Purcell, W. M.

PURCELL

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/29/2008 at 13:48:23

W. M. Purcell

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.178, Minden Twp.)
W. M. Purcell, farmer, P. O. Minden, was born in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, October 10, 1835. His father was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1791, and died in Iowa City, this State, in 1868. He was a farmer. The mother of our subject was Rachel McDonald, born near Columbus, Ohio, in 1806, and is still living, in Iowa City. The parents had nine children. Our subject received his education in the schools of Columbus, Ohio, and Iowa City, this State. In 1859, he went across the plains to California, driving an ox team. He returned in 1863. In the spring of 1873, he went to California, second time, this time by rail, and returned in the fall of the same year. For a time he was engaged in mining in the northern part of that State. He came to Minden Township in the spring of 1876, and purchased 160 acres of raw land, all of which is now under cultivation. He engages in genreal farming. He has filled the offices of Township Trustee and Supervisor. July 16, 1874, he was married, in Iowa City, this State, to Mary Colwell, born in Jefferson County, Ind., November 29, 1852. She is the daughter of David B. and Mary Ann (Hicks) Colwell, he born in Edinburgh, Scotland, she born in Monmouthshire, England, in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Purcell have five children - Minnie, Edwin, Georgie W. Norman and Rachel. In politics, Mr. Purcell is a Republican.