Source: Commemorative Biographical Record. Book to be found in the Public Library Waupaca,
Waupaca Co. WI, 1897
Mr. Murray was born in Scotland four miles from Edinburgh. His father Thomas Murray was a minister of the Church
of England. The family moved to Castlebar in County Mayo while William still an infant.
During the famine in Ireland several of the sons were employed as bookkeepers and among duties had to issue
rations to the poor people. In this way they contracted disease which was carried to the family and several of the members,
including the mother died therefrom. At twenty years of age William emigrated to America. He sailed from West Port Ireland and six weeks and three days
later landed in Quebec. He spent the winter in Canada then went to Ogdensburg, St Lawrence Co. New York where
he worked for several years. In Gouveneur, St. Lawrence Co. New York, he married Roancy Davis Jan. 22, 1853.
She was a daughter of Roswell Davis and Mary (Collar) Davis. In the spring of 1855 he started for Wisconsin going by boat to Milwaukee and thence to Oak Grove, Dodge County.
In the Spring of 1856 He decided to come to Little River, Waupaca Co. He was accompanied by his wife and children
and Mrs. Murray's maternal grandmother, Sallie Collar (Lackey). Roswell Davis and his family also moved to Little
River. To Mr. and Mrs. Murray have been born the following children. Orris I. born in St Lawrence Co. NY now of Chehlis
County, Washington. Mary E. wo was born at Little River and is now the wife of Orrin Quimby of Weyauwega
Township, Stella Submit, wife of Ethelbert Rice, of Belmont, Portage Co., William Roswell of Belmont, Frank T. and
Herbert C. Farmers of Dayton Township, Inez wife of A. Williams of Fremont, Catherine C. at home and Charles and
William who died in childhood. Mr. Murray served in the Civil War as a Private in Company B. 38th Regiment. Mr Murray was wounded July 30th
1864 at Petersburg soon after the mines were blown up. |