Photos of Purgitt/High Cemetery
with tombstones of many of the descendants of William S., Sr.
Census listings: William Purget (wife Sidney Foley) lists one slave in 1840, Rachael is again listed with this William in 1870 (she is age 60), with Nashville (grandson of William) in 1880 and with William (son of William, Sr., father of Nashville) in 1900. She is not listed with William in 1850 or 1860 (but 1850 Slave Schedule for Hampshire county, a William Purget is listed as owning one slave). She could have been with the Athey family at this time? In a deed dated August 17, 1858 between William Purgit and Granville Shoemaker, William granted to Granville the following property: two wheat stacks, three rye stacks, one oat stack, six hay stacks, fifty head of sheep, thirty head of hogs, one wagon, four ploughs, four sets of gears, one negro woman called Rachel, in trust to secure to Geo. Shoemaker the payment of two notes, the first bearing date of the 5th day of June, 1850 payable the 6th day of June, 1850 for thirty dollars and fifty five cents, the 2nd bearing date the 29th day of October 1856 & payable the 30th day of Oct 1856 for $50.53, also to secure to Granville Purgit the payment of one note dated the 7th day of August 1858 for three hundred dollars payable the 9th(?) day of August 1858, also the payment of one note to Frederick Purgit of the state of Ohio for $100, all executed by the said William Purgit payable to the said above named men.
William S. Purgit was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War, enlisting at Romney, West Virginia on 18 May 1861. He was a Corporal and deserted on 20 June 1861 [5]. In 1855, he was postmaster at New Creek Station (Keyser) and wrote his Diary of William S. Purgitt, 1865. In the introduction to this diary, William is described as a large man, six feet four inches tall, weighing over 250 pounds. He was listed as a Justice of the Peace. He is also listed as the enumerator for the veterans of the war [6]. In the diary, William states in that Jno. High is an uncle. This is probably Amelia/Areliah's mother, Margaret High, who had a brother named John. He and Areliah had eight children [7], Dalton (Lorenzo Dow), William S., Issac Cassin, Nashville Sommerfield, Martha Katerine (Kate), James S., Edgar C. and Minnie Bell. The family lived in Purgittsville, Hampshire County, West Virginia.
Later he married Susan Jane ROGERS, also daughter of John Skinner Rogers, born on 30 August 1859 (born 1867 in Mineral County, West Virginia; Decendants of Aron John Fitz Roger lists her birth as 30 August 1859) on 08 or 11 August 1888 at Cabin Run [9]. They had two children. Lucy, and Ella. Decendants of Aron John Fitz Roger lists three children: Lucy K. born on 20 November 1889 in Moorefield; Ella A. born ca. 1891; and Statton R. born on 8 August 1893 at Moorefield and died on 13 April 1895. There is a Statton Purgit, b. 1893, died 1895. Parents unknown. In Vicki Bidinger Horton, Hampshire County Death Records (1866-1922). Green Spring, West Virginia: privately printed, 1993. Record #3326 Purgit, Statton, single, white, male, d. 13 Apr 1895, 1y 8m 5d, Hampshire, b. Hampshire, Book 1, page 89.
Lorenzo Dow died on 11 November 1896 at 45 years old (but see Vicki Bidinger Horton, Hampshire County Death Records (1866-1922). Green Spring, West Virginia: privately printed, 1993. Record #3323 Purget, L.D., white, male, d. 11 May 1896, 44y 8m 22d, Mill Creek District, father Purget, W.S., b. Mar 1859, Informant father, book 1, p. 62). According to the Decendants of Aron John Fitz Roger, Lorenzo Dow died on 11 May 1896 at Moorefield, Hardy county.
