Murray, James

MURRAY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 20:01:00

James Murray

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.634)
JAMES MURRAY, one of the old soldier citizens of Pottawattamie County, was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, March 1, 1833, a son of James MURRAY, who was a steward of the estate of William HOWE, which was called Allendale. The father was a Catholic religiously, and died in Ireland in 1861. His wife's maiden name was Jane FLYNN, and they were the parents of six children, who lived to maturity: Dennis, Patrick, Elizabeth, Catherine, James and Eliza. Mr. MURRAY was an active and industrious man, and remained with Mr. HOWE for over forty years, being implicitly trusted - in other words, he was an honest man, who, as Pope says, "is the noblest work of God." Mr. William HOWE was a public notary and stockbroker in Dublin and a man of wealth.

At the age of seventeen years, James MURRAY, our subject, came to America, arriving in New York City in September 1849. He went to Middletown, that state, and worked in a nursery, and the next spring went to Paterson, New Jersey, where he remained until 1854, when he came to Davenport, Iowa, and engaged in work on the Rock Island Railroad. He next removed to Iowa City and worked in a commission house until April 28, 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, 1st Iowa Regiment Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Mahan. Thus he numbers among the brave men who were the first to volunteer in defense of the Union, and to set the example which was followed by thousands of men who were willing to risk their lives that their country might be saved, and become one of the greatest nations on earth. Mr. MURRAY went with his regiment to Missouri and was in service against the guerrillas who infested the State, and was in several skirmishes with them. This service was very severe, and the guerrillas or "bushwhackers" would be in ambush in the heavy oak scrubs and first upon the troops. At McCulloughtown, a severe skirmish was fought, and August 10, 1861, at twenty minutes past two o'clock a.m., the first rifle shot was fired by the pickets at the famous battle of Wilson Creek, where the noted General Lyon fell; he was shot at fifteen minutes past 12 o'clock. Mr. MURRAY saw him ride out in front of the 1st Iowa Regiment on a dapple-gray horse, where he fell instantly, pierced with bullets. He was but a few rods from Mr. MURRAY when he fell, and within two minutes our subject was shot through the wrist, shattering the small bones. His regiment retreated directly after the death of General Lyon to Springfield, Missouri, in good order, which place they reached at 7 o'clock the same day. Mr. MURRAY received no medical attendance, and the next night slept on the ground; and the next day the regiment, with the remainder of the army, retreated to Raleigh, Missouri, 150 miles, and thence by rail to St. Louis, where our subject received medical attention, his arm being badly swollen. He was not in a hospital. His time having expired, he was honorably discharged at St. Louis, and returned to Iowa City, but was disabled one year from work on account of his wound.

He remained in the warehouse of the Rock Island Railroad until 1871, when he bought his present farm, then consisting of 120 acres of wild prairie. In 1876, he came to live on this land, which he has since improved and made a comfortable home. He is well known as a faithful and honest citizen, and his course through life, either in the employ of others or working for himself, has been straightforward and manly. Politically, he is a Republican, and religiously a devoted Catholic. He is a member of the G.A.R. John A. Dix Post of Walnut, Iowa.

He was married in 1862 at Iowa City to Mary QUINN, who was born in the State of Maine of Irish parentage. To Mr. And Mrs. MURRAY have been born seven children: Eliza J., James, William, Ellen, Catherine, John and Annie. Mrs. Murray's father, Johnson QUINN, was born in Ireland and settled in Elkhart County, Indiana, on a farm. He lived to the age of eighty-three and was a member of the Methodist Church. His first wife, Sarah SHELLEDAY, was born in Ireland, and died at the age of thirty-six years. They had six children: Eliza, William, Samuel, John, Mary and Robert. Mr. QUINN was again married, this time to Eliza SPENCER, and they have had two children: Daniel and Sarah. Mr. MURRAY is a pioneer of the township, having made his farm from a wild prairie by hard work and industry, assisted by his faithful wife. He stands deservedly high as a good, intelligent American citizen. Having shed his blood on the field of battle in defense of American principles, he has a great love for his country and we have no more loyal men than those who fought for our flag.