He married in 1874, and has four sons and one daughter.
ISAAC D. PURKIS.
Isaac D. Purkis, Esq.
Was born in Laprairie, Que., in 1827. He was son of the Rev. Isaac Purkis, who came from England in 1821, and was a lineal descendant of the Purkis who carried the body of King William Rufus from the New Forest to Winchester in Hampshire, when shot by Sir Walter Tyrell, while hunting in the New Forest.
Mr. Purkis learned telegraphy under Mr. O. S. Wood and was located at Prescott, Ont., from 1849 to 1851, in the employ of the Montreal Telegraph Company. In 1851, on the very flattering recommendation of Mr. Wood, he entered the service of the British North American Telegraph Association and was appointed Superintendent (equivalent to General Manager at the present date). This company had a line from Quebec city east, to Rivière du Loup, thence southerly to St. John, N.B., etc. In 1853, on the recommendation of Mr. Purkis, the line was extended to Montreal, along the north shore of the river, and thus entered into competition with the Montreal Telegraph Company, whose line was from Point Levi, along the south shore to Montreal and thence westward. Connection was first made between Quebec and Point Levi by a long span of wire on masts, in the spring when the ice was breaking up. None of the linemen would attempt to cross on the floating, broken ice. Mr. Purkis then got a ladder, and placing himself in the centre with the coil of wire over his shoulder succeeded in making the passage, at the same time paying out the wire over the edges of the ice. His exertions were so great that he was completely exhausted when he finally got across.
This company established at Rivière du Loup, Que., a signal office under the Lloyd code, whereby all vessels passing were signalled and information at once telegraphed to the owner or agent and to the press. In addition to this a boat manned with capable oarsmen, swivel gun on bow to signal the approaching steamer, more particularly at night, was used to intercept and receive from the inward steamer the despatches and latest newspapers from Europe. The method was to throw a tin cylinder in which were enclosed the despatches and newspapers with a small flag attached to the end; this was attached to a lanyard, and when secured by the Telegraph boat, the steamer was given a signal and she proceeded on her way, the despatches being promptly brought ashore and delivered to the telegraph and signal officer in charge.
In December 29, 1854, the British North American Telegraph Association and the Canada Grand Trunk Telegraph Company (whose lines extended from Montreal westward) entered into an agreement for the mutual interchange of business, and Mr. Purkis was appointed Superintendent of both companies. This position he held until both companies were amalgamated with the Montreal Telegraph Company in the latter part of 1856. When he left the telegraph business in August of that year his subordinates presented him with a signet ring, which he wore to the day of his death.
He engaged in the forwarding and ferry business at Prescott until 1870, when he was appointed General Manager of the Dominion Telegraph Company, with headquarters at Toronto. He resigned from this position in 1874 and again returned to Prescott taking up his former business. Besides himself he had three brothers engaged in the telegraph service, George, Arthur and William, all of whom predeceased him many years since.