Susan Jane Rogers Purgitt (after the death of Lorenzo Dow) married Hiram Nelson KELLEY on 14 June 1899 (Hiram born 05 March 1847, died 19 July 1920, a Brethern minister, he had twelve children by his first wife: John who married Elizabeth Wilson, Mary who married George S. McGEE, Annie who married Nelson ARNOLD, Orpha who married John AGNEW, Ora who married Jim WILSON, Sadie who married George BAILEY, Bertha who married Robert RINKER, Ida who married Harry SHANK, Aranah who married Sensoney POWELL, Charles who married Margaret HELMAN, Robert who was unmarried and Jonah who married Rebecca HIGH. Hiram and Susan had two more children: Willia Kelly who married Daniel SHEARS, Emma Kelly who married Raymond HINKLE. (ref. Allegheny Passage - Beaver Run pp.293)
5. Grace Olive Purgitt was born 24 October 1881 in Moorefield, Hardy County, West Virginia. She married Cuthbert Elijah HIGH on 01 January 1901 in Mineral County, West Virginia (ref. L.D.S.). Cuthbert was born ca. 1879. Grace was born in 1881 and died on 13 January 1903, age 21 yrs., 2 months, 19 days. Grace Olive is buried in the Purgit High Cemetery at Purgitsville, WV. Child of Grace and Cuthbert was Brook HIGH (born on 12 August 1903 in Hardy county, West Virginia).
5. Oren Carr Purgitt was born 23 March 1884 in Moorefield, Hardy County, West Virginia. Oren Carr died on 10 October 1962 is is buried in Indian Mound Cemetery, Romney, WV. On 19 March 1905, he married Nettie HIGH (born 15 or 25 December 1884 and died 04 May 4 1925, her parents were Alonzo Tecumseh HIGH and Ann Jemima RINKER). They had one son Alonzo Dow born 24 September 1906 in Hardy county and died on 05 October 1988.
6. Alonzo Dow Purgitt was born 24 September 1906 and died 05 October 1988 . He married Nina G. WHITEMAN (born 03 January 1907 and died 14 July 1986). Both were born in Hardy County, West Virginia (ref L.D.S.)
5. Nannie was born on 12 or 14 June 1885 in Moorefield, Hardy county and died on 28 October 1885, age four months, sixteen days. Nannie is buried beside her parents in a small cemetery about four miles south of Purgitsville, on the east side of US 220. The three graves are well marked with original headstones.
5. Lucy Purgitt was born 20 November 1889 and died 03 February 1979 and married Harry Fisher SHANK.
5. Ella A. Purgitt, born ca. 1891 in Moorefield, Hardy county. Ella married William HIGH in 1910 in Mineral county. William was born ca. 1884 in West Virginia. Children of Ella A. and William: Faye C. born on 31 October 1911 in Mineral county, Mary M. born on 24 December 1912, Catherine L. born on 05 August 1916, Edna A. born on 12 December 1916, and Myrtle M. born on 06 April 1919.
5. Mary Purgit ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville) was born in 1879 and died 04 February 1900. Mary's tombstone in the Purgit-High cemetery reads: Mary M., Died Feb.4, 1900. Age 20 yrs, 10 mos., 25 days. On 19 March 1896 she married Alonzo Tecumsa SHOEMAKER. They had one son, Eugene born in 1896 and one daughter, Hazel. Eugene Shoemaker shows up on the 1900 census as age 4 living with Nashville and listed as grandson.
5. Myrtle Frederick Purgit ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville) was born 02, June 1880 in Purgittsville, Hampshire County, West Virginia. She grew up in the Purgitt-High house. On 15 January 1902 she married William Alonzo WHITEMAN in Junction, Hampshire County, West Virginia. He was born 28 Oct. 1875 in Junction, son of James T. and Harriet Biser Whiteman.. Myrtle was a member of the Beaver Run Brethren Church and until she became ill and blind. She was always helping her neighbors in times of need (ref. Obituary). William died 15 May 1952 in Junction and Myrtle died 02 October 1958 at Hill Crest Nursing Home, Winchester, Virginia. Both are buried in Arnold Cemetery in West Virginia. They had seven children: Earl Harlow, Fred Taylor, Ruth Purgitt, Frank Lee, Hattie Lillian, William Armand, and James Chester.
6. Earl Harlow Whiteman (1. Henry 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5, Myrtle ) was born 05 January 1902 in Junction, Hampshire County, West Virginia. He died on 09 April 1978. He married Ethel Loretta HICKLE on 21 Nov. 1923. She was born 07 April 1905 and died 17 February 1987.
6. Fred Taylor Whiteman (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Myrtle ) was born on 29 September 1904 in Junction, West Virginia. And died 05 October 1993 in Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio. He married Ruth McDEVITT 26 March 1927. She was born on 31 July 1905 and died on 06 Dec. 1972 in Scio, Harrison County, Ohio.
