Alexander B. McMurray
Alexander B. McMurray, farmer, P. O. La Fayette, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., August 3, 1820. He is a son of Alexander and Ellen McMurray; he was born in Cumberland County, and she in Allegheny County, Penn. The grandfather, John McMurray, was a native of Scotland, and when a young single man emigrated to America about 1774, and served in the war of the Revolution, after which he married and located in Pennsylvania, and finally died in Westmoreland County. Alexander, the father of our subject, married Ellen Simpson and located in Westmoreland County, where they lived till 1826, when they emigrated to Ohio and located in Highland County, where they lived two years; after which they lived two years in Ross County, and in January, 1830, they removed to Madison County and located in Deer Creek Township; here his wife died May 9, 1854, aged seventy-three years. He died October 5, 1867, aged ninety-six years. They had eight children, six now survive – John, James, Ellen, Isabel, Sarah and Alexander, our subject, who was ten years of age when they came to Madison County, and here grew to manhood, fully acquainted with the early pioneers and the hardships and trials of those days. He was married to Mary Houser, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 16, 1838; she was a daughter of George and Barbara (Miner) Houser, he a native of Virginia and she of Ohio. Their marriage was celebrated July 4, 1854. Mr. Houser and wife had five children, four now living – Dorotha, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary and Ann maria. Mrs. Houser died in 1840; he still survives and resides in Indiana, aged seventy years. Mr. McMurray and wife have had ten children, seven now survive – Alesander, born March 18, 1855; Louisa, April 16, 1859; George November 17, 1863; Ella, July 17, 1868; Robert, February 4, 1870; Sallie, march 22, 1877; and Florence, born June 26, 1879. Mr. McMurray has made farming his occupation through life, and all in this township, but three years, from the fall of 1855 to the fall of 1858, during which he lived in Iowa. In September, 1861, he bought and located on the place where he now lives and has since resided. This farm consists of fifty-two and a half acres, which he purchased of Mrs. Rogers. Mr. McMurray has served his Township as Trustee, and is one of the early settlers of this county.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]