Biographical Sketch of J. N. McMurtrey, Dent County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
**********************************************************************

Dr. J. N. McMurtrey, a prominent practitioner of Salem, and druggist of
the same place, was born in Madison county, Mo., in 1842, being the son
of Alexander and Rebecca (Powell) McMurtrey, and grandson of Alexander
McMurtrey, who was a minister by profession.  In his early life he 
practiced the Presbyterian doctrine, but in later years the Christian
faith.  About 1811 he immigrated to Southeast Missouri, locating in 
what is now Madison county, and was in that state before it was admit-
ted into the Union.  He was one of the very first white settlers in 
that section of the state, and a prominent man, being one of the
pioneer preachers.  Alexander McMurtrey, Jr., was married in Madison
County, Mo., and in 1847 moved to Independence, Missouri, where he died
in 1850, while yet in the prime of life.  He was of Scotch-Irish 
descent.  Mrs. Rebecca (Powell) McMurtrey was born in North Carolina in
1802, and died in Salem, Mo., in 1882.  After the death of Mr. McMurt-
rey, she married Samuel Aldridge, who is also deceased.  She was the 
mother of thirteen children, all by the first marriage, and seven now
living.  Of this family Dr. J. N. McMurtrey is the youngest boy.  He
received his literary education at Bluff Springs, Tenn., and at Miami
University, Oxford, Ohio.  At the age of twenty-one he began teaching,
and followed this in Marshall county, Ill., one term.  In 1866 he comm-
enced the study of medicine in St. Louis, and in 1868 graduated as an
M. D. in the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio.  October 21,
of the following year, he married Miss Eliza J. Kindig, who was born in
Woodford county, Ill., in 1847.  To them were born six children: 
Jessie, Walter, Tessie, Clifford, Deane and Percy.  After graduating
Dr. McMurtrey came to Salem, Mo., where he entered upon the practice of
his profession, and this he has actively followed ever since, with the
exception of 1870, when he was in Henderson county, Ill.  One year 
later he established a drug store at Salem; his first class stock of
drugs, as large if not the largest in Dent County.  Dr. McMurtrey has
a large and lucrative practice, and is one of the leading physicians 
and surgeons of Dent county.  He is a stanch Democrat in his political
views, casting his first vote for Horace Greeley.  He was postmaster
for Salem from July to the fall of 1887, and is a member of the 
I.O.O.F. and A.O.U.W.  He and wife and eldest daughter are members of 
the Missionary Baptist Church.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Joe Miller <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================