Leopold 'Leo' Purpus was born in Lauterecken, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He emigrated at age 12 with his mother and five brothers departing from London, England to New York on the 'Ocean Queen'. The family arrived 14 Jun 1853. His father Charles 'Carl' Joseph had emigrated two years earlier in 1851. Carl Joseph was originally a dyer, then a cooper (barrel maker) and a brewer. He came through Ohio and then to the Kellerville area, Buckhorn Township, Brown County, Illinois, where he purchased farm land.
When the Civil War started in April 1861, Leopold enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on 20 Aug 1861 and joined Company B, 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry where he made Corporal. In April 1862 Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck led 125,000 Union troops against Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard where about 70,000 Confederate Troops were told to hold the line at Corinth, Mississippi. (See Siege of Corinth-Civil War)
Leopold was wounded at the Siege of Corinth and died of his wounds on 31 May 1862 just one month short of his 22nd year.
He is buried in the Corinth National Cemetery. Union Section B, Site 3529, Grave #334.
Siblings:
Charles 'Carl' Eugene 1836-1910 #13708124
Ludwig 'Louis' 1842-1915 buried in Texas
Wilheim 'William' 1846-1910 buried Adams Co, IL
Anton 'Anthony' 1848- #13708164
Jacob 'JC' 1850- buried Adams Co, IL
When the Civil War started in April 1861, Leopold enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on 20 Aug 1861 and joined Company B, 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry where he made Corporal. In April 1862 Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck led 125,000 Union troops against Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard where about 70,000 Confederate Troops were told to hold the line at Corinth, Mississippi. (See Siege of Corinth-Civil War)
Leopold was wounded at the Siege of Corinth and died of his wounds on 31 May 1862 just one month short of his 22nd year.
He is buried in the Corinth National Cemetery. Union Section B, Site 3529, Grave #334.
Siblings:
Charles 'Carl' Eugene 1836-1910 #13708124
Ludwig 'Louis' 1842-1915 buried in Texas
Wilheim 'William' 1846-1910 buried Adams Co, IL
Anton 'Anthony' 1848- #13708164
Jacob 'JC' 1850- buried Adams Co, IL
Leopold 'Leo' Purpus was born in Lauterecken, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He emigrated at age 12 with his mother and five brothers departing from London, England to New York on the 'Ocean Queen'. The family arrived 14 Jun 1853. His father Charles 'Carl' Joseph had emigrated two years earlier in 1851. Carl Joseph was originally a dyer, then a cooper (barrel maker) and a brewer. He came through Ohio and then to the Kellerville area, Buckhorn Township, Brown County, Illinois, where he purchased farm land.
When the Civil War started in April 1861, Leopold enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on 20 Aug 1861 and joined Company B, 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry where he made Corporal. In April 1862 Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck led 125,000 Union troops against Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard where about 70,000 Confederate Troops were told to hold the line at Corinth, Mississippi. (See Siege of Corinth-Civil War)
Leopold was wounded at the Siege of Corinth and died of his wounds on 31 May 1862 just one month short of his 22nd year.
He is buried in the Corinth National Cemetery. Union Section B, Site 3529, Grave #334.
Siblings:
Charles 'Carl' Eugene 1836-1910 #13708124
Ludwig 'Louis' 1842-1915 buried in Texas
Wilheim 'William' 1846-1910 buried Adams Co, IL
Anton 'Anthony' 1848- #13708164
Jacob 'JC' 1850- buried Adams Co, IL
When the Civil War started in April 1861, Leopold enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on 20 Aug 1861 and joined Company B, 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry where he made Corporal. In April 1862 Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck led 125,000 Union troops against Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard where about 70,000 Confederate Troops were told to hold the line at Corinth, Mississippi. (See Siege of Corinth-Civil War)
Leopold was wounded at the Siege of Corinth and died of his wounds on 31 May 1862 just one month short of his 22nd year.
He is buried in the Corinth National Cemetery. Union Section B, Site 3529, Grave #334.
Siblings:
Charles 'Carl' Eugene 1836-1910 #13708124
Ludwig 'Louis' 1842-1915 buried in Texas
Wilheim 'William' 1846-1910 buried Adams Co, IL
Anton 'Anthony' 1848- #13708164
Jacob 'JC' 1850- buried Adams Co, IL
Inscription
Purpus had been spelled many ways since leaving Germany. This was probably a mistranslation.
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