Monmouth County NJ Archives Biographies.....Murray, George Crawford 1827 - 1884
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  Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)
  
  MURRAY, George Crawford,
  Ideal Citizen, Legislator.
  
    The late George Crawford Murray, of Middletown, Monmouth county, New Jersey,
  was one of those men whose lives and characters are of inestimable value as
  exemplars of what worthy lives should be. His ambition was ever along the
  worthiest lines and his whole life was devoted to the highest and best ideals.
  His nature was of singular sweetness, openness and sincerity. He had a profound
  knowledge of human nature, and was ever thoughtful for the welfare of his fellow
  beings. His family, which was of Scotch descent, was resident in New Jersey from
  about the middle of the eighteenth century.
  
    Joseph Murray, great-grandfather of George Crawford Murray, came to New Jersey
  from Londonderry, Ireland, with his mother, Elizabeth. His house, which is still
  standing, was built with a very solid foundation, also the barn, constructed
  about the same time. He was enrolled as a private in the First Regiment Monmouth
  Militia, recorded in Trenton as follows: "State of New Jersey, Office of
  Adjutant-General, Trenton, March 26th, 1895. It is certified that the records of
  this office show that Joseph Murray served as a Private in the First Regiment,
  Monmouth County, New Jersey, Militia in the Revolutionary War, and that he was
  killed by Tories at Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, June 8, 1780.
  (Seal). William S. Stryker, Adjutant-General." He was a plain, strong, fearless,
  straight-forward patriot, and was respected and trusted by his officers and
  comrades. He was buried in a little plot on his own farm, but his remains were
  moved October 16, 1855, by his grandson, William W. Murray, and on his head
  stone is the inscription: "Died in the service of his country." Mr. Murray
  married, about 1767, Rebecca Morris. Children: William, of further mention;
  James, at one time in the business of masons' supplies in New York City, later
  of Rossville, Staten Island, where his descendants still live, married
  Alice____; Joseph, owner of much land in New Jersey, resided and was in business
  in New York City in 1833; two daughters, the younger of whom married ____
  Havens, and moved to Southern New Jersey.
  
    William Murray, eldest son of Joseph and Rebecca (Morris) Murray, was born
  August 16, 1771, and died January 25, 1834. He was but nine years old when his
  father died, and at once was obliged to assist in the support of his mother and
  the younger children. He was apprenticed to learn the mason's trade, but did not
  follow this calling in later life. He had a team in 1792, and while working with
  this at plowing, he devoted every moment of his spare time to the study of
  bookkeeping, mathematics and surveying. He purchased his farm in Middletown
  village, April 11, 1815, paying $9,000, and later in the same year opened the
  store, which was conducted under the firm name of William Murray & Son. He was
  successful in both enterprises, and carried on both operations along the most
  progressive lines. The State Bank at Middletown Point was organized in 1830, and
  on January 2, 1832, Mr. Murray was elected as a director of this institution,
  and at the time of his death was one of the largest shareholders. He was
  postmaster of Middletown, and for many years trustee of the Middletown Baptist
  Church. August 20, 1832, Mr. Murray sold to the Baptist church, land back of it,
  to be used for a cemetery, and reserved a plot for himself. Mr. Murray married,
  December 2, 1792, Anna Schenck, born October 9, 1770, died August 17, 1822.
  Children: William W., of further mention; Eliza, married James Layton, of Chapel
  Hill and Hedden's Corners, a descendant of William Laiton or Layton, one of the
  Middletown patentees; James W., married Maria Lufburrow, and received the old
  Murray place on Poricy Brook; Sisera Ann, married Joseph Frost; Joseph
  Washington, died in his third year.
  
    William W. Murray, son of William and Anna (Schenck) Murray, was born November
  30, 1794, and died June 1, 1865. His education was the ordinary one of a country
  school, but he early displayed especial ability as a penman, bookkeeper and
  accountant. He became associated in business with his father in 1815, the firm
  name being William Murray & Son, and upon the death of the latter, continued the
  farming and mercantile interests alone. When the towns of Keyport and Red Bank
  were developed, all business was taken from Middletown, and the farm was rented
  to successive tenants, who allowed it to fall into bad condition. For many years
  Mr. Murray was postmaster of Middletown, and a trustee of the Baptist church,
  holding this office until his death. He and his wife greatly appreciated the
  value of a good education, and gave their children the best advantages that lay
  in their power. Mr. Murray married, November 20, 1817, Mary Crawford, born
  January 12, 1800, a daughter of George and Eleanor Crawford;
  great-great-granddaughter of the first John Crawford, of Middletown; and a
  descendant of Roelif Martinse Schenck, of Long Island; also of the Rev. Obadiah
  Holmes, of Rhode Island; and of Sheriff Daniel Hendrickson. Children: Lavinia,
  married James M. Hoagland, of the Dutch family of that name in Somerset county,
  New Jersey; Eleanor Crawford, married Henry G. Scudder, of Huntington, Long
  Island, a descendant of Thomas Scudder, the first emigrant of that name in Salem
  in 1635; George Crawford, whose name heads this sketch.
  
