Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 504 - 505 

DR. G. C. PURDUE, a prominent physician and surgeon of Wichita, came to this city in May, 1887, and opened an office the 1st of June in Getto Block, corner of Main and Second streets. Although he has been settled here but a few months, he has already gained considerable practice, and is steadily growing in favor with the people as his practical knowledge and skill are becoming more widely known. The Doctor is a native of Warrick County, Ind. He was born Jan. 22, 1854, and is the son of Jarrett G. and Eliza (Kelley) Purdue, natives respectively of Tennessee and Indiana. Mr. Purdue was an extensive farmer, and now lives in retirement at Evansville, Incl. His father was Howell Purdue; the mother's maiden name was Dickerson. They were engaged in farming, and removed from Tennessee to Indiana in 1825. Mrs. Purdue was the daughter of Jacob Kelley. To Mr. and Mrs. Purdue were born six children, namely: Clark H., Adeline, G. C., Jarrett L., Harry and Della. The latter is Mrs. Callendar, of Indiana; Clark H. is a farmer of Warrick County, Ind.; Adeline is Mrs. Robinson, of Evansville, Ind.; Jarrett is a manufacturer of crackers at Evansville, Ind.; Harry is a farmer of Warrick County, Ind.

            Our subject remained at home on the farm until sixteen years of age, and attended the district school, where he received the rudiments of his education. He then attended college at Rockport, Ind., for two years, attaining high rank in scholarship. Subsequently he utilized his education by teaching in Warrick County, first in the district schools for two years, and then in the graded schools of Newburg the following two years. While he was engaged as an instructor he employed all his spare time for three years in the study of medicine. He then gave up his school that he might more thoroughly prepare himself for the profession of a physician. He entered the Medical College of Evansville for two sessions, and was graduated therefrom in 1880. In March, 1880, shortly after his graduation, he commenced to practice in Evansville, and in the following years he achieved many successes in his professional career, and became one of the leading physicians of Southern Indiana, and was a prominent member of the Vanderburg Medical Society. While he was at Evansville he was appointed to take charge of the County Hospital, quite a responsible position. He had the care of all the smallpox cases, and made a careful study of that dreaded disease, and so successful did he become in dealing with it that he was regarded as an authority on the proper treatment of smallpox patients, and was called upon as an expert. In 1887 he gave up his practice in Indiana and came to Kansas, as above stated.

            Dr. Purdue was married, Dec. 31, 1880, to Miss Emma Garwood, a native of Newburg, Warrick Co., Ind., and daughter of William S. and Laura (Wilden) Garwood, natives respectively of Vermont and Indiana. The Doctor and his wife have two children, twins—Laura and Lelia.

            Our subject and his accomplished wife have a pleasant home in this city, and are great additions to its social life. In politics he is a member of the Republican party. He is a member of the Wichita Medical Society, and is identified with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.

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