A first class druggist and groceryman of Spring Grove, is
the son of William and Elizabeth A. (House) McMurray, whose sketch will be
found elsewhere in Raleigh Chapter. Subject's paternal grandparents were Thomas
and Margarie (Waller) McMurray, and his maternal grandfather was Daniel House.
Subject was born in Union County May 21, 1851. For several
years he attended the common schools of the county, and when eighteen years old
started to Cecilian College in Hardin County, Ky., where he remained two years,
coming out with a fair education and able to write a good fist. Soon, however,
after his first marriage he was sorely afflicted with rheumatism and was for
several years completely disabled, having lost the use of himself entirely. At
this writing, however, he is much better and able to keep his own books and
writes a beautaful[sic] business hand with his left hand, the right being
disabled from the fearful disease.
Subject has been twice married; first time to Miss Elizabeth
F. Terrell, daughter of R. M. and Nancy Terrell, of Trimble County, who was
born in 1849, and who bore him one child, Elizabeth F., that died when oly[sic]
six month old. She died in December 1872. He was last married to Miss Mary E.
Gabhart, daughter of Christopher C. and Ellen (Jones) Gabhart, who was born in
Virginia in 1851. The children by this marriage are two bright boys, Wiliam T.,
Theophilus Greenway, the first, Charlotte E., having died when six months old.
Christopher C. Gebhart, Mrs. McMurray's father, was both a
blacksmith and farmer, born in Germany, and was the owner of a handsome estate
there, but at his death was swindled out of it by a friend of his; he died in
Henderson County, Ky., during the war. Our subject sold goods in Waverly in
1872, and removed to his native precinct in 1874, where he bought a lot of Hall
& Owen and built a nice roomy store-room in 1882. He carries a general stock of
drugs and groceries of $1,200, and sells about $6,000 yearly. He makes a
first-class business man and has the confidence of all who deal with him. In
politics he is a sound Democrat. He has never traveled like some, only having
been to the Hot Springs for his health, and to Louisville, Memphis, Cairo and
Evansville for pleasure and business.
Subject's dwelling, situated on the main road or street, is
a very convenient one. He has been a member of the M. E. Church South, for
eleven years. All in all, Tom, as he is familiarly called, is one of the best
citizens in Union County.
