6/28/09 A biography/family history of Arthur Thomas Purdy is included in "Montana, Its Story and Biography", Vol 2. See posting on Rootsweb Purdy message board. Arthur T, wife, parents http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:a39738&id=I22 http://www.gencircles.com/users/cfrost/185/data/10270 has the bio from below Arthur.Thomas Purdy, b. 1866, Jackson, MI>1881 MT - Bio www.rootsweb.com/~mtlincol/stout.htm carole (View posts) Posted: 1 Jun 2006 10:18PM Classification: Biography Surnames: Purdy, LeBeau, Keeler, Towsley, Filiatreau, Crowley, Doble LA biography/family history of A.T. Purdy is included in "Montana, Its Story and Biography", Vol 2. Became widely known as the owner of the fruit farm, The Twin Orchards Ranch, near Eureka, MT. A.T. Purday was born to Henry & Mary (Keeler) Purdy. He spent his boyhood in Michigan, but at age 15 came alone to Butte, MT, where he worked in the mines. A.T. married Miss Terecia LeBeau, born in Cincinnati, OH, daughter of Alexander and Ida (Towsley) LeBeau. A.T. and Patricia were married at the LeBeau ranch a mile north of Kalispell. They moved to Foy's Lake where A.T. engaged in the timber business. Subsequently he homestead 160 acres at Tobacco Plains, MT. Later owned the Meadow Farms Dairy at Eureka, MT; selling that they bought 200 acres at the foot of Independent Mountain, where they had one of the largest fruit farms in Lincoln County. Purdy children: Frances (Mrs. Jerome Filiatreau); Lynn m. Miss Jessie Crowley; Gordon m. Inez Doble, Tacoma WA; Alexander, Thomas actual text fr p 581 from http://www.archive.org/stream/montanaitsstorya02stourich/montanaitsstorya02stourich_djvu.txt A. T. PURDY. Coming to Montana when a boy, A. T. Purdy has lived his active life in the territory and state, and has found here both adventure and achievement. Mr. Purdy for a number of years past has been widely known as owner of the noted fruit farm, the Twin Orchards Ranch, in Lincoln County, near Eureka. Mr. Purdy was born in Jackson, Michigan, in 1866, fourth among the eleven children of Henry and Mary (Keeler) Purdy. He spent his boyhood days in Michigan, but at the age of fifteen came alone to Butte, Montana, and was soon working in the mines. Mr. Purdy married Terecia LeBeau, who was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Alexander and Ida (Towsley) LeBeau, her father being of French ancestry and her mother of German. She was one of a family of nine children, being the oldest. She was six years of age when her parents came out to Butte, but she grew up in their home at KalispelL Mr. and Mrs. Purdy were married at the LeBeau ranch, a mile north of Kalispell. They then moved to Foy's Lake, where Mr. Purdy was engaged in the timber business. Subsequently at Tobacco Plains he homesteaded 160 acres a mile southwest of Glen Lake, and remained in that com- munity eight years. During these experiences Mr. and Mrs. Purdy had all the trials and hardships of pioneering. Mrs. Purdy frequently lived alone with her children while her husband was absent on his duties as road supervisor. Five children were born into their home : Frances, Lynn, Gordon, Alex- ander and Thomas. They were well educated in the public schools. Frances is the wife of Jerome Filiatreau, a rancher near Eureka, and is the mother of three daughters, June, Edith and Joyce. Lynn married Miss Jessie Crowley and has a son, Donald. Gordon, who is employed in the St. Paul Lumber Mill at Tacoma, Washington, married Inez Doble. Alexander and Thomas are still at home and students in the district schools. Mrs. Purdy's mother, who died in 1896, at Kalis- pell, was a devout Christian of the Adventist faith, and was greatly beloved by her own people and many friends. Mrs. Purdy's father came to the Purdy home for a two weeks' visit, and has so enjoyed the environment that he has remained two years with them. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy are republicans in politics. Mrs. Purdy while growing up became an expert in assisting her father on the ranch and has been a fearless rider. She still keeps at the ranch her faith- ful old dog Collie, which has shown almost human intelligence. Mr. Purdy has served as school trusr tee, ditch director, and in other offices connected with the public welfare. For a number of years the Purdys owned and operated the Meadow Home Dairy at Eureka, and on selling that bought 200 acres at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Range near Independent Mountain. This ranch contains two large orchards, thus giving the name Twin Orchards to the ranch. This is one of the largest fruit farms in Lincoln County, and thousands of boxes of apples are marketed every season. The Purdy home has always been noted for its hospitality, and friends and acquaintances alike have learned to esteem the beauty of the sur- roundings and the welcome of entertainment. Mr. Purdy is the type of citizen whose influence is always for the good of the community. He is a man of convictions and ready to act on them. A few years ago, as a typical instance, he learned that a local character, who had claimed to have been a rough rider, had cruelly shot his horse in the flank, and threatened the life of his young companion if he betrayed this act of cruelty. Mr. Purdy on learning of it visited Huff and said he would give him just two hours to go back on the road and put the horse out of suffering and return and report. He per- mitted the bully no excuse or delay, and he remained to see his orders faithfully executed.