BIO: Howard G. PURNELL, M.D., Clearfield County, PA
 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/

NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm
_____________________________________________________________

From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, page 581.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  HOWARD G. PURNELL, M. D., who has been engaged in medical practice at 
Ansonville, Pa., for the past nineteen years, and is county physician for both 
Knox and Jordan townships, Clearfield county, also having the largest country 
practice in Clearfield county.  He was born at Georgetown, Sussex county, Del., 
July 1, 1869, and is a son of Hon. Charles T. and Maggie (Wingate) Purnell.
  Charles T. Purnell, who is now mayor of Georgetown, Del., for many years was 
engaged in lumbering.  For ten years he was deputy sheriff of Sussex county and 
for four years was sheriff.  The family is one of prominence in that section.  
Dr. Purnell is the eldest born of his parents' family, the others being:  
Mattie, who is the wife of Dr. George Messick; Mary, now deceased, who was the 
wife of Eben Townsend; and Anna, who is the wife of George Sharpley.
  Howard G. Purnell was educated in the public schools of Georgetown and the 
Newark Delaware College, and then studied pharmacy and was graduated in the same 
at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.  For eight years afterward he was in 
the drug business in Philadelphia, and then turned his attention to medicine, 
entering Jefferson Medical College, where he was graduated April 1, 1892.  For 
two years prior to locating at Ansonville, he served as resident physician in 
the Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia.  He was one of the founders of the 
Clearfield Hospital and gave much of his time to the work.
  Dr. Purnell was married in April, 1900, to Miss Cora Straw, a daughter of John 
T. and Priscilla (Barrett) Straw, the former of whom was county commissioner of 
Clearfield county and a man of public worth.  Mrs. Purnell has one brother and 
six sisters, namely:  John; Myrtle, wife of Stewart Williams; Iva Belle; Carrie, 
wife of Clyde Bollinger; Blanche, wife of Benjamin Gates; Nora and Sarah.  Dr. 
and Mrs. Purnell have three sons:  Charles, John and Garrett.  They attend the 
Baptist church.  Dr. Purnell is a Democrat in his political views and is serving 
as school director.  He is a man who stands very high in the esteem of his 
fellow citizens both personally and professionally.  He is identified with the 
Masonic fraternity at Georgetown, Del.