Biography of James H. Purkins, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company Hon. James H. Purkins has for thirty-two years been a resident of Randolph County, Ark., and during his long residence here has become well known, and has won the respect of all with whom he has come in contact. He possesses a fine education and excellent natural abilities, and is deserving of a more extended sketch than the nature of this work will permit; suffice it to say that his life has been a success both in material affairs and in the esteem which has been accorded him among those with whom he has so long made his home. He was born, reared and educated in Essex County, Va., the former event taking place in the year 1814. From early boyhood he has been familiar with farm life, and as his father was a prosperous merchant he spent much of his time in the store. He was married at the age of twenty-two years to Miss Clementina Singleton, and to their marriage twelve children have been born, three of whom are now living: Eliza, wife of Dr. Esselman; Clement W. and Rena S. After residing in his native State and following the occupation of merchandising until 1856, Mr. Purkins removed to Missouri, and settled the following year in Randolph County, Ark. He entered a tract of land on Current River [p.420] which he tilled until 1862, when he entered the Confederate army, but was sent home after a few months by Gens. Vandorn and Price as a recruiting officer, and held the position of captain. In 1860 he had been elected to the State legislature, and in 1862 he was re- elected and served out his time. In 1866 he was elected senator from Randolph and Greene Counties, and was serving his constituents while the senate was in session in the State house at Little Rock in 1867, when Gen. Ord with Federal troops was ordered by Congress to disperse the General Assembly of Arkansas. He refused afterward to become a candidate for office, but in 1877 he was elected to the office of county judge. After the war he clerked for various merchants in Pocahontas, and now owns about thirty-five acres near the town, which he rents out. The most of his children died in childhood, and within one week of each other, of pneumonia. One son, James W. by name, was a Confederate soldier from the time he was fifteen years of age, but was killed at Glasgow, Mo., at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Purkins is a son of W. H. and Ann (Howerton) Purkins, who were Virginians, where they were reared and married, and became the parents of six children, of whom Hon. James H. is the only one now living. The father was a merchant and farmer by occupation, and from the time he was twenty-one years of age until his death at the age of sixty-seven years he held office under the State. He was a captain in the War of 1812, and while away from home, serving his country, his son, James H., was born, and he did not see him until he was nearly one year old. His wife died about the same age as himself. The grandfather, Gideon Purkins, and his father were both Virginians, former of whom was a soldier in the War of 1812 and died at a very old age. The great-great-grandfather Purkins was a native of England, and came to America in Colonial times. The maternal grandfather was of Scotch descent, and was born in Essex County, Va. He was a captain in the Revolutionary War, being on the side of the Colonists, and until the day of his death at the age of ninety-eight years kept his uniform. Mr. Purkins, the subject of this sketch, is a member of the Baptist Church, is a Democrat in his political views, and belongs to the Chapter and Blue Lodge in the A. F. & A. M. His first wife died in 1868, and he afterward espoused Miss Ava Payne, who died after having borne one child, James E. His third wife, who was a widow, died two years after her marriage with Mr. Purkins.