As stated in the
1979 Marion County History Book, on March 13, 1831, he bought a farm in
Salt Rock Township in
Marion County, Ohio. He sold the same on August 20, 1832, at a profit. He derived additional gain from collecting a commission in taking his neighbor's hogs to market. Purdue developed a farm products brokerage that covered the Adelphi, Worthington and
Columbus area. In 1833, he and
Moses Fowler opened a general merchandise store in Adelphi. On December 9, 1834, Purdue purchased 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
Lafayette, Indiana. 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 civic life, donating time, money, and expertise to various local projects including a bridge over the Wabash River, a railroad from Lafayette to
Indianapolis and serving on various boards. In 1844, Fowler and Purdue ended their association. In 1847, a group of five merchants, including Purdue, completed a wooden toll bridge across the Wabash. 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. 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. 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
Stockwell, Indiana. Purdue profited greatly during the
American Civil War 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 about 100 trained, uniformed and armed men who guarded Confederate prisoners, rounded up deserters, and maintained order. Throughout the 1860s, Purdue acquired large tracts of land in nearby
Warren County. By 1872, he owned about which came to be known as the Walnut Grove Farm. In 1867, Purdue invested money in and presided as president of the Lafayette Agricultural Works, a Lafayette implement factory, until the mid-1870s. In 1868, he contributed money to and was the president for seven years of the new Springvale Cemetery in Lafayette. In 1869, he helped found the Lafayette Savings Bank. He later supported some questionable business ventures, including backing the
Lafayette, Muncie and Bloomington Railroad, even as lawsuits and debts climbed. Purdue also backed a silver mining scheme in Colorado, the Purdue Gold and Silver Mining and Ore Reduction Company, which failed to pay any dividends. ==Politician==