McDonough ILGenWeb

MURRAY, William A., a well-known and thriving farmer, who pursues his vocation in Emmet Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Hire Township, that county, August 4, 1868. His father, Allen Murray, was born in Kentucky, and his mother, Perilla (Parker) Murray, was born in Ohio. William and Jane (Bird) Murray, the father's parents, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The maternal grandparents, Absalom and Anna (Woods) Parker, were natives of Ohio. William A. Murray is the third of a family of nine children, and was born on a farm. In boyhood he attended the district school, and later the Macomb Normal School, living with his parents until he was twenty-three years old. Then he rented a farm, which he conducted for six years before his marriage, after which he lived on the place two years, and then moved to Nebraska. A year later he bought a farm of forty acres in Hire Township, upon which he resided for four years. In February, 1904, he purchased ninety-three acres in Section 20, Emmet Township, from his brother-in-law, on which he is now engaged in general farming. In 1905 he purchased 160 acres in Section 33, Emmet Township.

Mr. Murray was united in marriage on April 15, 1897, with Hattie Ann Guy, who was born in Emmet Township and received her early education in the district schools and the Macomb Normal School. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have one child, Allen Guy, born February 26, 1900. In politics, Mr. Murray espouses the cause of the Democratic party. In 1897 he served as Tax Collector of Emmet Township, and has held the office of School Director since 1904.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 963-964, extracted 12 Sep 2019 by Norma Hass.