McMurray, Henderson 1819-1906

MCMURRAY, HORN, RAUGH, MEYERS, AILLAUD

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 2/15/2005 at 11:48:01

Henderson McMurray was born May 22, 1819, in Bedford County, Pa., and died September 21, 1906, aged 87 years and four months.

On February 18, 1844, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Horn. This union was blessed with thirteen children, four of whom, William, Anna, Emma and John have preceded him to the beyond. The children who survive him are J. T. McMurray of Stuart, Iowa, D. H. McMurray of Des Moines, J. P. McMurray of St. Louis, Mo., Fred A. and Henry B. McMurray of this city and Mrs. S. S. Raugh, of Orange, Calif. He leaves besides these, of his immediate family, thirty-three grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. C. C. Meyers of Waverly, Iowa.

In the year 1852, Henderson McMurray came with his family from Pennsylvania to Cedar County, Iowa, and in 1869 to Jasper County, Iowa, settling on a farm two and a half miles north of this city where he has since resided.

In his early boyhood days he was united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and continued a faithful member of this church until his message called him hence. He was a true husband, a loving father, beloved by all who knew him. As a Christian he was modest and unassuming but always loyal to his church and to God. His example will always be a precious memory to his children.

Mr. McMurray was possessed of a strong, healthy constitution and often walked into town from the farm to church, even in his old age. Last Sunday morning before his death he attended services and then walked to the Joe Horn home on North Spring Street, where the family were all to be dinner guests that day, in honor of his daughter, Mrs. Raugh, who is visiting the city.

On Tuesday he attended a sale at the farm home of his son-in-law, Fred Aillaud. Getting home that evening he was stricken with the illness from which his death resulted on the following Friday.

Everything that loving nursing and skillful attention could do availed naught, and at half past three in the afternoon, conscious to the last he passed away. A beautiful closing of a constant Christian life.

The funeral was held from the farm home yesterday afternoon, where his death occurred, and the large numbers from both town and country, who gathered for the funeral testified eloquently to the love and respect in which the deceased was held by a large number of friends and neighbors in the vicinity.

Music was furnished by a quartette, Mesdames Nona Knepper and E. H. Robb and Messrs Ernest Earley and George M. Allen.

The pallbearers were Frank Edge of Grinnell, Lou Edge, W. E., Harry and Ray McMurray of this city. ~ The Newton Daily News, Monday, September 24, 1906, Page 4, Column 1