Bartholomew-Hendricks-Marion County IN Archives Biographies.....Purvis, Mary E. (Mrs.) 1852 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 21, 2007, 7:27 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) MRS. MARY E. PURVIS. Woman's greatest power in the world comes through her influence. Although the result of this is immeasurable, it is none the less strongly felt. There are few people who have had a better influence upon the lives of those with whom they have come in contact than has Mrs. Mary E. Purvis, who for many years devoted her time and energies to the benefit of her fellow men, assisting the poor and needy, in relieving the sick and suffering and rendering aid in many ways to those who might be benefited by her timely efforts in their behalf. She is a lady of innate culture, possessing a spirit of Christianity which has permeated her entire life and work. Mrs. Purvis was born in Sand Creek township, Bartholomew county, Indiana, March 2, 1852, and is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hollowell) Newsom. Her birth occurred upon a farm, and when she was a little maiden of seven years her parents removed to Hendricks county, Indiana. There her father was appointed postmaster of Coatsville. He also dealt in grain and wool and acted as express agent, becoming one of the well known and leading business men of that place. His efforts in behalf of the public good were far-reaching and beneficial, and he contributed in no small degree to the improvement of the city in which he lived. Mrs. Purvis attended the common school until fourteen years of age, after which she pursued a scientific and classical course in Indianapolis. She also pursued a regular course in the city academy there, and when she was eighteen years of age she entered the Sand Creek Academy. She had almost completed her studies in that institution when her father's health failed and she was compelled to leave school on that account, as her father needed her care. While residing in Indianapolis her father has received an appointment as a teacher on the Indian Reserve, and at that time Mrs. Purvis also accepted a position as teacher and missionary there and was employed for seven years in that work prior to her father's death. He was also much interested in labors of a similar character and did much philanthropic work. He was one of the founders of the Colored Orphans' Home in Indianapolis, Indiana. The influences which surrounded Mrs. Purvis in her girlhood days and the atmosphere of helpfulness and humanitarianism which existed in her home led her to enter fields of labor whereby she has benefited her fellow men in many ways. In fact, throughout the greater part of her life she has been engaged more or less in mission work both in Indiana and elsewhere. She was employed as a trained nurse both in California and in this state and now has in her possession recommendations from the most eminent members of the medical fraternity in Indiana. While engaged in nursing she also had a great desire to do missionary work, and in fact extended her efforts into various departments of activity leading to the moral development of those with whom she was associated. She became a worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and her powers have been strongly felt in behalf of the cause of the abolition of the liquor traffic. She is widely known in Columbus, as well as elsewhere, as a lady of strong character, whose Christianity is exemplified in her daily life. For a time Mrs. Purvis was in Kokomo, Indiana, and later she spent some time in Oklahoma engaged in both teaching and in mission work, finding greatest delight in helping those who were in need of aid and encouragement in any way. She remained in Oklahoma for four years, and then went to a training school in St. Louis, Missouri, where she spent six months. At the end of that time she came to Columbus, Indiana. Her mission work has been in the line of visiting the poor as well as the rich, in placing good books where they would do the most benefit and in caring for the needy. She has deep sympathy, broad charity and a most kindly spirit. She has received the encouragement of many influential people in her work and the gratitude of a host whom she has benefited. On the 13th of March, 1899, Mary E. Newsom gave her hand in marriage to B. S. Purvis. Mr. Purvis is an affable and pleasant man and is well liked by those who have come in contact with him. Mrs. Purvis is still deeply interested in everything pertaining to the benefit of mankind along intellectual and moral lines, and the world is certainly better for her having lived. Though her influence cannot be measured by any known standard, it has been a potent factor in the amelioration of human suffering and of various conditions which are to the detriment of the race. It has also left its impress upon many lives, whose course has been thus checked on a downward path and turned toward something higher. Never can the record of her work be adequately written until it is read in the heart histories of those who owe to her a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/purvis709gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb