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submitted by Mary Lou Barrett |
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Peter Purcell
Peter Purcell, son of John, was born in Leeds Co, Canada, August 22, 1831. At the age of 22 he married Mary Ann Barden, who was the daughter of James Barden, a Presbyterian Minister with red hair, who lived in Ireland. Mary Ann was born in Wicklow Co, Ireland, in 1834, of Scotch Irish parents. Mr. Barden was a widower and was planning on going to Canada so he sent his six-year-old daughter on ahead with his housekeeper and her eighteen-year-old daughter. On the way, the housekeeper died on board ship and the daughter raised Mary Ann, a family named Dagger Dack. They lost track of the father in Ireland.
Peter's father John Purcell, born 1795, was a native of Bantry Bay, near Cork, Ireland. He came to Canada in a sailing ship in 1826, accompanied by his sister, Jane and her husband George Forbes. John Purcell married Rachel Hill of Irish descent. They resided in Kitley Twp., Leeds Co, Canada, living in a large stone house about 6 miles from Smith Falls. John and Rachel had eleven children, Peter, Edward, William, James, Robert, John, Ann, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret.
Peter Purcell came to Michigan as a young man, to work in the lumbering camp and his location was unknown to his family. Finally a friend of the family from Canada heard his name, and looked him up. Peter, a huge man, arrived from work, and the family friend greeted him, "Aren't you a long way from home?" After Peter and Mary Ann Purcell married they moved to Caledonia, Livingston Co, New York in 1865, then in 1871 they moved to Garfield, Newaygo Co, Michigan. Mary Ann died March 17, 1895 and Peter died February 9, 1905. They are both buried in Newaygo Cemetery.
Peter's obituary stated:
"He was a kind father and a good neighbor and although he never made a public profession of religion, during one of his illnesses he called for a minister and committed himself to God."
Mary Ann Barden Purcell's obituary stated:
"Kind and affectionate mother, always administering to her children and sharing their troubles as old a mother can. As a wife, mother, friend, and disciple of Jesus, she was truly worthy of all praise and yet she bore herself so modestly and namely that the busy world was ignorant of the value of her life."
Peter and Mary Ann Purcell had four sons and six daughters. Joseph Purcell b 1854, Canada, m Mary Myers; Louise Purcell, b 1856 m Francis Pike; Jennie Purcell, b 1860 Canada, m Albert Sutliff; John Purcell b 1862, d young (twin to Edward); Edward Purcell, b 1862, m Rosa King; Elizabeth Purcell b 1865 Canada, m Charles Cattanach; Robert Purcell, b 1868 in New York, m Julia Crandell; Mamie Purcell, b 1870, m John Sterling; Effie Purcell, b 1872 m James Murphy; Geraldine Purcell b 1876, m1 Riffner, m2 Frank Caldwell.
Many descendants of the Purcell family still reside in Newaygo County and the Purcell farm is a Centenial Farm still owned by the Purcell family.
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