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 F. PURTILL, of the firm of Woods & Purtill, publishers of the Mattoon Journal, is a practical printer and has been connected with the Journal in various capacities for eighteen years, working first at the case, then becoming associated with Mr. Woods as equal partner. He has principal charge of the mechanical department, and the Journal under their management has attained to a creditable position among the newspapers of Central Illinois. Mr. Purtill was born in Chicago, Ill.. Nov. 19, 1848, and is the son of Richard and Ann (Fowler) Purtill, the former a native of Limerick, Ireland, and the latter of Jersey City, N. J. Richard Purtill left his native Erin in 1840, and settled first in Toronto, Canada, where he followed the trade of a boot and shoe maker, which he had learned of his father, Henry, on the other side of the water. He was one of two children born to his parents, the other child being a daughter, Matilda, who was married in Ireland, to William Kasan, and they afterward removed to Chicago, where her death took place in 1859. Richard Purtill followed his trade in Canada until 1841, then, going to Chicago, engaged in porkpacking with his brother-in-law, Mr. Kasan. They continued together until 1855, and then Mr. Purtill engaged in the boot and shoe business at Middleport, until 1863, meeting with signal success. In the spring of the latter year he moved to Mattoon, but three years later took up his residence at Watseka. where he remained until his death, in 1872. The mother is still living in the latter-named town. They were the parents of seven children, namely, Henry, William, Edward, James, Katie and Annie (twins,) and Mattie. The younger days of our subject were spent mostly in school at Middleport, Ill., and when fifteen years of age he went into the office of the Middleport Press to learn the printer’s trade. After eighteen months he took up his residence in Mattoon, where he became connected with the Gazette office, in which he continued until 1867. In the spring of that year he went into the Journal office as a journeyman, remaining until 1872, then returned to the Gazette, continuing until 1875, and five years later, in 1880, became connected with the Journal, with which he has since remained. The marriage of W. F. Purtill and Miss Lizzie, daughter of John Owens of Mattoon, took place at the home of the bride, Oct. 19, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. P. have two children Carl and Florence. |
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