William H. Murray
Capt. William H. Murray, ex-auditor of Delaware county, is the second son of Cornelius B. and Lucinda (Burroughs) Murray. The father is a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., and the mother was born near the town of Pendleton, Madison County, Ind. Cornelius and Lucinda Murray were married in the year 1836, in the county of Randolph, Ind., to which part of the state Mrs. Murray’s parents had previously removed. About two years later (1838) they settled upon a farm near Blountsville, Henry County, where, on the 11th day of January, 1840, William H. Murray was born. Mrs. Murray departed this life in 1873, after which Cornelius B. Murray moved to Hagerstown, Wayne County, where he still lives, aged eight-two years.
William Murray, grandfather of Capt. William H., was of Irish parentage and a native of Pennsylvania. His father, great-grandfather of William H., was a native of Ireland, came to America in the time of the colonies and fought valiantly in the struggle for American independence. William H. Murray was reared upon the home farm near Blountsville up to eighteen years of age, receiving the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of that period. His father having given him freedom to do for himself at the above age, he first sought higher educational attainments with the object of entering the teacher’s profession in view. For some time he was a student in the Blountsville academy, where he pursued his studies until the breaking out of the rebellion, at which time, in 1861, July 14, he laid aside his books and entered the service of his country as a member of company K, Nineteenth Indiana volunteers, with which he served during the war, re-enlisting January 1, 1864. Entering the army as a private and passing up through the various grades of non-commissioned officers, Mr. Murray, on the 2d of July, 1863, was promoted second lieutenant of his company for gallant conduct at the battles of Gettysburg, and the following year was commissioned a first lieutenant. By reason however, of this regiment consolidating with the Twentieth Indiana volunteers, he was never mustered in with said rank of first lieutenant, but at the close of the war he received a commission as brevet captain from Gov. Morton, of Indiana.
It would far transcend the limits of a sketch of this kind to give in detail an account of Capt. Murray’s military career, as he saw much active service and participate din some of the bloodiest battles of the war, among which may be mentioned Lewinsville, Rappahanock Station, Second battle of Manassas or Bull Run, and South Mountain. In the engagement last named he was dangerously wounded in both hips by a minie ball, disabling him to such an extent that he was compelled to remain for two months at the hospital at Middletown, Md. As soon as he was able to travel, he returned home, but after a short time rejoined his command in time to take part in the battle of Fredericksburg, fought on the 12th and 13th days of December, 1862. Subsequently, on account of his wound, he was placed on detached duty until more fully recovered, serving as clerk in the quartermaster department, in preference to again entering the hospital. Hero-like, and without being reported for duty to his company, and with a musket borrowed form a disabled soldier, he voluntarily rejoined his regiment to help fight the great battl4e of Gettysburg, in which he took part from the firing of the first gun until the retreat of the enemy, displaying such praiseworthy conduct that at the instance of his lieutenant, Col. W.W. Dudley, he received his first promotion, as above noted, of second lieutenant. Subsequently he accompanied his command throughout the operations of the army, took part in a number of engagements, including the battle of the Wilderness, where he was again severely wounded in the right leg on the first day of that terrible conflict, May 5, 1864. Having been removed to Washington on account of his wound, he was furloughed home for sixty days, and at the expiration of that time was granted an extension. Finally recovering sufficiently, he returned to the front, joined his command near Yellow Tavern, and took part in the siege of Petersburg. He remained at his post until September 14, 1864, when, by reason of physical disability caused by his various wounds, he was honorably discharged from the service.
Returning home, he settled in Selma, Delaware county, and on February 16, 1865, was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Orr, daughter of Hon. James Orr, of Liberty township, alternately pursuing the vocations of farming and teaching in the public schools until April, 1870, when he engaged in the mercantile business at the town of Selma, where he conducted a very successful business until October, 1878, at which time he was elected auditor of Delaware county, discharging the duties of that positioning a highly creditable manner for a period of four years. At this time Capt. Murray is living a life of retirement on his beautiful farm in Liberty township. He still owns business property in Selma and Muncie, and his life has been one of great activity. In the language of another, the following is a brief statement of his standing in the community since early boyhood: ‘An industrious, studious boy; an ambitious, self educated youth; a patriotic valiant soldier; an earnest, successful man of business, an efficient, faithful servant of the public; liberal and enterprising beyond his means; happy in his domestic relations, he is a genial associate and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends.’ Mr. and Mrs. Murray are the parents of the following children: Lulu M., James O., Don P., Maggie, Arthur L., Edna K. and Robert F. Lulu M. is the wife of John E. Reed, deputy clerk of the Delaware circuit court; James O. is the successful merchant, and Don P. recently graduated with high honors from the Medical college of Indiana, and is now a physician with a lucrative practice. The other four children live at home with their parents.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Delaware and Randolph Counties, Indiana by A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894. Page 600, 601, 602.
