Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 734
SAMUEL PURCELL

Samuel PURCELL, a farmer living on the east side of Willow River on section 14, in Magnolia Township, came to Harrison County, in the autumn of 1855, stopping about one month near Elk Grove, in Jefferson Township, then moved into Pottawattamie County, where he remained until the latter part of 1864, at which time he came back to this county and bought eighty acres of wild land, constituting a part of his present farm. He improved this farm, his first house being of logs. He remained on that place until the fall of 1869, sold and bought two hundred and twenty-five acres on the same section, which is now all under a high state of cultivation.

When he came to the county in 1855 his father was caught out of wood and it took him and another man five days to dig a road through the grove, about one mile from their house. During the same winter his father lost ten head of cattle. Deer were very plentiful but in the springtime it was found that a great portion of them had starved to death on account of the severity of the weather, their carcasses being found here and there throughout the country when the snow had disappeared; elk and wild turkeys were also found in great abundance. Mr. PURCELL stood in his door, in Pottawattamie County, and shot seven deer. There was no necessity for going to hunt deer, as they came around the cabin doors of the settlers in search of something to eat. All farm produce they raised in those early days had to be hauled to Council Bluffs. Our subject had been invited to take dinner with a neighbor where the meal consisted of boiled corn, but the friendly disposition and hospitality of those days, made up for the luxuries their tables lacked.

Mr. PURCELL was born September 8, 1827, in Putnam County, Ind., and remained at home with his parents until June 6, 1846, when he enlisted in the First Indiana Infantry as a Mexican soldier and was mustered in at New Albany, June 16, 1846, and took boat for New Orleans and from there took ship ("Big Adaline") for Point Isabel, reaching there some time in July, and from there they marched to Monterey, where he remained until his time expired and was discharged at New Orleans, July 10, 1847. There are twelve Mexican soldiers now living in Harrison County, five of whom enlisted in the same company as Mr. PURCELL. At the National Reunion of Mexican soldiers held at Des Moines, in September, 1866, the ladies of that city presented the Mexican veterans with a flag, and the Commander said that the company that represented the most members there should have the honor of carrying the flag, and it fell to Mr. PURCELL's old company. After leaving the United States service Mr. PURCELL returned to Indiana and went to farming, remaining there until the fall of 1855, when he started West.

He was united in marriage January 22, 1848, to Miss Artamissa BOONE, in Putnam County, Ind. By this marriage nine children were born -- Alonzo, Charles; Mary J. and Elizabeth, deceased; Ida; William, deceased; Eva, and two boys who died in infancy.

Atramissa (BOONE) PURCELL died in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, April 16, 1864, and September 3, 1864, our subject was married to Miss Susan HUNT, and they are the parents of eight children -- Bruce, Ella (deceased); Edward; Annis and Eliza (deceased), Minnie, Jesse E., and Andrew J.

Our subject's first wife was a direct descendant of Daniel BOONE, and she was born in Harrison County, Ind., April 22, 1829. Her mother died when she was a small child and she lived with her father until her marriage.

Susan (HUNT) PURCELL was born in Muhlenberg, County, Ky., October 10, 1839, and in 1852 came with her parents to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. They remained one year and then removed to Kentucky, and three years later came back to Pottawattamie County where she remained with her parents until she was married.

Mr. PURCELL was a member of Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry from July to October, 1863, when he was discharged for disabilities contracted in the Mexican War.

Mr. and Mrs. PURCELL are members of the Latter Day Saints Church.

Jesse PURCELL, father of our subject, was born at Old St. Redstone, now Pittsburg, February 20, 1788, and removed with his parents to Harrison County, Ky., where he married Miss Jane AKERS, and then removed to New Albany (or to where the place has since been built) and from there he removed to Harrison County, Ind., where he cleared up a piece of timber land but before he procured money enough to enter the same another man entered the land ahead of him, this being the second experience of the kind he had had. After this he removed to Putnam County and entered land that Greencastle stands on, which was then in a big woods; his claim contained two hundred acres. He went into partnership, freighting from Cincinnati to Louisville, also to Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Greencastle and other points. Owing to his partnership relations he failed, only leaving him $100, after which he entered eighty acres of land five miles from Greencastle, where he cleared up a fine farm, which he lived upon until 1853, and then sold and went to Vigo County, Ind., and came to Harrison County [Iowa] in 1856, and purchased an early settler's claim of one hundred acres, being a part of section 14, of Magnolia Township. There was a small log house on the place, which had neither doors or windows. He improved this place and lived there the remainder of his days, dying February 16, 1868. He had served in the War of 1812 and drew two land warrants. He left the Mormon Church at the time of the excitement over polygamy.

Jane (AKERS) PURCELL was born in Harrison County, Ky., and died in Harrison County, Iowa, May 25, 1868. They were the parents of twelve children, our subject being the ninth child.

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