Purnell - Fred S.
(1882 - 1939)
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.