Elizabeth (Wilson) Purkhiser (1829-1908)

WILSON, PURKHISER, BATMAN, HALSEY, HORNBERGER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/5/2013 at 21:44:54

From Nevada Representative February 12, 1908

DEATH OF MRS. M. PURKHISER

Mrs. Elizabeth Purkhiser, wife of Michael Purkhiser, died at the family home in this city about six o'clock Tuesday morning. The end was a surprise only in the sense the Mrs. Purkhiser had in her very feeble condition held out so far beyond reasonable expectation that she could hold out but a very little longer and ceased to be credited. She had been in ill-health for four years; and since last October, when she fell and broke her hip, she had been nearly or quite bed-fast. She had wasted in flesh and strength, and for weeks it had been evident that she could not be expected to recover nor to last very long.

Elizabeth Wilson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wilson, who were South Carolinians of slave holding stock transplanted to Indiana, and she was born in Washington county, Indiana, October 29, 1829. She grew up there and was there married when she was barely turned sixteen to Michael Purkhiser, who was not yet twenty-one. The date of their marriage was December 30, 1845; and the 30th of December last was therefore their sixty-second anniversary. They continued to live at or near the old home until after the war; and Mrs. Purkhiser in war-time endured the sufferings and anxieties of the soldier's wife, left at home with a family of small children while the husband and father was away fighting for the country. Such anxieties were accentuated by the fact that Mr. Purkhiser was very severely wounded in a small action in Kentucky, and it was along time before he could get out of the hospital and come home. Then Morgan's raiders came through their home locality and there was further anxiety and trouble; but through it all Mrs. Purkhiser held to her firm faith that all would be well with them.

In 1866 the family came to Iowa, coming directly to Story county and Nevada. The then latest baby was buried the day before they started; and for Mrs. Purkhiser it was a parting from the parents whom she expected never to see again and in fact never did see again. It was a sorrowful leave-taking; but they all looked hopefully toward their new home. The J. E. Batmans accompanied them, Mrs. Batman being the eldest of the Purkhiser children that grew up. Arriving in Nevada, the Purkhisers lived for a short time in other houses; but in a year or so they established themselves in the house which has been their home for more than forty years, and wherein Mrs. Purkhiser has passed away, leaving the grown-up children and Mr. Purkhiser, who at the age of 82 is still in fairly good health.

As stated, Mrs. Purkhiser was born October 29, 1829 and died February 11, 1908, aged 78 years, 3months and 13 days. She was the mother of nine children, two of whom, Sarah J., the eldest, and Minnie Persis, the last born in Indiana, died in infancy. Teh others were Ovanda A., who married James E. Batman, lived in Nevada for the most of her married life and died her in 1897; Mary I., now Mrs. Cyrenus Halsey of Perry; William Allen Purkhiser of Nevada, generally known by his middle name; Laura C., now Mrs. Charles Halsey of Madrid; Emily P. now Mrs. Hornberger of Lincoln, Nebraska; and the twins, Lillian A. and Elizabeth, of Nevada. There are also fifteen grandchildren living and twelve great-grandchildren, making a surviving family of of thirty-five.

Mrs. Purkhiser was small in person; but she had abundant force of character, and she met with notable courage and success all her responsibilities in life. She brought up her daughters in the way they should go, and she gave them the inestimable benefits of home-training and wise precept. She was in all her mature years venerated by those about her; and it is to be most truthfully said of her that she was a woman whose long life was singularly useful and blessed. It is not really to be regretted that her sufferings are over; but she is honored and loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her and of being about her place in general estimation is that which only can be attained to by the capable and faithful wife and mother. In religion she was reared as a "hardshell" Baptist; but she early transferred her interest to the Wesleyan Methodist church in Indiana and later to the Methodist Episcopal church here, and in all her life was a woman of Christian spirit and inspiration.

The funeral will be conducted from the Methodist church in this city at two o'clock Thursday afternoon by the pastor, Rev. R. E. Shaw. All of the children and most of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be present.