Purcell, John E.

PURCELL, CONNER, CALNAN, HENLE, STALEY

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Date: 2/18/2003 at 09:44:16

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa; Vol 2; B.F. Bowen & Co; Indianapolis, Indiana: 1911

JOHN E. PURCELL

Conspicuous among the representative business men of Clinton, Iowa, is the well-known gentleman whose name introduces this biographical review. The industrious and well-regulated life he has led has gained for him not only material success, but the friendship, confidence and good-will of a vast acquaintance.

John E. Purcell is a native of Clinton, having been born here on April 5, 1866, and he is the son of James and Mary (Conner) Purcell. The father was born near Limerick, Ireland, and died in 1873, while the mother's birth occurred in Canada; she is still living. James Purcell was a contractor by occupation and he was sixteen years of age when he came to America and settled in southern Illinois. He was very successful in his line of endeavor and established a good home here. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters, John E., of this review, being the first in order of birth; the others are Charles J., an engineer on the Northwestern railroad; Mrs. Margaret Calnan and Anna.

John E. Purcell was educated in the public schools of Clinton and finished at St. Mary's school. Leaving the school room, being equipped with a good practical education, he began life for himself as clerk in the grocery store of O'Donnell & Calnan, where he remained two years, during which time he gained many valuable pointers relative to the mercantile business. He then clerked two years for the grocery firm of Hall & Pollard, then went to the store of S.C. Seaman, where he remained three years. He then went to Denver, Colorado, and clerked two years for the McNamarrah Dry Goods Company, giving his usual satisfaction. He always took more or less interest in athletics, especially outdoor sports, and he played baseball with the Denver City League, and he was a member of a brass band at Denver. He then returned to Clinton county and was later salesman in the city trade of Chicago for the Drummond Tobacco Company, later working in southern Iowa. He was a traveling salesman for twelve years in northern Illinois for Dean Brothers & Lincoln, wholesale grocers, remaining with them until they went out of business, being considered one of their most efficient and trustworthy employes. Then for two years he was in the employ of the Steele-Wedells Company of Chicago, resigning his position July 1, 1905. He then started in business for himself at Clinton, Iowa, opening a shoe store under the firm name of Henley & Purcell. One year later Mr. Purcell bought out his partner's interest, and on February 1, 1909, moved the store to No. 305 Main street, Lyons, where he still conducts the same and enjoys a very liberal patronage from the town and surrounding country, having a neat and well-kept store and carrying an up-to-date and carefully selected stock of goods.

Mr. Purcell is a member of the Knights of Columbus; in fact, he organized the lodge at Clinton, and was the first grand knight and charter member of Sterling Council, No. 662, at Sterling, Illinois. On October 2, 1902, he transferred his membership to St. Edward's Council at Clinton. Politically, he is a Democrat, but independent locally, and he is a prominent Catholic.

Mr. Purcell was married on June 19, 1895, to Louise Victoria Henle, who was born June 11, 1865, in Lyons, and is the daughter of Mathias and Theresa (Staley) Henle, a well-known and high respected family, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Theresa Mary, Louise Marie, Anna, Helen (deceased), Josephine, Dorothy, Margaret Bernardine, Catherine Natalie and Mary Elizabeth.