Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-03-13
DOCTOR PURNELL
PASSES AWAY
An Eminent Physiclan--An Honest
Man. A Christian Gen.
tIeman Gone.

Doctor James b. X. Purnell died at his
home in Snow Hill last Sunday morning.
On Saturday he took his meals at the
family table and was in cheerful
frame of mind. Early Sunday morning
he said he was i'll and Doctor Straughn
was sent for and did all in his power to
restore vitality, but the kind old Doctor
was too weak to respond to treatment,
and he passed peacefully across the
river"
DR.. James b. X. Purnell was born at
Poplar Ridge, six miles from Snow Hill,
in January 1929, and spent his boyhood
there and in Berlin. He was a son of
William Undrill and Ellen Robins Pur-
nell. and grandson of Judge James b.
Robins.
DIR. Purnell, as a boy. early mani
tested talent for scientific study and
research. particularly in the fields of
chemistry and medicine, and his bright
intellect, joined to untiring energy,
made him a leader wherever his studies
were pursued. After graduating in
Snow Hill. he graduated at the Univer-
sity of Maryland, in Baltimore, and
then pursued post graduate courses at
the University of Virginia and New
York. He then returned to Snow Hill,
where he practiced medicine with much
success until 1853. when leaving a
practice already large, he studied for
two years in Europe, at the Universities
of Paris and Edinburgh. receiving honors
from both Of these institutions. His
love for his native town and naturally
retiring disposition caused DR.. Purnell
to make his home in Snow Hill and to
resist many invitations to seek wider
field of usefulness in the cities where
his talents were well known and where
they met with fitting recognition. For
many years DR.. Purnell was beloved
physician" in Snow Hill and the sur
rounding country until i'll health caused
him to resign the active practice of his
profession and to confine his work to
Office practice and to consultation cases.
After his partial retirement from the
practice of medicine. DIR. Purnell de-
voted himself to literary work in the
line of his favorite study chemistry,
and his book, entitled Chemical Analy-
sis, is considered standard work on
the subject.
DIR. Purnell was fond of travel and
had much general culture derived from
this source. A deep thinker, he was
broad and generous in his judgment of
men and events. Charity for all, =
was his watch-word and the keynote
of his character.
DIR. Purnell married Miss Elizabeth
Ayres in 1861. Her death took place
in 1898 and her two children, Elizabeth
and William, died in early childhood.
He is survived by his widow, formerly
Miss Margaret Spence, by one sister,
Mrs. Ellen A. Robins, of Berlin, and
by large number of nieces and nephews.
The decline of his health was SC
gradual that even those WHO knew and
loved him best could not perceive the
approaching end. so his peaceful and
almost painless death last Sunday morn
ing came as great shock to his friends.
DIR. Purnell had been a member OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church for
many years, and the funeral services
at three O'Clock Tuesday afternoon were
held in All Hallows' P. E. Church. con-
Quoted by the rector. Rev. A. NJ. Rich.
The honorary pall-bearers were !: Drs.
Paul Jones. VIM. d. Straughn, John l..
Riley, j. S. Aydelotte and Messrs. Jas.
d. Hack, Zadok Powell, William. +.
Bratten and Oliver ID. Collins. The
active pall-bearers were Judge Robley
d. Jones and Messrs. VIM. F. Johnson,
Lawrence Hastings. c. l.. Vincent. j..
Edward White and George NJ. Upshur.