    George Crawford Murray, only son and youngest child of William W. and Mary
  (Crawford) Murray, was born in Middletown, Monmouth county, New Jersey, January
  3, 1827, and died there, November 24, 1884. He was but three years of age when
  his education was commenced in the school conducted by Mr. Austin, in a small
  building located in Dr. Edward Taylor's garden, opposite the east side of the
  Episcopal church, in Middletown. He also studied under Mr. Austin, in the old
  Franklin Academy. At the age of thirteen years he became a student at the
  Washington Institute, in New York City, and was there prepared for entrance to
  Yale College, now Yale University, under the preceptorship of Timothy Dwight
  Porter. He felt that his especial weakness was mathematics, and with the energy
  and ambition so characteristic of him from his earliest years, determined to
  pursue this study by himself. So successful was he in his efforts in this
  direction that, one year later (1841), he passed his entrance examination to
  Yale in this branch successfully. September 30, 1843, he received "Professor
  Playfair's Works" from the President and Fellows of Yale to George C. Murray,
  for excelling in the Solution of Mathematical Problems." In 1845 he was
  graduated as the youngest member of his class. By means of living plainly and
  economically upon the competent allowance he received from his father during his
  college years, he was enabled to put aside a handsome sum of money which he
  devoted to the purchase of standard works for a well chosen library. Following
  is an example of the esteem in which he was held by his classmates. One of them
  wrote: "My Dear Murray—An intimate acquaintance with you during the past year
  has served only to increase the feelings of high esteem which I have always
  entertained for you, and I regret exceedingly that I am so soon to part with one
  whose honesty of purpose, integrity of principle, united with real solid worth
  has won my admiration." His classmates expressed their estimate of his character
  in a series of farewell autographs, in which the words most frequently occurring
  were "integrity of character."
  
    Science and engineering would have been the branches chosen by Mr. Murray had
  he followed his own inclinations, and he was eminently fitted to achieve success
  in these fields. But the wishes of his parents were ever a paramount
  consideration with him, and it was their desire that he fit himself for either a
  legal or medical profession. Having decided upon law, he studied for almost a
  year with Peter D. Vroom, of Trenton, New Jersey, and then with the Hon. George
  Wood, of New York City, and was admitted to practice in the latter State,
  January 8, 1849. He then returned to Yale College, and there took a
  post-graduate course in analytical chemistry, in the new scientific department
  of the college. Returning to his home in August, 1850, he again yielded to the
  solicitations of his parents, who desired him to abandon professional work of
  any kind, and devote himself to agricultural pursuits. Repugnant as the idea was
  to his finely trained and developed mind, his filial devotion gained the day and
  he became a farmer. The energy and earnestness which had characterized his years
  of study did not fail him in this new field of industry, and he pursued all the
  distasteful details of farm life with thoroughness and a careful attention to
  detail, and applied to them original ideas, developed in his scientifically
  trained mind. Many of these ideas were adopted by others, and some of them
  changed slightly to meet altered conditions, are in use at the present time.
  While superintending some work in a marl pit, at Groom's Hill, on his farm, Mr.
  Murray, in February, 1858, had one of his feet crushed by the caving in of a
  mass of frozen earth, and, as Dr. Willard Parker, the eminent surgeon of New
  York who was called in consultation, said: "Young man, your clean, temperate
  life will save you and prevent the loss of that foot." The accident, however,
  caused a permanent lameness which necessitated the use of crutches for some
  time, and he was never able to walk without the aid of a strong cane. The larger
  part of his work on the farm was accomplished, thereafter, on horseback.
  Throughout his life he was an intense sufferer as a result of this accident, but
  bore his sufferings with admirable patience, and was always cheerful and
  uncomplaining.
  
