MURRAY, JOHN JR.

MURRAY, BURT, NELLIS, DELAPP, NELLIS

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 12/10/2003 at 16:44:21

Biography reproduced from page 276 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

John Murray, Jr., dates his identification with the agricultural development of Kossuth county, Iowa, from the time when he was fourteen years of age. His early efforts along this line were connected with minor duties on his father’s farm and his activities have developed by natural evolution into those of an independent agriculturist, who for many years improved and cultivated the soil until he has now earned the retirement which he is enjoying.

Mr. Murray is numbered among the early settlers in the district and dates his residence in Kossuth county since 1870. He is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Quakertown, June 14, 1856. His ancestors came from Scotland, his father, John Murray, Sr., having been born, reared and educated in that country. His marriage took place there and there he spent many years of his life before he came to America. His first residence was established in Pennsylvania, where he was successful until 1870, when he moved west to Iowa, locating in Kossuth county. He purchased land in Burt township and was prosperous in the cultivation of four hundred and eighty acres which he improved along progressive lines until his death in January, 1900. His wife survived him for five years, passing away in 1905.

John Murray, Jr., is one of three surviving children born to his parents. He came to Kossuth county with his father when he was fourteen years of age and his early life was spent amid the scenes and incidents connected with farm life. He aided in the improvement and cultivation of his father’s farm and early in life gained a valuable knowledge of soil cultivation, stock-raising and other procedures of farming. He remained at home until his marriage in 1882 when he bought land for himself near his father’s homestead. His holdings comprised one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved soil which Mr. Murray broke and began to develop. He divided his acres into fields by fences, constructed modern barns and outbuildings and made suitable improvements everywhere. He was successful as an agriculturist and remained upon his original farm until 1911, when he sold his holdings and bought residence property in the town of Burt where he located and where he has resided since that time. He has now retired from active agricultural life, having made a comfortable fortune.

On September 21, 1882, Mr. Murray was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Burt, a native of Pennsylvania, and to their union have been born seven children: David; Agnes, the wife of W. E. Nellis, a farmer of Burt township, by whom she has four children, Raymond, Estella, Glen and John; James; Mabel, the wife of Burt Delapp of Bancroft, Iowa, by whom she has three children, Floyd, Carl and Velma; Nellie, who married Frank Nellis, who is a prominent agriculturist in Burt township, by whom she has two sons, Bennett and Roscoe; Peter; and Jessie, who lives with her parents in Burt.

Mr. Murray supports the democratic party. He has given forty-two years of highly intelligent labor to agricultural pursuits, and his life work has redounded to his own benefit and helped in agricultural advancement in Kossuth county. The respect and esteem of his fellow citizens is freely accorded him and he has well earned the comfort and ease he is now enjoying.