6. Ruth Purgitt Whiteman (. 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Myrtle ) was born on 04 Oct 1906 in Junction and died on 10 July 1909.
6. Frank Lee Whiteman (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Myrtle ) was born on 12 Nov. 1908 in Junction, Hampshire County, West Virginia and died on 02 October 1997 in Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio He married Goldie Marie WILDS on 31 December 1928 in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. She was the daughter of James and Mary Elizabeth Harris Wilds. They had 5 children. (Joettes line) [email protected]
6. Hattie Lillian Whiteman ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3.William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Myrtle ) was born on 31 December 1910 in Junction, and died 14 February 1992 in West Virginia. She married Sloan T. STAGGS on 14 August 1929. Sloan was born on 18 November 1905 and died on 28 February 1981.
6. William Armand Whiteman ( 1. Henry 2.,William, 3. William S. 4. Nashville, 5. Mrytle ) was born on 09 April 1913 in Junction and died on 24 Oct 1938. William married Emma M. DUNN on 06 July 1935. She was born abt. 1915, died unknown
6. James Chester Whiteman ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Myrtle ) was born on 03 March 1916 in Junction and died 27 October 1995 in Junction. James married Dorothy PYLES on 25 June 1941.
5. Edith Mabel Purgit ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville ) was born on 11 November 1881 in Purgittsville, Hampshire County, West Virginia. On 15 March 1903 she married William Edward JUNKINS, son of Charles E. Garver and Winifred Catherine White Junkins. William was born 01 May 1885 in Bayard, West Virginia. Edith grew up in the Purgitt-High home, and after her marriage they lived in Bayard, West Virginia. She was a member of the United Methodist Church. William was an electrician in the mines and was paralyzed in a mine accident in about 1917. Edith supported the family as a seamstress after the accident. William died on 18 February 1943 and Edith died on 22 March 1973. They are both buried in Bayard Cemetery, West Virginia. They had four children: Vivian Lenore, Ina Mary Catherine, Ralph Carlton, and Rachel.
6. Vivian Lenore Junkins ( 1. Henry 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Edith ) was born on 13 September 1903 in Bayard and died on 01 July 1992. Vivian married Peyton Fox PARKER on 24 November 1924. Peyton was born on 30 September 1901 and died on 22 January 1970. They are both buried in Indian Mound Cemetery, Romney, West Virginia.. They had 2 children.
6. Ina Mary Catherine Junkins ( 1. Henry 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Edith ) was born on 26 February 1906 in Bayard, West Virginia and died 16 November 1997 in Boise , Idaho. Ina married Richard Sommers BEST on 12 July 1926. He was born on 17 October 1905 and died on 29 September 1977. They are both buried in Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Maryland (outside Washington, DC ). They had one child.
6. Ralph Carlton Junkins ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Edith ) was born on 10 July 1908 in Bayard and died on 02 January 1984 in Hampshire County West Virginia. Ralph married Jeanette Isabelle McCALLUM on 06 June 1940. Jeanette was born on 05 January 1915 and died on 05 May 1979. Ralph died on 02 January 1984 at his winter home in Lake Wales, Florida and both are buried in Bayard, West Virginia. Ralph married (second) Elsie Francis POLAND on 28 May 1980. Elsie was born on 23 February 1911 and died on 19 July 2000. No children.
6. Rachel Purgit Junkins (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville, 5. Edith ) was born on 02 February 1917 in Kempton, Maryland. Rachel grew up in Bayard, West Virginia. She married Rudolph Henry LONG on 19 Oct. 1946. He was born on 17 November 1920 and was a graduate of Pennsylvania State College and served in the U.S. Army. He retired from Bethlehem Steel. Rachel graduated from Bayard High School, Capital City School of Nursing, Washington, DC. She also served as a First Lieutenamt in the Army Nurse Corps. They had 3 children, Susan is the second child. (Susans line) [email protected]
5. Alice Purgit (1. Henry 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nashville ) was born abt. 1882 in Purgittsville, Hampshire County, West Virginia. Alice married -?- LANDACRE in ca. 1902. They had 3 daughters, Edith, Elva, and Alice.
