The Murray stockyards (pictured below) did a tremendous amount of business. It was especially noted for its shipment of livestock.

The Murray Elevator was operated by 0. T. Hulburd & Co. with W. A. Cropp as manager. The elevator building was a frame structure 24x66 ft., 24 feet high and had a capacity of 18,000 bushel for corn and 27,000 bushel for oats.

During the year ending 1908 there were 315 cars of live stock shipped from the Murray stock yards, itemized as follows: cattle 155, hogs 135, horses 13 and sheep 12. 42 cars of grain were also forwarded from this point and practically two million pounds of freight in less than car lots, making a total of about 400 cars of freight shipped during the year. During the same year 296 cars and practically three million pounds in less than car lots which totaled about 355 cars of freight received.

This was before the time of the trucks to transport the stock to the shipping point. It was not uncommon to see the roads into town blocked by livestock being driven into town to the stockyards. Often times the farmers would bring their stock by wagon the night before a sale and stay in a hotel so they would be here by the time it started.

C. H. Folkner came to Murray before 1880 from Hopeville and started a barber shop. In 1901 his shop had advanced from the one chair shop pictured on page 9, to a three chair shop in connection with a bath room.

A. M. L. Dunphy also had a barbership in Murray around 1900.

A 4 chair Barber shop was located on the east side of Main st. until it was burned out. The shop above was located behind the bank (present post office) about 1909. The individual gas lights had to be filled every day. The barbers are Ed Hickman and C. H. Folkner.

The interior of W. H. Benson & Son, Furniture Store. The man pictured is Lon Baughman who worked in the store for some time. 0. E. Benson operated the business about 1919.

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Last revised September 21, 2013