Patrick Purcell

PURCELL

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 7/20/2014 at 18:51:05

Obituary.

PURCELL.

Patrick Purcell Falls Into the Shadow Land Before His Own Door Death came suddenly just as he had long expected, to Patrick Purcell, the well known citizen and former member of the police force of this city, Saturday night. Mr. Purcell was stricken on the street, but he lived long enough to be taken to his home, where he died half an hour later.

The deceased had been out to accompany his sister-in-law to her home and was returning to his home on the crest of Farnam street between Ninth and Tenth streets. He had just crossed the street from the west side and was passing the gate of W.P. Halligan's home when he was seen to stagger and fall up against the gate, which, swinging open under the weight, allowed him to fall heavily to the brick walk, where he struck on his head, cutting it somewhat. Friends hastened to his side and found that although he was suffering greatly, he was able to recognize them.

He was assisted to arise, and he summoned up enough strength to walk to his own home, about 200 feet away, with the aid of a man supporting him on either side. A half an hour later he was dead. During the interim between his sudden prostration and his final decease, Mr. Purcell spoke lightly to his friends, expressing the wish that he was ready to make the journey over the shadowland, cautioning all those present to remember him with the suffrages of their prayers. The end came without apparent pain, or any great sense of physical distress.

The cause of death is supposed to have been heart failure. The deceased had been under treatment and had a spell of sickness and weakness while on his way home from the caucuses early in the week. He recovered from it and thought it nothing serious. On this fatal Saturday evening, however, he realized his condition, as it evidenced by the conversation recounted above. He knew that the end would come suddenly and he kept himself constantly prepared for the worst. He had been growing steadily worse for some time, the weight of years beginning to tell upon his naturally rugged constitution for he was over seventy-three years of age.

Deceased was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He came to Davenport in 1852 and has made it his home ever since. He was appointed a police officer during the mayoralty of Hon. Jere Murphy in 1873 and continued as a member of the force until 1889 when he resigned. Since his retirement from the force he has done little if any work, having been of a saving disposition all of his life thereby gathering together enough property to keep him comfortable.

Mr. Purcell was a devout Catholic and an exemplary socialist, being a constant attendant upon the various offices of the Sacred Heart Cathedral. He is survived by his second wife, Bridget, and one son, W.J. Purcell.

The funeral will occur Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock from the late residence with solemn high mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The interment will be made at St. Marguerite's Cemetery.

Source: Daily Times, Davenport, Scott, Iowa, 22 March 1897.