5. Edna Lenore Purgit ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S. 4. Nash ) was born abt. 1886 in Purgittsville, Hampshire County, West Virginia. Edna married Gisbon Russell PARKER in ca. 1906 and they had five children. After he died, Edna married James R. BLACKBORN. They had no children. Edna died in August after 1958 in Wichester, Virginia, after a two year illness. She is buried in the Parker Family Cemetery, Junction, West Virginia.. Her obituary lists her children as Forrest , John and Clifford Parker, Mrs. Fred Holsberry, and Mrs. Carl Saville.
5. Lillian Purgit ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nash ) was born on 06 February 1888 in Purgittsville, Hampshire County, West Virginia. In 1908 she married James DAVEY. Lillian died on 04 March 1935 in Dayton, Ohio and is buried in Bloomingsburg Cemetery, Washington, Ohio. They had two children.
6. Irma Davey ( 1. Henry , 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Nash , 5. Lillian ) was born in Romney, Hampshire County, West Virginia. In 1926 Irma married Walter Morris. They had seven children. The fifth child is Sharons line [email protected].
5. Margery Katherine �Madge� Purgitt (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Edgar ) was born 14, Sept. 1891 in Keyser, Mineral County, West Virginia. She married Frank Keyes HALBRITTER who was born 05 February, 1893 in the �Old Keyes House� in Keyser, one of 12 children born to Henry and Ella Jones Halbritter. The following are portions of materials and letters sent to Diane by Ron Halbritter, grandson of Frank and Madge, [email protected]. Information also from Janet Kulick [email protected] who is a granddaughter. Ron Halbritter has done extensive research on the Halbritter family, tracing it back to 1267. He has written a history of the Halbritter family in America titled Die Geschichte Der Familie Halbritter that provides information about Madge Purgitt. �Frank Keyes Halbritter was born 05 Feb. 1893 in the old Keyes place in Keyser, West Virginia. His parents gave their children middle names from the places where the children were born. He married Madge Purgitt in Keyser, Mineral County, West Virginia. In 1911, Frank, Madge, Franks� sister Lena and husband Orville Harrison and their two daughters headed for government homestead land seven miles north of Medena, Utah. It took them five days by rail to get there to stake out adjoining landsite. Madge was pregnant and on 28 June 1911 and gave birth to a son while still living in a tent. Her midwife was her 12 year old niece, since Frank had ridden off for the doctor. He was the first non-Indian baby born in the Escalante desert The Mexican peons called him Don and so he came to be called Don Escalante. Two more children were born in that desert in Utah. By 1916, they had proven up their homestead of 324 acres and paid their $27.00. They had a 12 by 14 foot house, with a 10 by 12 foot addition; partially fenced with one wire and a hand dug well 185 feet deep which had no water. The first year they planted one acre of corn and 1/4 acre of potatoes, but there was no harvest due to a drought. The second year they planted 21 acres of corn, but again no harvest due to a drought. The third year they planted 40 acres of rye and harvested 6 loads of hay. The fourth year they planted 40 acres of rye. Failing to get or find water, they returned to Keyser, West Virginia. Frank moved his family from Keyser to Grazierville, Pennsylvania, and then to a permanent home in Fuoss Mills, Pennsylvania. Marge died in 1941 and Frank died 05 August 1968 and is buried in Charlottsville Cemetery Bellwood, Pennsylvania. They had eight children: Don Escalante b. 1911 - d. 28 November 1985, Eulala b. 18 November 1913 - died 15 March 1938, Rex b. 17 April 1916 - killed by a hit and run driver on 12 January 1934, Richard Kies b. 15 January 1918 - d. 09 August 1979, Earl, Dean, Velma Irene married MINER, Ralph Eugene �Gene.�
5. John W. Purgitt (1. Henry 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Edgar ) b. 1898 - died 1975 buried Queenspoint Cemetery, Mineral County, West Virginia.
5. Fred A. Purgitt ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Edgar ) b. 1908 died 1951 buried Queenspoint Cemetery, Mineral County, West Virginia.
