his wife Nellie, and
their 3-year-old adopted daughter, Thelma L. (born in Minnesota).
George worked as a farm implement dealer. Christina E. Purdy died
November 23, 1910. Alfred died just six days later on November 29. They
were both buried in Brown Cemetery.
Alfred Purdy