DAVID L. MURRAY
History of Arizona, 1896


This gentleman who is treasurer of Maricopa Co. Az is worthy and 
well qualified in every respect for the responsible position he 
fills and being a whole-souled, generous man, is deservedly 
popular with the public in general.  He is a native of Greene 
Co. Missouri, born January 31, 1847, and the son of John and 
Annis (Sullens) Murray, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee.  
When both parents were young they went to Missouri and there were 
married.  The father followed farming all his days and the 
closing scenes of his life were passed in Missouri.  

To him and his worthy wife were born one child, our subject, 
but by previous marriages the parents had several children.

Our subject reached mature years in his native county, attended 
the country schools and assisted in the arduous duties of the 
farm.  Later he entered the State University but on account of 
illness remained but two years.  He then, for some years, was 
employed in mercantile business. In 1873 he went to Colorado, 
located in Huerfano Co. and there engaged in stock raising 
which he followed with fair success until 1875.  From there he 
went to San Juan County and was engaged in the cattle business 
meeting with unusual success.  For five years he was surrounded 
by Indians, but he never had any serious trouble with them.  In 
the year 1883 he went to Southern California, remained there a 
few months and in December 1883, came to Phoenix, Az where he 
immediately engaged in the livestock business, buying ranch 
cattle.  

Later he embarked in the butcher business and brought his cattle, 
as he needed them in from the mountains and supplied Phoenix with 
first class meat. As his trade increased he opened two meat 
markets in Phoenix and these he conducted for about six years.  
In 1891 he built a good cold storage plant, the first one in 
Phoenix and in this he could store twenty beeves, always having 
his meat in excellent condition.  In the month of March 1893 he 
sold out his market and engaged in the live stock commission 
business, which he carried on until 1894, in the fall of which 
year he was elected treasurer of Maricopa County.  This position 
he still holds and discharges its duties in a most satisfactory 
manner.

Mr. Murray owns property in Phoenix and is very comfortably 
fixed.  While a resident of Colorado he served as commissioner 
of La Plata County one term, three years. Although he started 
out to fight life's battles with limited means, by force of 
character and unusual determination he has made his way to the 
front and is honored and esteemed by all.  As a stockman he is 
thoroughly posted, having been in the business most of his 
lifetime.  But while thus engaged he did not lose sight of his 
duties as a citizen.  He has many warm friends throughout the 
Territory and is very popular with the masses.  In the year 
1869 he wedded Miss Sarah F. Guthrie, a native of Missouri and 
they have three interesting children--William J., Lillian and 
Etta.

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