John Purifoy Explained

Birth Date:March 21, 1842
Office1:29th Secretary of State of Alabama
Governor1:Charles Henderson
Term Start1:1915
Term End1:1919
Predecessor1:Cyrus B. Brown
Successor1:William Peyton Cobb
Office2:20th Alabama State Treasurer
Governor2:Emmet O'Neal
Term Start2:1911
Term End2:1915
Predecessor2:Walter D. Seed Sr.
Successor2:William Lancaster
Office3:State Auditor of Alabama
Governor3:Thomas G. Jones
William C. Oates
Term Start3:1892
Term End3:1896
Predecessor3:Cyrus D. Hogue
Successor3:Walter S. White
Party:Democratic

John Purifoy (March 21, 1842 – July 17, 1927) was a politician from Alabama. He served as secretary of state of Alabama from 1915 to 1919, Alabama state treasurer 1911 to 1915 and state auditor of Alabama from 1892 to 1896.

He was born on March 21, 1842. He went to Tennessee University where he left in April 1861 to join the Confederate Army. Following the end of the Civil War, he was a schoolteacher for several years and engaged in farming. Purifoy was elected Probate Judge of Wilcox County, Alabama in 1880 and, ten years later, was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives.

In 1915, during his time as secretary of state of Alabama, the Alabama House of Representatives considered impeaching Purifoy over allegations that he paid an opponent in his 1914 election to withdraw from the Democratic Party primary election. The House, however, rejected impeachment.[1]

His son James L. Purifoy died in 1939.[2]

Additional sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lyman . Brian . Possible Bentley impeachment leads to look at trial rules . Montgomery Advertiser . 20 January 2023.
  2. News: OBITUARY - James L Purifoy - 1939 -The Prattvile Progress (Alabama). The Prattville Progress. 7 September 1939. 3.