J. C. Murray (1854-1925)

MURRAY, GILFILLAN, FARR

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/8/2015 at 06:47:34

Bellevue Herald, Dec. 10, 1925

J. C. MURRAY DIES IN IOWA CITY

Former Wellknown Attorney of Jackson County Passed Away Sunday

Was Head of Bellevue Schools Over Forty Years Ago

Attorney J. C. Murray of Onslow, just across the Jackson county line, died in a hospital at Iowa City last Monday following an operation. He was for many years a resident of Jackson county and more than forty years ago was head of the Bellevue Public Schools.

The Maquoketa Sentinel published the following obituary:
Mr. Murray has been an attorney in this city since 1884, in which year he completed his law course at the state university in Iowa City. He has also been closely associated with the agricultural pursuits of the community, having been a stock raiser as well as professional man. He was born Feb. 26, 1854 in East Brook, Lawrence county, Pa., and in November, 1855, he came with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. George Murray, to Maquoketa, where his father practiced medicine. He was educated in the county schools here and finished his high school course in Franklin, Pa, where he lived with his uncle, the Hon. C. W. Gilfillan, a congressman from Pa. In 1878 he entered the State University of Iowa as a student and later went to Cornell college. He was Superintendent for four years of the Bellevue schools and in 1885 he and C. W. Farr became associated as attorneys here. He has been in active practice in law until about ten years ago.

In 1886 he went to Europe, bringing back the first Suffolk Punch horses ever brought to Iowa, as well as a number of cattle of the Red Polled variety, in which breed he was much interested, having organized in 1884 the American Red Polled Cattle Club. He also edited the American Red Polled herd book about 1888. He has always divided his interest between his profession and his agricultural pursuits. He is survived by two sons, Justus and Eugene, one daughter, Mary and one brother, besides the widow, Mrs. Bernice Murray. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Buchner chapel.