William H. Purcell (1887 - 1970)

Born Jan 1887 in Pike County, Illinois, USA

Ancestors

Died 1970 at about age 83 in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, USA

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Biography

William H. Purcell was born in January 1887 in Pike County, Illinois. He is the son of Aaron Purcell and Nellie Penny.^[1]

By 1900, his family had been scatted by marriage and divorce. William was farming with his dad and brother, Wiley, in Cincinatti township still in Pike county.^[2]

William married Goldie Ogbern on July 27, 1912, in Des Moines, Iowa, where they both lived at the time. It was the first marriage for both. George Gebard signed the affidavit and Hugh Brennan, judge, performed the marriage.^[1]

William Purcell died in 1970. He is buried next to his brother, Charley, in Pine Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.^[3]

Research Notes:

• Why would he be buried next to his brother? Where was Goldie buried?
• Where was William in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 Censuses?
• There is a 1915 Iowa census record for a William Purcell, age 25, 3118 E 8, Des Moines, Ward 5, Teamster, $700/1914 CY, b. Illinois, Father b. Illinois, Mother b. Illinois, married, can read and write, 7 years in Iowa.
• There are many entries in the Des Moines city directory:
  • 1908 - William H. and his brother, Charles E., were living together at 515 Center, both working as hostlers at Young and Patterson.
  • 1917 - William H. and his brother, Charles E., were living together at 806 Shaw, both working as laborers.
  • 1919 - Wm H, chauf, res 802 Shaw; Chas E, miner, res 624 SE 8th
  • 1922 - Chas E, miner, res 1013 E 6th
  • 1923 - Wm H, Capitol Hill Auto Paint & Top Shop, r1015 E 6th - NOT SURE THIS IS SAME Wm H; Chas E, miner, res 1013 E 6th
  • 1924 - Wm H, Capitol Hill Auto Paint & Top Shop, r1310 E 6th - NOT SURE THIS IS SAME Wm H; Chas E, Tile hlpr, D M Marble & Mantel Co, h1013 E 6th
  • 1926 - Wm H, Capitol Hill Auto Paint, Top Shop & Garage, h2528 Maury - NOT SURE THIS IS SAME Wm H; Chas E, Tile str, D M Marble & Mantel Co, h2508 Maury
  • 1929 - Wm H, Capitol Hill Auto Paint & Top Shop, r1310 E 6th - NOT SURE THIS IS SAME Wm H; Chas E, Hlpr, D M Marble & Mantel Co, h3510 Maury
  • 1933 - Wm H (Eliz, barber, Deans Barber & Beauty Shop), Capitol Hill Garage & Top Shop, h3047 Mahaska av - NOT SURE THIS IS SAME Wm H; Chas E (Edith M), Tile str, D M Marble & Mantel Co, h3116 State av
  • 1938 - Wm H, mgr Bill's Place, r202 E 5th; Chas E (Edith M), h2005 Delaware av
    • NOTE: This Wm H is most likely our William as family memorabilia includes a card from "Bill's Place" but at the address given in 1940 (i.e. 523 SE 6th)
  • 1939 - Wm H, beverages, r844 7th plus that in business section (also listed under Beverages in the business section Wm H, 1404 Keo Way); Chas E (Edith M), tile setter, h2005 Delaware av
  • 1940 - Wm H, beverages r844 7th plus those in business section (business section Wm H, 523 SE 6th & 1404 Keo Way); Chas E (Edith M), h2005 Delaware av
  • 1941 - William H, beverages, 521 SE 6th h do (also listed under Beverages in the business section with the same address); Chas E (Edith M), laborer WPA, h2005 Delaware
  • 1944 - William H, beverages, 521 SE 6th h do (also listed under Beverages in the business section with the same address); Chas E. (Edith), defense worker, h2005 Delaware av
  • 1946 - William H, beverages, 2821 E Euclid av (also listed under Beverages in the business section with the same address); Charles E. is not listed.
  • 1947 - William H, beverages, 1821 E Euclid av (also listed under Beverages in the business section with the same address); Charles E. is not listed.
• 1930 Census contains a William and Elizabeth Purcell in Des Moines. William is reported to be a repairman at an auto garage. Living at 3047 Mahaska St. Also lists a daughter, Thelma.^[4] Since the 1940 Census contains William and Goldie, it is unclear whether this is the same William Purcell.
• 1940 Census has a William and Goldie in Forest, Winnebago, Iowa. The ages for this William and Goldie match their marriage record. William is reported as born in Iowa, but our William was born in Illinois. William, Goldie, and the children were all reported as living in Des Moines in 1935. William reported completing 7th grade and Goldie 8th.^[5]However, it appears that William was in Des Moines at the time of the 1940 Census although he is not in the census in Des Moines.
• There is a Goldie H. Ogburn who married Charlie W. Irwin on 28 Oct 1920 in Salt Lake City, UT. This record does not include any information on her parents or birth date or place.^[6] This Goldie appears in a number of trees as the same one who married William. This seems unlikely:
  • The Goldie who married Charlie in UT had name Ogburn when married. Our Goldie would have been named Purcell.
  • Our Goldie was reported to be 19 when married to William but the UT-Goldie buried with William would have only been 18.
  • The UT-Goldie appears with Charlie in the 1930 Census in Idaho. Her age at first marriage is indicated as 27, our Goldie was 19. The UT-Goldie's parents were born in Iowa.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880-1940 (Ancestry.com)
2. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Cincinnati, Pike, Illinois; Roll: T623_337; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 111. (Ancestry.com)
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #64697246
4. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Des Moines, Polk, Iowa; Page: 23A; Enumeration District: 0081 (Ancestry.com)
5. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Forest, Winnebago, Iowa; Roll: T627_1213; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 95-6 (Ancestry.com)
6. ↑ Utah, Select Marriage Index, 1887-1985 (Ancestry.com)
7. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Burley, Cassia, Idaho; Roll: 398; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0014; FHL microfilm: 2340133 (Ancestry.com)