McMurray, Thomas Edwin, 1866-1923

MCMURRAY, HOYT

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2017 at 19:54:58

From the Rock Valley Bee, May 25, 1923:

ROCK VALLEY BUSINESS MAN DIES SUDDENLY

It was a great surprise and shock to the people of Rock Valley and vicinity when the sad news was passed around Sunday forenoon that T. E. McMurray had passed away. Only a few of his most intimate friends knew that he was not well.

Mr. McMurray was in his store all day Saturday and until late Saturday night. Sunday morning he seemed as well as usual. Shortly before noon he was looking over a catalog. Mrs. McMurray was with him. Later she went into another room. She had not left him over five minutes when she heard a noise in the room where he was and sent their son, Hoyt, to see what it was. He found his father lying on the floor and called for his mother to come. Mr. McMurray had passed away when the doctor arrived a few minutes later. His death was due to heart trouble.

Although Mr. McMurray had not been well for some time, no one realized that there was any immediate danger. He was in his place of business regularly and always at work.

Mr. McMurray was a hard working man. He was a man who was highly respected and esteemed in the community. He was a kind and devoted husband and father. His first thought was for the welfare of his family, and only those who have passed through a similar experience can realize the great shock his sudden death is to his bereaved wife and children, who have the sincere sympathy of many friends.

Mr. McMurray was born at Andrew, Iowa, June 28, 1866, where he received his early training and grew to manhood. For a few years he conducted a drug store at Maquoketa, Ia. From there the family moved to Huron, S.D., where they lived a little over a year on a farm. From Huron they moved to Pochahontas, Iowa, where they spent a year, Mr. Murray conducting a variety store there. From Pochahontas, they came to Rock Valley in 1913, where they have since resided.

Mr. McMurray was united in marriage with Miss Ella Hoyt in 1894 at Andrew, Iowa. To this union four children were born. Two of them died in infancy, and two, Mrs. Edna Rohlf of near Canton, S.D., and Hoyt, at home, survive their father. He also leaves his wife and three brothers, John McMurray, who lives in Kansas, Marion, of Maquoketa, Iowa, and Charley, of Carter, S.D. The latter arrived in Rock Valley Monday.

The remains were taken to Maquoketa, Iowa, where funeral services were held, and burial took place at his old home in Andrew. All of the family, including Mr. Rohlfs and Charles McMurray, accompanied the remains. There were many beautiful floral tributes from Rock Valley friends and the lodges to which Mr. McMurray belonged, and from the business men of Rock Valley, as tokens of the respect and esteem in which Mr. McMurray and his family are held.

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From the Alton Democrat, May 26, 1923:

EDWIN MC MURRAY OF ROCK VALLEY CALLED BEYOND

"In the midst of life we are in death." This truth is again forcibly impressed upon us in contemplating the sudden and unexpected demise of our worthy and esteemed citizen and business man, Thomas Edwin McMurray who was suddenly stricken of heart failure at his home Sunday May 20th at about the noon hour, which was a shock to the people of this community. The circumstances under which he was called away were peculiarly sad and distressing. The summons came to him without the slightest warning. He had been indisposed for several months and under these conditions, he manifested a cheerful disposition, and no one thought that his physical ailment was of such a character as to be considered serious, as he had remained in his place of business on the previous night. By his death we are reminded of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death.

The deceased was born at Andrew, Iowa, June 28, 1866, and at the time of his passing was 56 years, 10 months, and 22 days of age. He grew to manhood on a farm in the community where he was born. He was married to Miss Mary E. Hoyt, March 24, 1894 and they were parents of an interesting family of two children, Mrs. Edna Rolh[?], of Canton S.D. and Hoyt, of Rock Valley, and their marital relations were of a pleasant character. He engaged in the drug business at Maquoketa for a period of 7 years. He disposed of his business, and in 1910 he moved near Huron, S.D. where he farmed for one year. From there he returned to Iowa and located at Pocahontas and operated a variety store, where he resided for 15 months and in 1913 he came to Rock Valley and purchased the store he operated of Mrs. Emma Wright and he has continuously resided here until his death.

He was a genial cultivated gentleman, pleasant in the family circle in social and business life. He met his duties, as he daily came in contact with men bravely. He never was identified with any church, but liberally contributed to its interests and was ready to respond to an appeal for charities sake and did what he could for suffering humanity. He was a good neighbor and friend, and will be missed by his many friends and in the commercial life of the community. He was identified by several fraternal societies, namely Masons, K. of P. and M.W.A.

He leaves a wife and two children and three brothers, John of Arkansas, Francis of Maquoketa and C. A. of Carter, S.D. to mourn his departure. His remains were taken to Andrew, his old home, Tuesday for interment. The family have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their hour of supreme sorrow.

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The 1920 U.S. census for Rock Valley has him as Edward McMurray, a grocery store merchant, and his wife as Ella.

Iowa Cemetery Records 1662-1999 on Ancestry.com has Edwin T. McMurray, 1866-1923, buried in lot 106, Andrew Cemetery, taken from Cemetery Records of Jackson County, Iowa.

FindaGrave.com has the same, except that it also includes a photo of the headstone, which instead says T. Edwin McMurray. His wife is given in the Andrew cemetery interment list as M. Ella.