State Historical Society of North Dakota

PURCELL, William Edward, a Senator from North Dakota; born in Flemington, Hunterdon County, N.J., August 3, 1856; attended the common schools; studied law; admitted to the bar of New Jersey in 1880 and commenced practice in Flemington, N.J.; moved to Wahpeton, Territory of Dakota, in 1881 and continued the practice of law; was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as United States attorney for the Territory of Dakota in 1888; resigned in 1889, having been elected a member of the constitutional convention for the new State of North Dakota; district attorney of Richland County, N.Dak., 1889-1891; member, State senate 1907-1909; appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Martin N. Johnson and the resignation of Fountain L. Thompson and served from February 1, 1910, to February 1, 1911, when a successor was elected and qualified; unsuccessful candidate for election; continued the practice of law until his death; appointed chairman of the Food Conservation Commission in 1917; died in Wahpeton, Richland County, N.Dak., November 23, 1928; interment in Calvary Cemetery.