Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 358
I. N. PURCELL, a leading farmer of Sweetland Township, residing on section 35, was born in Lawrence County, Ind., and is a son of John and Martha Purcell, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Kentucky. When our subject was fourteen years of age his parents removed to Scott County, Iowa, where they continued to reside until 1852, when the father purchased 480 acres of land in Muscatine County, removing his family to that farm. His death occurred in the month of October, 1866, his wife departing this life Aug. 5. 1888, at the ripe old age of eighty-four. Our subject was the sixth in a family of eleven children, namely: George, Elizabeth, William (deceased), Thomas, James, I.N., Nancy, Andrew, Thaddeus, who was killed in the battle of Atlanta; Adeline and Caroline.

On the 14th of August, 1857, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Baird) Hewitt. By their union was born four children: Warren, Isabella, Addie and Sherman. The death of the mother occurred in 1872, and Mr. Purcell was again married on the 24th of April, 1874, becoming the husband of Henrietta Betty, daughter of Robert and Susan Betty.

When the War of the Union broke out Mr. Purcell responded to his country's call for troops, enlisting at Pleasant Prairie, Fulton Township, in Company B, 35th Iowa Infantry. The regiment went into camp at Camp Strong, on Muscatine Island, where they remained until December 15, at which time they took the train for Cairo, Ill. Mr. Purcell was engaged in doing garrison duty until disabled, when he was discharged from the service and returned home. For his injuries he receives a pension of $8 per month. His brother William, who was also in the service, was wounded at Wilson's Creek, Mo., after which he returned home, and in a short time recruited a company at Muscatine. He was commissioned Lieutenant of Company C, of the first Iowa Infantry, and went to Keokuk, going thence to Missouri. He was again wounded, and returned home, remaining for about four months, and in the meantime recruited a company, joining the 16th Iowa Infantry. He then with the regiment, went into camp near Davenport, but was later ordered to the front, arriving just in time to participate in the Battle of Shiloh. He was engaged in all the principal battles of the regiment until the close of the war, when he was discharged, but his death occurred in 1879 from the effects of the wounds received at the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo. Thaddeus, another brother, served for three months without receiving a wound, after which he returned home, enlisting in his brother's regiment as a member of Company C, 16th Iowa Infantry, and was in all the engagements until the battle of Atlanta, where a rebel bullet ended his life. Thomas, who served as First Lieutenant of Company C, of the 16th Iowa Infantry, was taken prisoner and confined in Andersonville Prison for about nine months, suffering most inhuman treatment. He is now residing in Oregon, where he is engaged in the undertaking business. Mr. I. N. Purcell is a Democrat in politics, and is a liberal-minded, progressive man.

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