HERVEY McMURRAY. Among the most prominent residents of Peters township, this name is an honored one. James McMurray was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and when a young man sailed to America. He first located near Irishtown, Allegheny county, Penn., and there followed agricultural pursuits. Soon after arriving in this country he married Isabelle Balentine, a native of the Emerald Isle who had come across the ocean in early youth. The young people settled on a farm in Allegheny county, Penn., where the following children were born to them: James, Jane, John, William, Nancy (wife of Paul Black, of Aledo, III.), Margaret (living on the home farm with her brother Hervey), Esther, Mary A., Archie (a farmer in Allegheny county), Andrew, Hervey, Edward, an infant son, and an infant daughter. Of this family James, Jane, William, Esther, Mary A., Andrew, and the youngest two are deceased. Hervey McMurray, whose name introduces this biography, was born May 3, 1829, on the old farm in Allegheny county, Penn. His father died when Hervey was a lad of fifteen years, and the care of the family fell upon his youthful shoulders. But with the indomitable spirit so characteristic of his race, young McMurray cheerfully accepted the burden, and passed his youth and early manhood in supporting the family. On December 13, 1855, he was united in marriage with Emily, daughter of John Mouck, a prominent farmer of Washington county, Penn. Mr. McMurray had received $600 from his father's estate, and after his marriage located on his present farm in Peters township. He then invested his capital in a flock of sheep, having usually four or five hundred on the place. His property consists of 280 acres of land, an excellent roller- process mill (known as McMurray's mills), a fine dwelling and store-room in Beltzhoover borough (a suburban town of Pittsburgh), and an interest in the store-room at Hill's Station. In politics he has ever been a stanch member of the Democratic party, but has invariably declined nominations for official positions. However, he was instrumental in having a postoffice established at McMurray's Mills, and was the first postmaster, which office is yet filled by members of the family. Mr. and Mrs. McMurray are the parents of nine children, viz.: J. Henry, John A., Mary B., Margaret J., William J., Emma L., Caroline, Hervey B. and Charles R.

Text taken from page 1064 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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