Kate Purcell

PURCELL, HUDSON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

9 November 1916 - The Clinton Advertiser
page 1

MRS. PURCELL SUCCUMBS TO LONG ILLNESS
PROMINENT CLINTON WOMAN DIES AT EIGHT AVENUE HOME
FUNERAL SATURDAY MORNING
Deceased Prominently Identified for Years With Benevolent and Literary Work of City.
Death came peacefully Wednesday evening to Mrs. Kate Hudson Purcell, who passed away at 6:30 at her home, 423 Eighth avenue after an illness of several months.

Mrs. Purcell was stricken with pernicious anemia on July 4th, and since that time has been confined to her home. Last Sunday she became unconscious, and this condition continued up to the time of her death. Her son, Lieutenant Martin W. Purcell of Battery A, is on his way home from Brownsville, Texas, where the battery is in camp. When his mother's illness became critical he was called home but could not reach Clinton before her death. He is expected to arrive Friday evening.

The funeral will be held Saturday morning. Solemn requiem mass will be celebrated by Monsignor McLaughlin at St. Mary's church at 9 o'clock.

Friends are requested to refrain from sending flowers.

The death of Mrs. Purcell removes from Clinton one of the county's pioneers, and a woman who for nearly seventy years had been identified with the development of this county and city. She was widely known, and was loved and respected by hundreds of friends. Of remarkable intellectual endowment, she was long prominent in the city's educational circle, occupying at one time the office of county superintendent of schools. Before her election to that office she had taught school in Lyons for many years, and was the principal of the old South school there, directing the early education of many men and women who since attained positions of trust and honor.

Mrs. Purcell was born in Rawden, Canada, 71 years ago, and came to Camanche with her parents in 1866. After living there a few years she came to Lyons, and was educated in the public schools of that city, completing her education at Sinsinnawa Mound, Wisconsin. She then returned to Lyons and was given a position as teacher, eventually becoming principal of the South school. Later she accepted a position as principal in the Marshalltown schools, and after returning to Lyons was elected county superintendent of schools in 1876, having been the first woman who ever held that position in this county. She was united in marriage 39 years ago with the late E. M. Purcell, who at that time was serving as sheriff of Clinton county.

For many years Mrs. Purcell was active in the city's benevolent work, and at one time was president of St. Mary's Benevolent society. She also was identified with the Associated Benevolent Society of Clinton, and with several of the local literary societies.

Surviving the deceased are three Attorneys John E. and Wm. E. Purcell of this city and a brother, Thomas J. Hudson and two sisters, Misses Agnes and Clara Hudson of Lyons. A daughter, Agnes, died in infancy and a son, Harry Purcell, passed away about ten years ago.

The death of Mrs. Purcell is sincerely mourned by her hundreds of friends throughout Clinton county.

11 November 1916 - The Clinton Advertiser
page 7

SOLEMN MASS AT FUNERAL OF MRS. PURCELL
MONSIGNOR MCLAUGHLIN OF ST. MARY'S PRESIDES
PAYS DECEASED TRIBUTE
Interment is in Calvary Cemetery--Many Friends from Out of Town in Attendance
After celebration of solemn high mass this morning at St. Mary's church the remains of the late Mrs. Kate Hudson Purcell, widow of former Sheriff E. M. Purcell of this city, were laid to rest in Calvary cemetery north of Lyons.

The funeral services were beautiful and impressive. Monsignor McLaughlin officiated as celebrant, with Rev. James Comerford, pastor of St. Irenaeus church as deacon and Father O'Donnell of St. Mary's sub-deacon. There was special requiem music by the choir, and a large congregation gathered in the church to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, who was one of Iowa's pioneer residents and had the widest acquaintance in Clinton county.

The monsignor preached the funeral sermon, and paid a high tribute to the memory of Mrs. Purcell. Following the services at the Ninth avenue church a long cortege preceeded to Calvary cemetery, where interment was made.

The pall bearers were Robert Troy and Martin Dolan of Charlotte, William Quinlan of Delmar and Maurice Foran, J. E. Mooney, J. H. Dunnan, Jerry Keefe and T. W. Oakes of this city.

Lieutenant M. W. Purcell of Battery A summoned home by his mother's death, reached the city at 3:45 o'clock this morning, and will remain in Clinton about ten days before leaving for the border to rejoin the battery at Brownsville.