In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions (1915), A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900)
JAMES MURRAY.
James Murray, one of the well known, farmers of Preble county, Ohio, is a native of Washington township, this county, and was born February 28, 1843, a son °f Mitchell and Lydia (Brasier) Murray. Of their large family of twelve children, six are now living, namely: Joseph, a farmer of Jefferson township, this county; Lemuel, a shoemaker of Darke county, Ohio; John, a farmer of Jefferson township, this county; James, whose name introduces this sketch; Henry, a farmer of Wayne county, Indiana, and Sarah, the wife of John F. Ervin, a contractor and builder of Eldorado, Ohio. The six that are deceased were David, Alfred, Amos, Leven T., Isabella and Julia.
Mitchell Murray, the father, was born in Sussex county, Delaware, in 1805, a son of John Murray, a prominent farmer of that place, where he lived and died. In his native county Mitchell was reared and married and settled down to farming there, as did his father before him. About 1835, however.
he became dissatisfied, and, thinking he could do better in the west, came to Ohio, Eaton his destination, the trip requiring several days. Arriving at Eaton, he had just money enough to buy an ax. Here he located and by day’s work succeeded in providing for his family. In 1854 he removed to Darke county and began farming, as a renter, remaining there four years. At the end of that time he returned to Preble county and rented the farm which the subject of this sketch now owns, and during the following nine years he made enough money to buy a place of his own, and he again went to Darke county. There he purchased eighty acres of land, and resided on it until a year prior to his death, when, having lost his life partner, he left the farm and took up his home with a daughter in Eldorado, Ohio, where he spent his declining days. He died in February, 1881. His wife, a native also of Sussex county, Delaware, was born in 1810. Her father died when she was a child, and her mother, whose maiden name was Mary McCabe, came with Mr. Murray’s family to Ohio, and spent the rest of her life in Preble county.
James Murray in his early youth acquired such education as he could get in the primitive schools of those pioneer days in Preble county, and at the early age of eleven years he was hired out to a farmer to work, for three dollars a month and his board. F'rom that time forward hard work was one of the chief factors in his existence.
Reaching his majority, he enlisted, May 2, 1864, in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front. There were then seven brothers in the service. He was sent to Kentucky, and from there to Maryland, and was in the battle at Cumberland. During the four months of his service he proved himself a brave, true soldier, and at the expiration of his time of enlistment was honorably discharged.
Returning from the army he spent the winter at home, and in the spring rented a farm and began farming operations on his own account. The next year he farmer with his father, receiving a certain share of the crop. Then he engaged in the tile business in Eldorado.
In 1868 Mr. Murray was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Mills, a native of Jefferson township, Preble county, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Elizabeth Mills. George Mills was a native of Ireland, and came from there with his parents to Ohio, settling in Clinton county and later in Preble county, Ohio. The spring following his marriage Mr. Murray purchased a two-fifths interest in the old Mills homestead, and the next 'two years he and his wife lived with her parents. At the end of that time they removed to a farm in Jefferson township, owned by Mrs. Murray, and on it they spent two years. After this Mr. Murray, in partnership with his brother John, bought eighty acres of land and a sawmill and engaged in the saw mill and lumber business, which they continued one year. The next year was spent on Mrs. Murray’s farm. In the meantime Mr. Murray bought a farm of one hundred acres on the Whitewater, near New Paris, to which they moved and where they lived two years, removing thence to New Paris, where they spent the summer. Mr. Murray then, in 1875, purchased the interest of the heirs to the Mills homestead, one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he resided till 1884, when he purchased two hundred and ten acres,. known as the old Edmond Kincaid farm, in Jefferson township. After living on this place four years, he made an exchange of property whereby he acquired two hundred and seventy-two acres, the farm upon which he now resides. He still retains the old Mills homestead, has one hundred acres adjoining it, making two hundred and sixty acres in one body, and his wife has one hundred and sixty acres in Jefferson township. Thus by years of toil and good management he has been constantly accumulating and to-day he has a financial standing with the leading men in the county. In connection with his farming he has made a specialty of the stock business, in which he has been very successful.
Mr. and Mrs. Murray are the parents ci seven children, namely: Olive May, at home; Edwin O., with the Farmers’ Bank, New Paris, Ohio; Charles A., a teacher in the public schools of Jefferson township; Elwood, farming with his father; Cora A,, a teacher in the public schools of Preble county, and Ethel and Elbert, at home. Mr. Murray is a Republican and has for years figured in local politics, serving several times as delegate to county conventions. Few tnen, if any, in his locality, are better known or more respected than is James Murray.
As printed in A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JAMES B. MURRAY.
The character of a community is determined in a large measure by the lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual states is good, if, in a social way, it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if its reputation as to the integrity of its citizens has extended to other localities, it will be found that the standards of the leading men have been high and their influence such as to mold the character and shape the lives of those with whom they mingle. In placing the late James B. Murray in the front rank of such men, justice is rendered to him and to the community in which he lived. Although a quiet and unassuming man with no ambition for public position or leadership, he contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of his community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart, and the straightforward, upright course of his daily life won for him the esteem and confidence of the circle in which he moved. Although he is now sleeping the sleep of the just, his influence still lives, and his memory is revered by many.
James B. Murray was born in Eaton, Ohio, February 28, 1843, the seventh son of Mitchell and Lydia (Bfasier) Murray, both of whom were natives of Delaware, where they received their education, and where they were married. They located near Eaton, Ohio, and later moved to Darke county, Ohio, but after a sometime residence there they returned to Preble county, where Mr. Murray rented two hundred and seventy acres of land in Jackson township. After living there for some time he purchased a tract of land in Darke county, north of Eldorado. Mrs. Murray died on this latter farm, and Mr. Murray's death occurred subsequently in Preble county. They were the parents of thirteen children.
James B. Murray was a young man at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, and enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in the service of the Union for three months.
The late James B. Murray was married on January 1, 1868, to Martha J. Mills, who was born in Jefferson township, Preble county, Ohio, September 13, 1848, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Swerer) Mills. George Mills was a native of Ireland, who came to the United States with his parents. He received his early education in this country and taught school for some time after reaching manhood, but later took up farming, which he followed through life. Three of his five children are now living: Joseph Mills, a resident of Miami county, Indiana; William, a resident of New Paris, Ohio, and Martha J., the widow of Mr. Murray. Mrs. Murray was reared on a farm in Jefferson township, receiving her education in the public schools of her home neighborhood, afterwards attending the high school at New Paris, where she afterward became a teacher. To James Murray and wife seven children were born: Olive May, who died in 1914, was the wife of William Tyler; Edwin O., a resident of New Paris; Charles A., of Jackson township; Elwood, unmarried, lives at home with his mother; Cora A., the wife of William Swisher, of Dayton, Ohio; Ethel M., unmarried, is living at home; Elbert J., born February 16, 1891, also is unmarried and lives at home.
Mrs. Murray is a member of the Presbyterian church at New Paris. She is a quiet, unassuming lady, well known in New Paris and Jefferson
64 o township, where she has spent much of her life. She has always been devoted to the interests of her children and was a loving helpmate to her late husband, and as a wife and mother is more than worthy of any tribute which might be paid to her sex.
As printed in History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John F. Ervin (b. 1842)
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.