Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-05-13
GEORGE W. PURNELL
Died at Ills Home in Snow Hill
Monday.

George w, Purnell. Esq. died at hi,
home in this town early Monday morn
ing Of Brights disease. MIR. purncl
broke down last summer and gradually
his office work up to about three months
ago. when he was compelled to take to
his room. and was very near death
door several times before the end came
last Monday. Nearly every man, wo.
man and child, white and colored, in
Worcester County knew him, and his
familiar face will be missed at the
coming and succeeding sessions of Court.
Mr.. Purnell was born in this town in
1871. and was, therefore Is years of age
He probably had larger practice than
any member of the Worcester county
bar, and had been the recognized leader
of the bar for n number of years. He
was the seventh in descent from Thorn
rs Purnell. who, i'll 1864, came from
Berkeley, Northamptonshirc, England.
and settled on an estate called Fairfield
in this county, which is still in posses
sion of a member of the family. At II
years of age Mr.. Purnell became an or
phan; his brother. Littleton II. Purnell
became his guardian. and at II years of
age he was placed i'll the Snow Hill
Academy. Here he spent three years
i'll preparing for college. and in his 9Th
year entered the University of Virginia.
at Charlottesville. He was compelled
to leave there on account of his health.
In 1859 he entered Princeton College.
and studied hard for two years, with
authorizations of graduating with honors,
when, in 1861, the Civil War broke out.
His class, numbering ~, was nearly
broken up, half belonging on each side
Mason and Dixon's line. The sympa-
thies of young Purncll were with the
South and he left Princeton with his
comrades, going first to his home and
afterward, without the knowledge of
his guardian or friends, he proceeded
South and entered the Confederate Ar
my as a private in the First Maryland
Cavalry
Aftcrward he was promoted to an adj
jutancy in the Second Maryland Cavalry,
serving nearly three years. 10 months
of which he spent rs a prisoner OH John
sons Island, Lake Erie. In consequence
of his being an officer and declining to
take the oath after Lees surrender, he
did not obtain his release until late in
June, 1865.
He then tried to interest himself in
mercantile pursuits, but finding his
tastes were not for that kind of business
he began again the study of law under
the late Judge Franklin. He then en-
tered the law department of the Univer-
sity of Virginia. where he remained for
year, and then returned home and was
admitted to the bar, and shortly after
opened an office and commenced to prac-
tice. He was very successful. He was an
indefatigable worker. land in large share
of the important cases i'll Worcester.
Wicomico and Somerset counties he was
invariably pitted against Judge Page and
his father. the late John w. Crisficld,
when they were practicing He possessed
one of the largest law libraries to be
found i'll the State. When Charles f. w
Holland was nominated for judge, his
strongest competitor for the nomination
was Mr.. Purnell, and the contest in
convention was long and bitter one
Three years ago he was nominated for
an elector at large on the Democratic
ticket.
Mr.. Purnell married Miss Margaret
ID. Bowen i'll 1870, and is survived by
her and three daughtcrs-Mrs Ethel
Gregor. of New York; Miss Blanche
Purnell, of Snow Hill, and little
daughter, Frances. also mt home He
also has three brothers and sister living
Hill; John II. Purnell. of Berlin, DIR.
w. L. Purnell, of Catherine, Ala, and
Mrs. Ellen Robbins. of Snow Hill. He
leaves good estate. including a large
life insurance. He was a director of the
Commercial and Savings Bank of Snow
Hill.
The remains of Mr.. Purnell were in
tered i'll the family burying ground in
All Hallows' Churchyard "Wednesday
afternoon ut $50 o'clock after services
in the church, conducted by Rev. w. G..
Butler the Rector. The pail bearers
were Mcssrs. George 5. Payne, Jas.
l.. Ellegood. Oliver ID. Collins, L. l..
Dirickson. DIR. f. J Dirickson. DIR. Paul
Jones. The honorary pail bearers were:
Hon George w. Covington. DR. James
G. Erickson. Judge Charles f. Holland,
Judge Henry Page, DIR. Geo. w. Bishop.
Capt. William +. Timmons. James r.
Purnell, Zadok p. Henry.
The bcreaved family have our sympa-
thy i'll their great loss.
NNAhCTnNE I'M UENT