Murray, M.

The following data is extracted from History of Daviess County, Missouri -Jamesport Township, Daviess County, Missouri, Biographies.

Michael Murray was born in County Mayo, Ireland, on the 18th day of November, 1839. His father, John Murray, is a native of Ireland and a farmer. The family emigrated to America in 1840, landing at Quebec, Canada, where they remained two years, then removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where the parents still reside. His mother's maiden name was Rose Monahan. Our subject was reared and received his elementary education in Belmont county. He afterward attended the Catholic College at Wheeling, West Virginia. He began business on his own account at the age of sixteen years, working on the farm in summer and attending school in winter until he reached his twenty-first year.

On the second day of June, 1861, he joined the Union army, enlisting in Company A, Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Captain James F. Charlesworth, Col. J. E. Jones, General George B. McClelland's command in West Virginia. He participated in the engagements at Mount Summit, Virginia, September 12, 1861; at Greenbrier, same State, October 3; Alleghany, December 13; McDowell, May 8, 1862; Cross Keys, June 9; Slaughter Net, August 9; Second Bull Run, August 29; Chantilly, September 1; Fredericksburg, December 13; Gettysburgh, July 2, 1863; was wounded in this last engagement and laid up in the hospital for two months at Germantown, Pennsylvania. In June, 1862, he was promoted from the ranks to the second lieutenancy of Company A of the Twenty-fifth Ohio; in Febrnary, 1864, was promoted to the first lieutenancy of Company G, same regiment; and in November, 1864, was promoted to the captaincy of Company E, of the same regiment. In September, 1864, he was engaged in the assault on Fort Wagner, on Morris Island, off Charleston, South Carolina, and participated in the siege of Sumter, crossing Ashley River and taking possession on the 17th of February, 1865. His last engagement was at Red Hill, South Carolina, April 25, 1865. They then received notice of the surrender and were ordered to occupy Charleston until June, 1866. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, June 18, 1866, having been in continuous service five years and sixteen days. The Twenty-fifth Regiment veteranized on the first of January, 1864, and when mustered out of the service every commissioned officer in the regiment had enlisted as a private. Mr. Murray, beside the battles mentioned, also participated in the engagements at Strasburg, Virginia, June 1, 1861; at Woodstock the next day; the same month at Fort Jackson, and, also, at Harrisburg, where Ashby, the famous Confederate cavalry commander was killed.

After leaving the army he returned home, and in the fall of 1866 invested in mining property in Christian and Barry counties, this State, but after three months' experience, returned to Ohio and entered the mercantile business at Washington, Guernsey county. In December, 1867, he again came to Missouri, and January 1, 1868, entered the drug business at Jamesport, continuing the business four years, when he sold out and engaged in general merchandising until August, 1880. Since that time he has been en-gaged in farming and horticulture; devoting fifteen acres of his farm to an orchard, raising apples, peaches, plums, and cherries, to the cultivation of which he gives his personal attention.

Mr. Murray was united in marriage to Miss Lydia E. Barnes, daughter of Josiah Barnes, of Grundy county, this State, May 2, 1869. Mrs. Murray was born in Monroe county, Ohio, January 9, 1849. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By this union they have four children; Emmet Clare, John B., Ollie R., and Guy G. Mr. Murray is a member of Jamesport Lodge No. 201, A. F. & A. M., and of Jamesport Lodge No. 339, I. O. O. F. Politically, Mr. Murray is a straight out Republican.

Source: History of Daviess County, Missouri -Jamesport Township, Daviess County, Missouri, Biographies

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