Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Murray, Patrick T 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 7:25 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Murray, Patrick T., city editor of the Grundy County Gazette, first saw the 
light of day in Liverpool, England, March 20, 1868. He was the youngest son of 
Thomas J. and Catherine (Mulheir) Murray, who were born in County Galway, 
Ireland, and passed away at the ages of sixty-five and seventy-five years 
respectively. He came with his parents to Morris, Ill., when six years of age, 
and has lived here continuously ever since. A sister and two brothers 
emigrated here before the parents came.

Mr. Murray was educated in the Morris schools, leaving the high school at the 
age of fifteen years, when he was about to graduate.  At that age he entered 
upon the stormy career of a printer’s “devil,” accepting employment with the 
Morris Independent, and has been identified with the printing profession in 
the different departments from “devil” to proprietor, since that time.

In July, 1889, he joined with F. N. Hull and J. A. Kutz in the establishment 
of the Morris Daily Post. Perhaps no newspaper was ever started under more 
inauspicious circumstances.  Five printers were idle in Morris at that time, 
and the Daily News was being published by Rev. C. R. Morrison. The News’ 
subscription list had been dwindling for some time, and Messrs Kutz, Hull and 
Murray were urged to launch a daily in opposition. The principal difficulty 
was the lack of funds. Finally the father of Mr. Hull offered to furnish the 
office for the paper in the Hull block as his son’s share, until the firm 
could pay rent. Mr. Kutz possessed an antiquated jobbing-press and a few fonts 
of type, which he tendered as his share. It was up to Murray to furnish the 
cash capital; an inventory of his assets showed a “lead quarter” and no real 
estate. At last, when hope had almost departed, he was furnished $50 by the 
late Truman A. Hand, with nothing but his personal note for security. Thus was 
the Daily Post started on a cash capital of $50. It made money and existed for 
twenty years. In 1891 Mr. Kutz relinquished his holdings and in 1894, Mr. 
Murray retired, leaving Mr. Hull as the sole owner.

On January 31, 1893, Mr. Murray was married to Miss Celia Malady, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Malady, early pioneers of Grundy County. They have two 
children, a son and a daughter. Mr. Murray is a member of the Catholic Church 
and was for a time leader of its choir. He is Grand Knight of the Knights of 
Columbus and Recording Secretary of the Catholic Order of Foresters, and has 
held other offices of trust in both societies, since they were chartered. He 
has been a staunch Democrat since he attained his minority, but has never 
sought or held any political office. He has been identified in some manner 
with most of the newspapers in Morris and is well acquainted with the upward 
and downward careers of all of them. He and his family reside at 614 East 
North Street, Morris, Ill.

page 872

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/murray930nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 3.6 Kb