Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-04-03


The Rev. DR.. William H. Purnell Of
Delaware College, whose sudden death
occurred at Atlantic City Sunday, WASH
buried Tuesday. Funeral services were
held in the Presbyterian Church at
Newark at $50 o'clock Tuesday,,
and the body was taken to Annapolis,
Nd, fer interment.
Dr.. purnell WIS 7c years of age, andf
had remarkable career. In lawn
politics, education and the ministry
be achieved distinction. In stirrin3I
prominent figure.
Born on the family farm, Quepcngo,I
near the Focomokc River, Worcnslcrt
county, he entered Buckingham
academy, at Berlin, where he wasI
prepared for admission to nclawaretl
College, al Newark. A(tor graduating
no went to Snow Hill, where he r"adp
law with the late Judge John IN
franklin and was admitted to the lar.
Notwithstanding ihe TACT that he wass
the youngest member of the her, htI
was c!iss'n soon aftar the death of
Judge Franklin to succeed him ms taa
deputy OF Attorney General Riohardl
son. When 90 wears Ole lie was elected
n member Of the school hoard If thel
county and chief town commissioned
DIR. lurnpil was then an ar5ent Wig.
In his carly career at Snow Hill hei
married Margaret Nelii Martin.
DR.. purnel served as deputy attorney
general until 1865, when be was elected
npplptrullnr of the State treasury. In
the State Nominating Convention OF
/ the american party in 1851 his nameI
WITH chose Of Col. Georg' Is. Rickerdf
aud Thomas Holiday Hicks was puI
/ in nom nation for governor. lie rel
f; ceiycd "a votes on the first ballot,
numher of which were cast, the friend
oil DR.. Purnell and Col. Rickerds finally
] voting for Hicks, who had received nut
nne votes on the first ballot. After
the nomination Of Gov. Hicks Dl
: l'urnell was nominated as his own suoJ
ressor in the Office Of State comptroller.
/ In 1859 he was renomin1ted by the
| American party by reclamation and
! elected to succeed himself
In 1851 DIR. Purnell was elected a
trustee Of Maryland Agricultural Col
lege and served on the board II yearJ
! lie vas a mcmher Of the original bolrl
/ az organization and assisted in selecl
ing tho site for this college.
! At tire instance of Gov. Hicks, Hpnr(
. Winter Davis and others he vas mad
postmaster Of baltimore in 1861, hrrinl
resigned the Office OF State conrtrull9
Ia accurF his new position. The lWI
gtGss Of the war now attracted M
PurEeIi's attention, and at tho resuej
of Senator Davis he went to Annapoll
to sec Gov. Hicks in order to use whd
influence he could to prevent the RID
Of April 10th, 1851. 1t was against ~
Purnell's protest that the extra sessioh
of the Legislature called at that TIM
was hcld.
His interest in the Union cause col
stnntly Increased, The third day aftd
tho battle of Bull Run he won't 4
Washington and got permission \
organize the Purnell Legion. compost
originally of one regiment of infantry
two companies of cavalry and two bn)
teres of artillery. Tho old Pikesvilk
arsenal was used as recruitiil
station, and DIR. Purnell. acting undo
q colonel's commission, took even
, means to perfect the organization !
the Legion. When about 700 men ha
been raised he was ordered by Gen
Mcclellan to take his command to tn
Eastern Shore of Virginia to break u
= to he in existence there. The Legio
went into camp at Salisbury, where
was joined by throe regiments sent Il
Y Gen. Dick and put under command {
Gen, Lockwood. Later tho Legion w
ordered back to Baltimore, its ranI
v then numbering l,2i0 men.
q In 1862 Col Purnell resigned II
a command. The legion was in numb,
n of important engagements, both us !,
legion and as portion of other POD
s mands.
Or. Purnell was reappointed
master of Baltimore by President u r.
o son, from whose hands ho also, in 4.
? received the appointment OF assessI NJ
: internal revenue. Nh
In 1864 he was elected chairmo5 Fl
d the Union State Central Commit
a but resigned in 1866 because of dihi
. ences of opinion on the Registrad
# law. He was opposed to the proscriptll
policy and spoke in Frederick al
elsewhere against it.
After his retirement from politii
: Dr. Purnell practiced law in Baltimcl
I until 1870, when he was elected pres
u dent of Delaware College, his ain
mater. He held this position Is year
Q While at the college he served IL yea
% as president Of the State Board
Education. In 1885 he resigned II
e presidency of the college to accept v
:, principalship of the Frederick IND
k Female Seminary Later he beob
: president Of New Windsor Colie>
Carroll county, Md, and afterwa
y returned to professorship in Delawa
n College.
- Home From thr Philippines.