McMurray, J.H., Sr.

MCMURRAY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/24/2011 at 07:20:03

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; July 29, 1913

OBITUARY.

J.H. MCMURRAY, SR.

J.H. McMurray, Sr., a pioneer resident and business man of Poweshiek county, passed peacefully away at 6:30 o'clock last Saturday evening at his home in the apartments above the J.H. McMurray, Jr. & Co. store. The immediate cause of his death was apoplexy, although for a long time he had been in feeble health. When he returned last spring from a winter's absence in the south, it was seen that he was gradually failing and since that time he had grown gradually weaker until the end.

Mr. McMurray for years had not been strong. A quarter of a century ago he was compelled to give up a flourishing dry goods business in Brooklyn on account of his health. He went to Los Angeles, California, where he spent 5 years, then returned to Grinnell and again entered into business, himself taking little active part, however. His son, J.H. McMurray, Jr., has borne the brunt of business cares in Grinnell, being well content to keep the burden in so far as possible from his father's shoulders.

Mr. McMurray was born in New York state and when a young man he worked for his uncle in a wholesale grocery in New York City. Then the desire to go west came over him and in 1858 he came to Iowa, establishing himself first in Independence. Later he engaged in the dry goods business in DeWitt and forty-five years ago came to open his life in Poweshiek county, opening a dry goods store in Brooklyn. During all the time since then, with the exception of the five years spent in California, he has been a resident of the county.

With the passing of Mr. McMurray Poweshiek and Grinnell lose an old resident who will be greatly missed. He was a man of absolute integrity, of kindly heart, wishing all men well, hostile to no one, devoted to his family and his friends. He leaves a wife and two sons, George H. McMurray and J.H. McMurray, Jr., of Grinnell. Two grandsons, Harry, of Minneapolis, and Arthur, of Des Moines, were present at the funeral services, which were held yesterday. Rev. Mr. Williams, of Iowa City, a minister of the Episcopal church, with which Mr. McMurray was affiliated, conducted the funeral services. The pallbearers were Beth Jenkins, H.M. Bray, W.C. Rayburn, J.H. P. Robison, W.F. Vogt and N.M. Harris.

Mr. McMurray is also survived by a brother and sister in New York state, who are now too feeble to travel and could not attend the funeral.

Those who came from Brooklyn to attend the funeral were Mrs. O. Newcomb, Mrs. M.A. Skinner, Judge Talbott, J.E. Talbott, F.F. Thompson, C.W. Wright, N.H. Wright.