Columbia-Clinton-Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Purman, Willis H. 1843 - living in 1899

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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 8, 2005, 5:46 pm



Author: Biographical Publishing Co.



DR. WILLIS H. PURMAN. Columbia County enjoys the reputation of having in her

midst some of the most skilled physicians of the state, and not by any means the

least of them is the gentleman whose name appears above and whose portrait

precedes this sketch. Dr. Purman possesses that peculiar insight into the hidden

causes of various forms of disease which will ever be the greatest

recommendation of a successful physician. A case once definitely diagnosed loses

much of the dread that surrounds if, and the mistakes that are occasionally made

by even the best practitioners result invariably from an incorrect diagnosis.

Our subject was born in Clinton County, Pa., and is a son of the distinguished

physician, Dr. John K. Purman, grandson of Rev. Dr. Melchior Purman, and

great-grandson of Dr. John Purman.



  Dr. John Purman was a native of Germany and was graduated from the Medical

Science University of Germany; he practiced his profession in that country for

many years and then immigrated to America with his family, locating in New York

City, where he gained a wide reputation as a physician. Melchior Purman, the

grandfather of our subject, prepared himself for the ministry, and occupied a.

pulpit in Harrisburg for a number of years. He was joined in the bonds of

wedlock with a Miss Kimble, and they reared a family of four children, namely:

Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. Myers; Catherine, the wife of Mr. Bechtle; William,

deceased, who was prepared for the ministry; and John K., the father of our

subject.



  Dr. John K. Purman graduated in medicine and followed his chosen profession in

Harrisburg, Pa., but later retired to the village of Dauphin, Pa. He passed from

this life at the age of seventy-four years. During -his latter days he spent

many of his winters in Jacksonville, Fla. He chose for his life companion Sarah

Harter, a daughter of John Harter of Center County, Pa., and eight children

blessed their home, as follows: William J., a graduate of medicine, and

ex-Member of Congress, now residing in Washington, D. C., where he is engaged in

dealing in real estate: Louis C., a prominent physician of Washington, D. C.;

Willis H., whose name heads these lines; Mary, wife of William Taylor; Sadie,

wife of John A. Williams; Susan, whose first husband was M. O. White, formed a

second matrimonial alliance with John Wolf; Eliza, deceased; and Luella, wife of

George E. Tracy.



  Dr. Willis H. Purman commenced studying medicine with Dr. Ira M. Mitchell in

Jacksonville, Fla., after which he entered the University of Harvard, from which

he was graduated in 1886. Later he completed his education by taking a special

course in the University of Washington and the Medico-Chirurgical College of

Philadelphia, Pa. He then began practice in the Providence Hospital at

Washington, D. C, but subsequently removed to Northumberland, Pa., where he was

appointed physician and surgeon for the Pennsylvania & Erie R. R., continuing in

that capacity until 1895. At the expiration of that time he moved to Bloomsburg,

Columbia County, where, by the gentlemanly demeanor which he has manifested

toward every one, he has won the good-will and respect of the entire community.



  Dr. Purman was united in marriage with Anna E. Scheaffle, who also comes of a

prominent family of physicians, her father being Dr. C. W. Sheaffle of

Lewisburg, Pa. Her great-grandfather, a native of Germany, was a celebrated

physician and chemist of his day, and came to the United States with his son,

the grandfather of Mrs. Purman. Her brothers are physicians and pharmacists in

their respective localities, as follows: Wilson W. of Philadelphia; Ernest of

Murphy, Cal.; and Clarence C. of San Francisco, Cal. Her sisters are as follows:

Sarah, the wife of John Packer Haas, whose biography appears elsewhere in this

work; Laura, wife of William Sutton of Philadelphia, Pa.; and Nellie of

Washington, D. C.



  In politics our subject is a stanch Republican. Socially he is a member and

past grand of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 196; a member of the Knights of Malta;

and Patriotic Order Sons of America.



   Dr. Purman has kept in step with the wonderful advance made by his profession

during late years. He may be said to be wedded to his profession, and as he is,

by nature as well as by education, eminently qualified for his the most

benevolent of all professions, he commands and enjoys the respect and confidence

of his many patrons.





Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

  

  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District

  Published by 

  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)





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