The first doctor in Murray was a Dr. William Wiard who located here in 1869 when the village was just starting.
Dr. R. C. Grigg fixed his residence in Mur­ray in 1872 and practiced medicine as well as operating a drug store. His healing of the sick continued for 32 years.
The 1886 business directory listed two more doctors — S. L. Landis and H. W. Ross, also Dr. Emery.
In 1895 Dr. F. Wesley Sells began prac­ticing in Murray and was proprietor of the Murray Sanitarium. Around 1901 he had the only x ray apparatus between Creston & Ot­tumwa. His practice was not confined to the community as he did a large mail order busi­ness especially in the western states.
Dr. S. C. Carver moved here in 1900. His office was on the south side of Main Street.
Dr. J. Fields Hasty was here from 1895 to 1901.
Dr. J. F. Aldrich practiced here around 1900. Dr. Brown practiced here.
The name of Dr. Agnew appeared in some of the old papers. The length of time he practiced here was not determined.
Dr. C. 0. Freel practiced in and about Murray for 26 years. His practice began here about 1900 and continued until his death in 1926,
Dr. G. I. Armitage Sr. started his medical career in Hopeville in 1897 and continued until 1906 when he moved to Murray. He practiced in Murray until his death 26 years later.
Dr. G. L Armitage Jr, followed in his fa­ther's footsteps in pursuing a career in the medical profession. He practiced in Mrray from 1938-1943. After leaving here he continued his profession in Osceola.
With the moving of Dr. Armitage, Murray lost its last remaining medical doctor and has been without a doctor since that time.

Dr. George Armitage Jr.

Dr. Sells

THE VILLAGE DOCTOR By Bess Darnell Melcain

Our Doc was loved by young and old;
They listened to the stories told
How he did surgery one night
Out in a farm home by lamplight.
And how he often had to go
With his faithful horse through drifts of snow,
When soon a new life would be born;
The lusty cries on a frost morn
Were music to Doc's ears-and then,
Tired and weary, home again.

He buttered fresh baked bread and sat With neighbors for a friendly chat
While waiting for a fever break;
He knew that he could never take
The offer that the big town gave,
The little bit that he could save
Was spent on folks he knew so well,
And they still sit around and tell
Their children tales of long ago
About our Doc whom they all know.

Dr. G. I. Armitage Sr.