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Enoch was named for his Grandfather Berry. He was a farmer and brick mason. Residences & events in his life: 5/3/1859 Enoch was appointed guardian of a Mary E Purvis(relationship unknown). 1860 Moultrie Co, IL. In the census he and Mary had no children yetand cousin, John Purvis, 30, was living with them. 8/19/1862 Enoch enlisted to fight the Civil War with Co C of 126thReg, IL Volunteers. When he left he entrusted his property and familyto the care of his father. During his term of service he sufferedmuch of the time from various ailments, as did most of the troops. His activities were recorded in letters among the McPheeters family: 11/1862 "anything you wish to send me such as sockes etc can be sentby Lieut Powell or Enoch Purvis who are both at home on sickfurlough." 12/3/1862, from Camp Lagrange, TN: "Enoch Purvis joined us yesterday.we were all glad to see him, had heard time finding us, went toMemphis, expecting we were there. had to come back to Columbus, KY.came around by rail road to this place (Lagrange, TN). Capt Smyserhas reduced Enoch to the ranks. him and Capt. had quite a round aboutit this morning. Capt said the Col did it. Enoch went to the Col,asked him if he had reduced him. Col said your Capt requested me toreduce you, said you was incompetent to fill the office. Col sent forCap. when Capt came Enoch told him that Col told him that Captrecomended his removal. Capt denied it. Col sent for Adjutant, askedhim about it. Adjutant sided with Col. Capt still denied it. Colsaid Capt it is no used for you to deny it any more, said he, I neverhave reduced an officer without it being recomended by his superiorofficer. here it ended for the present. Smyser has appointed afellow as sargent in Enoch place that is as roten as he is himself." 1/5/1863, letter from Enoch at home to fellow soldiers: "when wecommenced fighting I was siting on the left side of the train eatingmy dinner. I could do nothing where I was and could hear no ordergiven until I heard them hollow to jump off. well I supposed theywere going to get off to fight and in jumping off I broke my foot andbadly injured my back and as soon as I got up the cars started back.then I thought I would get on the cars to keep from being takenprisoner. Then when you all started back you saw me left and heardthe captain tell me to stay there. I was left all alone. I crawledinto that old stockade and by the time you was out of sight twothousand rebels came up behind you and took my fort and me in it." /7/1863 "Purvis and Stewart are both at home, paroledprisoners.....Purvis will return (to his own unit) as soon asexchanged." 3/4/1863 "What is Enoch Purvis doing. Col has ordered him to reportto his Co. without delay." 4/5/1863 "Enoch Purvis was at St. Louis the last account. He haswrote for his wife to come and visit him. I suppose she will start ina few days. Why is he not ordered back to his Company." 4/9/1863 "general opinion....is that Enoch Purvis has come to theconclusion that he is going to share a deserters fate. He has sentfor his wife to come and see him. That looks very suspicious for ithasent been but about six weeks since he left here." 5/1/1863 "Enoch Purvis is still at St. Louis his wife is there withhim. Intends staying there until Enoch leaves there." 5/30/1863 "Ike Harness is going to buy the place that Enoch Purvislived on when he enlisted." (Ike was Enoch's brother-in-law.) 6/4/1863 "I am told that Enoch Purvis will not be able to march inconsequent of the injury to his foot at or near Humboldt (TN), and isplaced in the invalid corps, which is composed of all soldiers whoare unable to travel, but are able to perform duty in forts." 6/4/1863 "Ike Harness has bought of Squire Purvis the place EnochPurvis was living on when he volunteered, and will move on it in a fewdays. It was rented to Mr. Philips....Ike bought out his time thismorning." 9/6/1863 "I am told that Enoch Purvis has not yet received hisdescriptive roll. I wonder if it was sent to him? He is now at homeon furlough." 11/1/1863 "Enoch Purvis is in the I.C. is at Columbus Ohio." 11/28/1863 "I received a letter from E.B. Purvis a few days ago. heis in the 15th Regt. I.C. Co. They are stationed at Camp Chase, Ohio.Enoch says he was put in the I.C. by reason of deseas of the heart." Enoch is back with us. 12/19/1863 at Camp Douglas, Chicago: "I had a long talk with E.B.Purvis today, he looks well, & is doing well, has his Family withhim." 