PURNELL, Fred Sampson
(1882 - 1939)
Arch Bobbitt, Republican State Chairman – I am very sorry to hear of the passing of former Congressman Purnell. He had many friends in Indiana. During his long service in Congress, he became an influential and respected member of that body. He was known throughout the country for his work and was an outstanding member of the agriculture committee while he was in Congress.”
President Herman B. Wells, Indiana University – “The passing of Fred S. Purnell will be mourned by Indiana University alumni everywhere. He was one of the university’s distinguished sons and one who was ever prompt to respond to a call from his alma mater. I personally treasured his friendship and I sorrow with thousands in Indiana at his passing.”
Among those who called at the hospital during were Richard N. Elliott, Connersville, Ind and Everett Sanders, Terre Haute, who served in Congress with Purnell. Mr. Purnell became a member of the “World War” Congress of 1917. He was a popular member of Congress, enjoying the esteem of his colleagues on both sides of the aisles. At the time of his retirement, a defeat by Virginia Jenckes in 1932, Purnell was a member of the Republican steering committee and the ranking member of the committee on agriculture. - kbz
PURNELL, Fred Sampson, a Representative from Indiana; born on a farm near Veedersburg, Fountain County, Ind., October 25, 1882; attended the common schools and the high school at Veedersburg; was graduated from the law department of Indiana University at Bloomington in 1904; was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Attica, Fountain County, Ind.; city attorney of Attica 1910-1914; resumed the practice of his profession; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth Congress; elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fifth and to the seven succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1917-March 3, 1933); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932 to the Seventy-third Congress and for election in 1934 to the Seventy-fourth Congress; resumed the practice of law in Attica, Ind.; moved to Washington, D.C., in April 1939 and served as an attorney in the General Accounting Office until his resignation on October 1, 1939; died in Washington, D.C., October 21, 1939; interment in Rockfield Cemetery, near Veedersburg, Ind.
US Congressional Biographies.
Waveland Independent, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, Oct 27, 1939
It is with regret that we note the death in Washington Saturday of Fred PURNELL. He had entered the Walter Reed Hospital Tuesday for treatment. He has been in bad health for the past two years. He was born in Fountain Co Oct 25, 1882. He graduated from IU Law School and practiced law in Attica until he became active in politics and represented the 9th Indiana District for 12 years. When the district was broken up and his county became part of the 6th district, he was again returned to Congress but went down in the 1932 landslide. While in congress he was ever attentive to the needs of his constituent. He was author of one of the early farm bills. Funeral services were held yesterday in the Veedersburg Christian Church.
Source: Indianapolis Star Sun 22 Oct 1939 p 1
Washington, Oct 21 – Fred S. Purnell, 57 years old, who represented the old Ninth Indiana District in Congress form 1917 to 1933, died today in Walter Reed Hospital of pneumonia.
Purnell, a Republican served on the House Agriculture and Rules Committees. He sponsored some important farm legislation, including a measure to permit patenting of agriculture products. He was the author of the Purnell Act, which increased the appropriations and broadened the scope of agricultural experiment stations and was sponsor of the $10,000,000 appropriation of 10 years ago for eradication of the corn borer. He assisted in the drafting and passage of the agricultural marketing act enacted by the special session of congress called by President Hoover to aid agriculture.
The widow and two sons, Samuel of New York and Fritz of Chicago survive. Burial will be at Veedersburg, Ind, Wednesday. Purnell was chairman of the Speakers’ Bureau of the Republican national committee during the 1936 campaign. His health had been poor for a year but he did not become seriously ill until a week ago. After failing to win reelection in 1932, Purnell returned to law practice in Attica, Ind but about two years ago took a position with the general account office here. Brief services will be held Sunday afternoon at a funeral home. Later the body will be taken to Veedersburg for services at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the home of a relative. Burial will be in Rockfield Cemetery.
Mr. Purnell was born south of Veedersburg, Fountain County, Indiana, Oct 25, 1882, the son of Samuel J. and Odessa (Furr) Purnell. Educated in the high school at Veedersburg, Indiana, he graduated from Indiana University in 1904 and married Elizabeth Shoaf of Veedersburg, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. FA Shoaf on June 27, 1907. Admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1904, he moved to Attica to practice law. He was city attorney four years.
Mr. Purnell was a member of the Christian (Disciples) Church, member of Delta Tau Delta and Phi Delta Phi fraternities, a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner. He was a member of the K of P Lodge in Attica, the Elks’ Lodge of Lafayette and the Columbia Club of Indianapolis.
