PURVIS, PETER

PURVIS, RENTOUL, GALBRAITH, CUSTER, HOGUE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 10/6/2003 at 16:21:06

Biography reproduced from page 354 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Peter Purvis, who passed away April 18, 1912, was a resident of Algona, Iowa, until his demise. He was a native of Scotland, in which country he was born in Peeblesshire, near the town of Peebles, on the 31st day of May, 1834. His parents were John and Jane (Rentoul) Purvis, both of whom were natives of Scotland. His mother died while he was yet a small child, which event deprived him of that mother love so helpful and needful to a growing child. His father, John Purvis, was what is known as a hedger in Scotland, and to this profession he confined himself during his residence in that country, giving especial attention to the care of fancy hedges. In this country this work falls within the province of the landscape artist. Mr. Purvis came to America in 1850, settling on a farm in Wisconsin which he developed and on which he remained until his death, which occurred in 1888. There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Purvis: David, Margaret, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Susan and Peter.

Peter Purvis was educated in the common schools in Scotland, where he also took up and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. On coming to this country in 1855 he settled in Wisconsin and found work on every hand, waiting for his skill and knowledge. He continued his residence in Wisconsin until 1870, at which time he removed to Algona in Kossuth county, Iowa, where he established himself as a contractor and builder. He built a fine residence, one of his early ventures in Algona, and continued to reside therein for a period of fifteen years. Subsequently, he moved into the beautiful house, which was his home until his death and which he had built opposite the former residence on a plat of ground comprising three acres, giving ample space for his garden, which he set out in all the varieties of fruit common to his section and adorned with ornamental shrubbery as well.

There is a trite old saying to this effect: “Show me the kind of books a man reads and I will tell you what kind of a man he is.” So we may also say, “Show us the man who builds the public buildings of your city and we will show you the man to whom the city owes a debt of gratitude which will remain a living monument to his memory long years after he shall have been gathered to his fathers.” Peter P. Purvis was such a man. In Algona, look which way you will, you will see the product of his brain and the fruit of his industrious hands. He erected the building of the Kossuth County State Bank, the Kossuth county courthouse and the building now used by the government as the Algona postoffice. The last named structure was owned by Mr. Purvis. At one time he owned some of the rich farm land of Kossuth county but later sold it and confined his investments to his chosen and established business.

In 1867 Mr. Purvis was married to Miss Mary Galbraith, a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, and a sister of John Galbraith of Algona, Iowa. She was reared and educated in Rock county. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Purvis: Isabella, who lives at home with her mother; William, who resides near Maywood, Illinois; George, living at Omaha, Nebraska; Grace, who is the wife of P. P. Custer, of Oak Harbor, Washington; Ruth, who lives at St. Paul, Minnesota; David, living in Petaluma, California; and Mary, the wife of E. J. Hogue, of Algona, Iowa.

Mr. Purvis was a republican in politics and in religious faith a Presbyterian, to which faith his wife also belongs. He was not a member of any fraternal order, believing that the church to which he belonged contained all the necessary elements for the development and protection of the moral and spiritual nature of any man. He steadfastly maintained his supreme devotion to his church and to her gave whatever time or money he was able to contribute for her cause, passing away in her faith April