Bio: Murgatroyd, John (1923)

Contact: Ken Wood.

----Surnames: Murgatroyd, Sumpter, Farr, Cole

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 550-551

John Murgatroyd, farmer and brick maker, whose active years in this county were spent in Vesper, was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. 28, 1843. He was a child three years old when he was brought to this country by his parents, who settled at Union Grove, Kenosha County, Wis. There he was educated and grew to manhood. At the age of 18, the Civil War being then in progress, he enlisted in the army and fought three years for the Union. After being honorably discharged he returned home to Union Grove, Wis., where he followed the trade of mason, for some time. He then went to Missouri, in which state he remained four years, after which he sold his business interests there and returned to Union Grove. Later he removed to Springfield, Wis., where he followed farming and mason work for 12 years. He then spent two years at Gray's Lake, Ill. In 1897 Mr. Murgatroyd came to Wood County, locating in Hansen Township, where he bought 160 acres of land and for four years was engaged in farming. He then sold his farm and bought four acres in the village, which he cleared and on which he built a brick house. He also established a brick yard here which he subsequently operated until his death, and which furnished the brick for nearly all the brick residences and other buildings in Vesper. After an active and useful career he passed away March 31, 1911. Mr. Murgatroyd was married Oct. 24, 1867, to Fannie Sumpter, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, Oct. 6, 1847, and who was brought to the United States when six years old. Mr. and Mrs. Murgatroyd were the parents of 11 children, three of whom died in infancy. Of the others Laura, Lulu, Fred and Paul E. are now deceased; Mabel is now Mrs. P. E. Farr of Washington; William Rolland resides in Vesper; W. LeRoy is a resident of Port Edwards; and Maude E. is now Mrs. William A. Cole of Vesper.