Friends and political associates last night joined in tribute to the career of Fred S. Purnell. Comments from various Indiana citizens who had known him included:
Arch Bobbitt, Republican State Chairman – I am very sorry to hear of the passing of former Congressman Purnell. He had many friends in Indiana. During his long service in Congress, he became an influential and respected member of that body. He was known throughout the country for his work and was an outstanding member of the agriculture committee while he was in Congress.”
President Herman B. Wells, Indiana University – “The passing of Fred S. Purnell will be mourned by Indiana University alumni everywhere. He was one of the university’s distinguished sons and one who was ever prompt to respond to a call from his alma mater. I personally treasured his friendship and I sorrow with thousands in Indiana at his passing.”
J. Frank McDermond Jr publisher of the Attica Ledger-Tribune: “Fred Purnell was one of my closest friends and his death shocks me deeply. I can hardly believe it. We were together many years. His files are in my office and we shared the same desk. Only last week in Washington he confided to me his plans for the future and he seemed considerably buoyed up after our long talk at his home. I’m truly sorry.”
Washington Oct 21 – Fred S. Purnell, Attica, Ind, a member of Congress for 16 years, who died here today, entered the hospital Wednesday. He became progressively worse. He was able to recognize Judge Oscar Bland, formerly of Linton, Ind and once a colleague in Congress and a son, Fritz Purnell, who arrived form Chicago when they visited the hospital yesterday. But today he passed into a deep sleep that caused fear he would not live through the night. Mrs. Purnell and their two sons, Fritz and Sam, the latter arriving from New York, spent the day at his bedside, resigned to approaching death.
Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Mon 23 Oct 1939 p 10
Veedersburg Oct 22 – Fred S. Purnell who died in Washington was born south of Veedersburg, Fountain County, Indiana October 24, 1882 the son of Samuel J. and Odessa (Furr) Purnell. Educated in the high school at Veedersburg, Indiana he graduated from Indiana University in 1904 and married Elizabeth Shoaf of Veedersburg daughter of Dr. and Mrs. FA Shoaf on June 27, 1907. Admitted to the Indiana bar in 1904 he moved to Attica to practice law. He was city attorney for four years. Mr. Purnell was a member of the Christian (Disciples) Church, of Delta Tau Delta and Phi Delta Phi fraternities, a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of the K of P Lodge in Attica, the Elks’ Lodge of Lafayette and the Columbia Club of Indianapolis.
Veedersburg rites – Brief services were set for Monday morning in Washington after which the body is to be sent to Veedersburg arriving at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday. It will be taken to the home of Mrs. Purnell’s cousin, Mrs. WH Ross where it will remain until 1 p.m. Wednesday when it will be taken to the Christian Church to lie in state until the funeral at 2:30 o’clock. Burial in Rockfield Cemetery near Veedersburg..
Short Illness – Washington, Oct 22 – Fred S. Purnell of Attica, Ind who died Saturday evening entered the hospital Wednesday. He became progressively worse. He was able to recognize Judge Oscar Bland formerly of Linton, Ind and once a colleague in congress and a son, Fritz Purnell who arrived from Chicago when they visited the hospital yesterday. But today he passed into a deep sleep that caused fear he would not live through the night.
Family At Bedside – Mrs. Purnell and their two sons, Fritz and Sam the latter arriving from New York spent the day at the bedside, resigned to approaching death. Among those who called at the hospital during the day were Richard N. Ellitt, Connersville, Ind and Everett Sanders, Terre Haute who served in congress with Purnell. Mr. Purnell became a member of the World War Congress of 1917. He was a popular member of congress, enjoying the esteem of his colleagues on both sides of the aisles. At the time of his retirement, a defeat by Virginia Jenckes in 1932, Purnell was a member of the republican steering committee and the ranking member of the committee on agriculture
Office in Attica – Oct 22- Fred S. Purnell had maintained an office in the Attica Ledger-Tribune building for 14 years, J. Frank McDermond Jr. publisher of the newspaper and his close friend said. Mr. McDermond only recently returned from Washington where he had dinner with the Purnell family and was deeply shocked
When he was informed of the former Indiana representative’s death. The publisher and Mr. Purnell talked far into the night following the dinner, Mr. McDermont said and Mr. Purnell told of plans, health permitting to resign his post with the general accounting office and accept an offer from Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio as a manger for Taft’s campaign for the republican nomination for the presidency. Mr. McDermond who was appointed postmaster here in 1931 by President Hoover in Mr. Purnell’s recommendation said that the former representative had many of his filed and correspondence in the Ledger-Tribune offices.
Left Attica in 1937 – Mr. McDermond added that the former representative had many of his friend’s correspondence. Mr. Purnell left Attica for his government post about Christmas 1937 after recovering from an illness early in the fall. He had been in fairly good health since that time.
File Created: 2006-Aug-29
