Murray, George, 1852-1936

MURRAY, MOIR, MCLAREN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/3/2020 at 11:00:36

From the Alton Democrat, August 7, 1936:

Former Pioneer Sherman Twp. Dies At Le Mars Home
Le Mars Sentinel:

Death claimed George Murray, 83, well known resident of Plymouth and Sioux counties for fifty-five years, at the Sacred Heart hospital in this city following an illness caused by an internal malady and old age.

George Murray came to Le Mars in the early eighties and farmed in Sioux county for many years before moving to Le Mars to make his home. He was born on a farm in Ontario, Canada, November 27, 1852 and was a son of James Murray and Mary Jane Moir, natives of Scotland who emigrated to Canada in early youth, were married and farmed in Ontario during their lifetimes. They were the parents of ten children.

Reared on the home farm, George Murray attended the county school and upon arriving at man’s estate engaged in farming on his own account, living there until his marriage in the fall of 1881 when he and his bride came to Iowa, locating in Sioux county, where they lived until their retirement from farm life to Le Mars.

Upon coming here Mr. Murray bought a half section of land in Sherman township, Sioux County, paying seven dollars per acre for the land and established a home. He broke up the prairie sod, planted a grove, erected a good set of buildings and developed a fine farm. As he prospered in his operations, Mr. Murray enlarged his land holdings and bought land in Wadena county, Minnesota.

Comes to Le Mars

Upon retiring from the farm and settling in Le Mars Mr. Murray in addition to looking after his land engaged in various enterprises and until the last few years was always actively engaged and busy. Depression and bad times in recent years left him with thousands of others, bereft of money he had invested and lent to others.

Mr. Murray was married September 28, 1881, to Miss Mathilda McLaren, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McLaren of Ontario. His wife and a son, Cleveland Murray, preceded him in death.

Mr. Murray was a member of the Presbyterian church and contributed towards its support. He was a Democrat in politics and was interested and well informed on general subjects. He was an honorable and conscientious citizen and performed many acts of charity and good will without ostentation. He was highly regarded in a large circle of acquaintances.

Cleveland Murray lived twenty-six years in Colorado and Mrs. Murray died in 1924. Mr. Murray is survived by a brother, Andrew Murray of Regina, Sask., and two sisters, Miss Jennie Murray of Henshall, Ontario, and Mrs. A. G. Smillie, of Toronto, Canada.

His brother-in-law, A. G. Smillie, arrived in Le Mars to attend the funeral which was held Monday afternoon from the Maher chapel, with services at 2 o’clock in the Presbyterian church, Rev. F. P. Pfaltzgraff officiating. Old friends, by his wish, acted as pallbearers, Will Begg, M. F. Brodie, E. A. Dalton, James Deegan, Henry Grimjes and James Watson.

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His death certificate gives his birth date as November 26, 1852, and adds death information: died at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Le Mars, at 2:45 a.m. August 1, 1936; causes: prostatic disease (onset 1925), hypertrophy, chronic urinary retention, acute epididymitis (onset 7/20/36), and urinary tract sepsis (onset 1935); contributory cause, senility (11 years).

His FindaGrave.com page has just Geo. Murray, 1852-1936, buried in Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, with a photo of his headstone. No family information.