Charles S. Purcell

Sophia Wantland

Charles S. Purcell was born in Virgina on 1 September, 1800, and later moved to Tennessee.

Sophia Wantland was born 30 April 1802, probably in Tennessee.

They were married sometime prior to 1830, and moved to Marion County, Illinois in 1832. (The 1830 census of Sullivan County, TN, listed Charles Pursell, head of household, two males under five years, two females between five and ten, one female between twenty and thirty.)

They had the following children:

Susannah b. 1-8-1822 d. 5-5-1855

m. Joseph H. French

Abraham b. 11-17-1826 d. 1901

m. Susan Oglesby

Albert(?) b. d.

John F. b. d. before 1918

m. Lucinda Lackey

Thomas W. b. 7-18-1830 d. 3-20-1918

m. Eliza Hartline

Jemina (Sis) b. d.

m. William Carrigan

Charles S. b. 1834 d. 1895 buried Martin Cemetery

m. (1) Mary (2) Nancy J

Daniel b. 12-5-1835 d. 2-10-1838

William E. b. d.

Arthur b. d.

m. Lucinda Crippen

Girl b. d.

Family tradition says that Charles was the son of John Purcell (or Pursley), a Revolutionary War soldier. There was a John Purcell who was in the Revolutionary War, but it is not known for certain that Charles was his son. It seems likely Charles Purcell was a farmer, since most of his descendants were farmers. The early history of Marion County mentions that two brothers, Marshall and John Wantland, settled in Marion County in 1826, coming from Tennessee. Possibly Sophia was a relative of these brothers.

Charles Purcell died 12 November 1845, and Sophia died

1 November, 1845, when Thomas was only fifteen years old. They died of typhoid when an epidemic broke out. Both are buried at the Martin Cemetery, Alma, Illinois.