5. Edgar K. Purgitt ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Edgar )
5. Paul Purgitt (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Edgar )
5.Elelka D. Purgitt (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Edgar )
5. Minnie E. Purgitt ( 1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S., 4. Edgar )
5. Eulala C. Purgitt (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. William S. 4. Edgar )
3. Martha A. Purget was born circa 1833 in Mineral County, West Virginia. According to William's diary, she married a DAVIS and moved to Clark County, Ohio. The following information is from descendant Deb Lennon. Martha A. Purgett, born circa 1833 in Virginia, married Dennis Davis (1822-1880). Children:
3. Granville Purget was born 1837 in Mineral County, Virginia, now West Virginia (ref. 1900 Census). The census for Pike Township, Madison County, Ohio lists Granville as age 62, born July 1837 in West Virginia. Granville died on 12 September 1905 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery near Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio. On 06 April, 1880 he married Anna M. FARRINGTON in Madison County, Ohio (re. Marriage certificate). Anna was the daughter of John R. and Matilda Barnet Farrington of Madison County, Ohio. She must have died sometime after 1883 and before 1900, since we find Granville and his son William Earl living with his in-laws in the 1900 census. In the 1910 census for Madison County, Ohio we find William Earl living with his Aunt Amy Alice Farrington. Granville and Anna had two children, Florence and William Earl.
5. William Earl Purgit, Jr. (1. Henry, 2. William, 3. Granville, 4. William Earl ) was born on 02 August 1917 in Madison County, Ohio. In 1936 he married Thelma Neil HALLEY daughter of Ira Henry and Jessie Estella Phillips Halley. Thelma was born on 17 March 1921 in Champaign County, Ohio. They had four children. William Lawrence �Larry�, Ira Durrell �Dee-Dee, Joyce Anne, and Wilma Lynn. In 1952 William Earl married Dolly LEBKISHER. In 1946 Thelma married Roscoe D. ANDERSON. William died on 04 June 1990 (Springfield News - Sun, Tuesday, June 5, 1990, p. 12) and Thelma died on 13 December 1997. Both are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Champaign County, Ohio. Information was obtained from Wm. L. "Larry" Purgit, Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio and census readings. Contact person is Wilma Dillon A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]
[1]. No source
[2]. Hampshire Review, Vol. 30, No. 7: Nov. 6, 1912 (Wednesday). Wm S. Purgit Dead. Wm S. Purgit, one of the oldest citizens of the county, died at his home at Purgitsville Friday last, after a long illness of Bright's disease. For some years following the War, he was deputy collector of Internal Revenue for the District and was postmaster at Purgitsville for nearly half a century, barring a few years. The funeral occurred Sunday from the Church at Purgitsville, conducted by Revs. Neal and burgess and interment in the family burying ground. Also, Vicki Bidinger Horton, Hampshire County Records (1816-1923). Green Spring, West Virginia: privately printed, 1994, p. 171. W.S. Purgitt, Purgittsville, 1 Nov 1912. Note: Mineral County, West Virginia Deaths 1866-1925 online at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvminera/deaths17.htm has a W. S. Purgitt d. 31 August 1888. This is probably his wife Areliah's death record.
[3]. Vicki Bidinger Horton, Hampshire County Records (1816-1923). Green Spring, West Virginia: privately printed, 1994, p. 154. Mrs. Wm S. Purgitt, Purgittsville, d. 31 Aug 1888. Vicki Bidinger Horton, Hampshire County Death Records (1866-1922). Green Spring, West Virginia: privately printed, 1993. Record #3325 Purget, A.A., white, female, d. Aug 1888, 60y, Mill Creek District, b. Hampshire, Informant husband, consort Wm S. Purget, Book 1, page 47.
[4]. No source
[5]. NARA Civil War record, Purgett, William S., Co. I, 13 Virginia Infantry, #1385. American Civil War Database, Soldiers in the 13th Virginia Infantry.
[6]. No source
[7]. No source
[8]. No source
[9]. Mineral County Marriage Notices from the Mineral Daily News 1879-1880 and Mineral County Marriage Notices from the Mineral Daily News 1888. Online at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvminera/marriage.html. Family History Library: film #1985452 lists Margaret Ann Rogers, b. 16 April 1879, Cabin Run, Mineral county, West Virginia; film #1985707 lists Margaret Ann Rogers m. Lorenzo Dow Purgitt, 11 November 1880, Mineral county West Virginia and Susan Jane Rogers m. Lorenzo Dow Purgitt, 8 November 1888, Cabin Run, Mineral county, West Virginia.
Last modified
12 Sep 18