1/31/1864 "(Your) brother, Addison "stoped in Chicago a few hours,called on Enoch Purvis. He and his wife are still in Chicago guardingprisoners. his wife is performing the duties of a company Laundress." 4/4/1864 "I received an order from the War Depart. last week orderingme to prefer charges against E.B. Purvis and have him tried by aGeneral Court Marshal for desertion. I am looking for Enoch on everyboat that landes. Letters came in our mail to day directed to him.Capt Smyser did it all he reported him on all our muster rolls as adeserter, refused to send Enoch his descriptive roll when ordered soto do. Smyser wrote to Enochs Co and Regimental Commander, stated toboth that he was a deserter and asked that he be arrested and sentback to his Reg for trial. The case was refered to the War Dept. andEnoch was transfered to his Reg and Co for trial. I have no fears atall as to the result of Enochs trial as Smyser is out of the way. Ican in the position I now occupy do a great deal for Enoch. I shalluse every effort in my power to have him honerebly acquited andrestored to pay and duty." 7/19/1864 "I saw on last evening a letter from E.B. Purvis of the 8thInst to his friends here. He says that when he arrived at Cincinnation his way to his regiment, that he was arrested and taken toVicksburgh, and on the 26th April was placed in prison, and is thereyet in confinement. He thinks he is bneing very badly treated-isquite unwell-can not get such provision as he can eat, and has notreceived a single letter since he has been confined, and of courseknows nothin of you or any of his friends here.....He knows of nocharge against him except the old one mady by Smyser, of desertion,which he is anxious to have investigated. He says you and yourColonel have both, as he learns, sent orders for his return to hisregiment, but the Provost Marshall refuses to let him go. He is veryanxious to be releaved." 7/27/1864 "Squire Purvis has gone to Vicksburgh to see Enoch." Rankin McPheeters, now Capt McPheeters, was able to help Enoch and hewas eventually cleared of all charges. 10/17/1864 "Enoch Purvis is hearty and well, and enjoyes himselffinely. Enoch is one of the most careless & knowing soldiers that Ihave yet come across, he is not willing to take advice from any one.In fact he knows entirely to much for an American soldier." 12/30/1864 "Enoch is fleshier than I ever saw him and is tickledabout the news from home." 2/17/1865 "Purvis has been complaining for a week past but is againon duty." 4/1/1865, "Purvis has played out again. I have sent him up the riverto some Genl Hos(pital)-do not know where he will be stopped at. Wouldnot be much surprised to hear of him at home in 10 days. he isperfectly worthless as a soldier. I have done all I could to help himretrieve his character, but he may now go to the dogs if he chooses. Ishall give myself no more trouble about him." 5/22/1865 He was discharged from the service with the rank of Sgt. 4/7/1866 Enoch petitioned for the township and paid a school tax onhis property at T13 R6. 12/31/1870 He closed the year by buying 40 acres of railroad landlocated at S8 T13N for $8.00/acre. 9/2/1871 He paid a school tax for the same property as before. 7/1873 Chariton Co, MO. Feeling the westward ho fever, he moved. 9/1874 Moultrie Co, IL. Returning home he turned to farming again. 1875 E Nelson Twp, Moultrie Co, IL. He was listed in the atlas amongthe 1021 residents of the township as a land owner but was probablystill living in MO. Son Enoch was born there 1/1877. 10/1877 Cherokee Co, KS. Still having the itch, he tried going westagain. 4/1880 Moultrie Co, IL. 1880 Enoch was listed as a brick mason in the census. He was livingbetween his father and the elder Addison McPheeters. 1883 Germantown, NE. Moving with brother, Ephraim and John, thistime. 1/16/1885 Seward Co, NE. He and brother John were living in PrecinctF at census time while brother Ephraim lived in G. Enoch's familyconsisted of himself, Mary, and 4 children. Living with them was anAnn Medn, housekeeper from Prussia and Berry Angerston, boarder fromItaly. 9/8/1887 Germantown. Enoch testified from there in the matter ofEvaline Powell's application for a widow's pension. 1892 Leavonworth, KS, where he was living at the Nat'l Military Home. |
| There may be a burial discrepancy and this may not be the Enoch Purviswho was buried there. If he died in KS, was he shipped back home tobe interred? Cemetery records state recorded only that Enoch "N"Purvis, Sgt Co C 126th ILL Inf, was buried, no dates given. It is thecorrect service info but wrong middle initial. |