James was born on June 4, 1801 in Berwickshire, Scotland, son of George and Isabelle (Ingalls) Purves. He was apprenticed to a tailor when he was 10 years old, and served until he was 17. At 20 years of age, he obtained the position of foreman in one of the principal establishments in the city of Edinburgh, where he remained until March 18, 1828. He was married in Edinburgh in 1824 to Rebecca, daughter of Walter Wear. They started for America on the 4th of March, 1828, and landed in New York City on the 2nd of May.
He lived in New York about six months, then went to St. Lawrence Co., New York, and went into business for himself in the town of Waddington. Three years after, he bought a farm of 70 acres in an adjoining town and carried that on, in addition to his other business, until the summer of 1844, when he sold out both and started for Wisconsin, arriving at Racine on the 5th of August. He lived in Racine County, until Nov 3, 1847, then came with his family to Columbia County, and settled on a farm in Wyocena, having purchased it the previous year.
Mr. Purves was a Republican, and served as Town Treasurer for three terms, and Supervisor for several terms as well. James and Rebecca were members of the First Congregational Church of Wyocena.
He lived in New York about six months, then went to St. Lawrence Co., New York, and went into business for himself in the town of Waddington. Three years after, he bought a farm of 70 acres in an adjoining town and carried that on, in addition to his other business, until the summer of 1844, when he sold out both and started for Wisconsin, arriving at Racine on the 5th of August. He lived in Racine County, until Nov 3, 1847, then came with his family to Columbia County, and settled on a farm in Wyocena, having purchased it the previous year.
Mr. Purves was a Republican, and served as Town Treasurer for three terms, and Supervisor for several terms as well. James and Rebecca were members of the First Congregational Church of Wyocena.
James was born on June 4, 1801 in Berwickshire, Scotland, son of George and Isabelle (Ingalls) Purves. He was apprenticed to a tailor when he was 10 years old, and served until he was 17. At 20 years of age, he obtained the position of foreman in one of the principal establishments in the city of Edinburgh, where he remained until March 18, 1828. He was married in Edinburgh in 1824 to Rebecca, daughter of Walter Wear. They started for America on the 4th of March, 1828, and landed in New York City on the 2nd of May.
He lived in New York about six months, then went to St. Lawrence Co., New York, and went into business for himself in the town of Waddington. Three years after, he bought a farm of 70 acres in an adjoining town and carried that on, in addition to his other business, until the summer of 1844, when he sold out both and started for Wisconsin, arriving at Racine on the 5th of August. He lived in Racine County, until Nov 3, 1847, then came with his family to Columbia County, and settled on a farm in Wyocena, having purchased it the previous year.
Mr. Purves was a Republican, and served as Town Treasurer for three terms, and Supervisor for several terms as well. James and Rebecca were members of the First Congregational Church of Wyocena.
He lived in New York about six months, then went to St. Lawrence Co., New York, and went into business for himself in the town of Waddington. Three years after, he bought a farm of 70 acres in an adjoining town and carried that on, in addition to his other business, until the summer of 1844, when he sold out both and started for Wisconsin, arriving at Racine on the 5th of August. He lived in Racine County, until Nov 3, 1847, then came with his family to Columbia County, and settled on a farm in Wyocena, having purchased it the previous year.
Mr. Purves was a Republican, and served as Town Treasurer for three terms, and Supervisor for several terms as well. James and Rebecca were members of the First Congregational Church of Wyocena.
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