Tintype of WCP3?

Below is a photo of a tintype. The name attached to this image is William Collins Purdy III. I have not independently verified this and may never be able to. However, my father IDed this photo as WCP3, and I have no reason to doubt the identification as my father knew him.

Here's the image:

 



































William Collins Purdy III was born in 1853 about "3.5 miles south of Staunton, Illinois." He worked on the farmhand and in a sawmill. My dad recalls Uncle Col never having being married or even having a girlfriend. As far as I can tell, he never had children. He died in 1928 and was buried in Staunton City Cemetery. Known as "Collins" or "Uncle Col."

I am guesstimating this photo was taken between 1865 and 1875. Collins could be 15 (1868) or 20ish (1873). Note the slight pink coloration in the cheeks, and extra fee effect, indicating that the Purdys were comfortable if not well to do.

1860 Census:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4213711_00547?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.176323941.153770080.1593380886-234541386.1593380886&pId=37438363&backurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ancestry.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fsse.dll%3Fdb%3D1860usfedcenancestry%26h%3D37438363%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage%3AOtherRecord

Death Certificate:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1928/1928_00002633.PDF

Well, here's a mystery~! The death certificate says that Collins was "widowed." THAT bears looking into!

Burial:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50788316

The more I dig, the more skeletons I find—if you can count an unknown marriage as a skeleton. I'll let you know if I find anything more.