The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-08


William e. Purcell of wahpeton, third
in succession within the last six
months to the North Dakota junior
seat in the upper FEDERAL house, is the
most widely known democrat, except
Governor Burke, in the state of the
fiickertails.
From q poor boy, without influence
or money, ne has steadily accumulated
both during his thirty years Of bIuff
and hearty efforts in this, his home
town.
A man OF intimate sympathies with
human nature, who doctored a child
on an immigrant train to save its life
in his earlier career in the west, he
has depended more upon those natural
gifts than upon the technical exposi-
ton of legal riddles to win step after
step UP the ladder.
Political acumen has placed him at
the leadership OF large part Of the
southern North Dakota democracy,
and has won him national recognition
in years long gone by.
Senator Purcell was born in the lit
tie town of FGemington. N. j., August
1856. He was one Of ten children OF
poor, hardworking parents. He was
next to the youngest child and at the
time of his birth there were eight
ahead of him, all good eaters and all
capable OF wearing out as many shoes
and pairs of pants as any boys In the
neighborhood. ''BiIl" didn't have nuch
Of a show. His father, who had come
over from Ireland two or three years
before, had q hard time to keep his
big family on the small wages that
could be earned in those days, and
"BilI' didn't get much OF an educa-
ton.
War Rends Family.
There were stormy times in those
days and, when the civil war broke
out, / * father and two older brothers
joined the ranks and served their
country. Bill would have gone too, IL
he had been little older. He liked a
scrap about as we'll as any one. but
being too small for a uniform he had
to do his lighting with the neighbours
boys.
About the time the war was over
Bill was old enough to go to work. He
chose farming. He didn't like farming
any better than other work, but that
was about the only work he could get
to do. Lawyers looked pretty good to
HON, SO he decided to be a lawyer.
When he was 20 years Of age he
entered the law office of the Hon.
John NJ. Voorhees, of Remington and
at the end of four years study, dur
Ing which time he supported himself
In various ways, he was admitted to
the bar of New Jersey. For another
year he remained in the office of Sen
ator Voorhees,.
Hears Call Of the West.
The western fever had taken several
OF his chums cut to Dakota territory.
They wrote him glowing accounts of
the new country to which Horace
Greeley was advising the young men
to go. Finally the fever got Bill, and
he borrowed 800 from an older
brother, who was then contractor In
New York, and went west to grow UP
with the country.
He landed in Wahpeton, Dakota
territory, in September, 1881, and this
city has been his home ever since. In
the thirty years of his life here he
built UP an extensive law practice
amassed small fortune through
shrewd investments in land, has held
several important public offices and
now has been appointed to the United
States senate.
The law firm of Purcell & Divet. OF
which Senator Purcell is the senior
partner, Is one of the best known
firms in North Dakota. During his
thirty years of practice in Wahpe4on
with him some half dozen good attor-
neys, including his brother. Richard
who now lives in Helena, Mont.
year, lI6 casu.
Good Mixer.
AS mixer DOC" Purcell has no SUI
| periors. He is good fellow we'll met
with everybody. He acquired a good
reputation as a criminal lawyer and
for years defended most of the Grim.
mails who were brought to trial In
Richland county. When he couldn't
win jury by roasting the other fell.
low he would try shedding tears fol
/ ZIG AAAAOSGRAS AAl~AACdAG0 SttSl1t
and, with sweat melting down hi.
collar and a stream of perspiratior
running off his bald head would i'm.
plore them for mercy. He freed 1
good many.
Speaking about that bald head
which is covered up in our portrait O
him doc" says he mad a choice be-
tween hair and brains and took brains
Whenever a stranger meets Wahpe
toms distinguished attorney he has /;
distinct remembrance of having seer
a jovial face with half moon. abov,
It. and when he has occasion to go t,
law he hunts up the half moon.
doc" he is called at home, doc
he is called by acquaintance all owe
the state. Doc he was called in TIL,
| state senate, and DOC" he will b.
called at Washington. The title b
Doc he is said to have got by carinl
for sick baby on a train some twent.
years ago.
Senator Purcell did not marry unit
he was about thirty-four years old
and he wed one OF Wahpeton's mos
charming women. who was. before he
marriage, Miss Myra Stevens. The.
have no children and live together II
one of Wahpeton' most homelil
homes. where the latchstring is al
ways ont to friends and where visitor
are always welcome. Mrs. Purcell i
b most lovable woman, who dislike
publicity, but, like her husband, en-
joys the company OF her friends.
Still Farmer.
Senator Purcell has never entirel.
given up farming. He began investing
In North Dakota soil as soon as he ha,