    Mr. Murray was a keen observer of current events, and for some years prior to
  the outbreak of the Civil War he compiled several volumes of notes of speeches
  made by himself and others, having a bearing on the subject, and these are of
  great local interest to Monmouth county. He was frequently the orator of the day
  on public occasions, one of these, on which he delivered a particularly stirring
  and patriotic address, being May 26, 1861, when the people of Middletown erected
  a huge flagpole and raised a handsome flag. At the celebration, July 4, 1861,
  Mr. Murray made an eloquent and impassioned speech in favor of an undivided
  Union. On numerous other occasions he was equally convincing and patriotic.
  While a strong supporter of Democratic principles, Mr. Murray never allowed
  himself to be bound by party ties, but had the courage of his convictions, and
  did not hesitate to voice them, even at the expense of personal disadvantage. He
  was elected to the Legislature of New Jersey in the fall of 1861 and took an
  active part in the sessions. He served as a member of the committee on
  education, and the committee on the State Library. During this session the
  railroad companies were active in their efforts to obtain legislation which
  should be to their advantage, and in pursuance of this idea many fine dinners
  were given, to which Mr. Murray was also invited. After repeated and constant
  refusals on his part he was notified that if he did not come of his own accord,
  he would be compelled to attend by means of force. His reply was "that he would
  not accept the invitation; that he would be in his room at the appointed hour,
  but he wished to inform them that the first man who attempted to lay his hands
  upon him would do so at his own peril." He remained unmolested until the close
  of the term of office. While he was debarred from active service in the army or
  navy by reason of his lameness, Mr. Murray was nevertheless an active worker in
  the cause of the Union. By means of public addresses, by public debate, in which
  he never lost his self control, his influence was wide spread and a beneficial
  one. When the severity of the Draft Act of 1863 fell upon the poor men of his
  community, mostly upon the poor fishermen and the naturalized Irishmen, they
  appealed to him, their friend, for aid, knowing well that if there was help for
  them it would be found. In February, 1864, he obtained the endorsement of
  several prominent men of the town, and was thus enabled to draw a large sum of
  money from the Middletown Bank to be used for the purchase of substitutes for
  the poor men of the town who had been drafted, and whose families would be
  threatened with starvation were the only provider for the family taken from
  them. Mr. Murray strapped this "bounty money" securely about his body and set
  out for Washington, February 27, 1864. During this trip of nearly two weeks he
  was almost afraid to snatch a few moments for much needed rest, owing to the
  desperate character of men who followed him constantly, in the hope of securing
  this money. In spite of all his efforts, Mr. Murray was not able to secure the
  exemption of all the men for whom he pleaded, and upon his return to his home he
  made immense sacrifices in his endeavor to support the families who were left
  destitute. A large share of his crops was bestowed in charity of this nature,
  and upon him was bestowed the well earned and well deserved title of the "Poor
  man's friend." As a judge of election after the war, Mr. Murray accepted those
  voters who were eligible according to the laws then in force. This was against
  the ideas of some of the politicians and he was advised to leave his home, as
  his enemies would have him indicted for accepting illegal votes. He answered: "I
  will be right here on my place. If there is a grand jury in Monmouth county that
  will indict me for doing my duty, I am willing to stand my trial." And he
  remained at home until notified that the grand jury had refused to listen to the
  complaint against him.
    During his absence in Washington he had been elected assessor for the township
  of Middletown, an office he filled with ability for a number of years. When land
  became valuable along the Shrewsbury river for summer residences, Mr. Murray
  with his usual interest in behalf of the poorer classes, found that the small
  owners were bearing the larger share of the taxation, and he determined to
  rectify this matter. This resulted, as might have been foreseen, in the making
  of many enemies among the richer owners, but this did not deter Mr. Murray from
  carrying out his intention, which he did successfully.
  
    Upon the death of his father in 1865, Mr. Murray succeeded him as trustee of
  the Middletown Baptist Church, being the third generation in a direct line to
  hold this office, and in 1872, he was elected clerk of the board of trustees. In
  order to carry out the provisions of the will of his father, Mr. Murray was
  obliged to mortgage the farm, and his fortune was further decreased by the
  development of farming interests in the south and west. He abandoned
  conservative farming as being unproductive of pecuniary results, and commenced
  raising products easy of culture and requiring the least amount of labor. In
  many instances he supplanted the labor of human hands by machinery of his own
  invention, and during the period of ten years following the Civil War he made
  many experiments along the lines of increasing the commercial value of the
  products of his farm. A number of the experiments which he then made have since
  that time been taken into practical use, and have been productive of excellent
  results. He was neither extravagant nor a speculator, but in the scope of his
  work he was too far in advance of the times. He foresaw the fact that New Jersey
  would become a residential and commercial State rather than an agricultural one,
  but the time was not ripe for the successful carrying out of his ideas. When
  Monmouth county suffered heavy losses by the embezzlement of some tax
  collectors, Mr. Murray was active in the prosecution of George W. Patterson and
  Alvan B. Hallenbeck, tax collectors of Freehold and Middletown townships. In
  this matter he was acting deliberately against his private interests, as he was
  one of the bondsmen of Mr. Hallenbeck, but it was one of his fixed principles to
  place the public welfare above his private affairs, no matter at what cost to
  himself. Few believed that he was honest in his conduct of this matter, but he
  was upheld by the courage of his convictions. Having sustained other losses
  about the same time, Mr. Murray was unable to pay off the mortgage on his farm,
  and this was foreclosed in 1880. Bereft of all but his household goods, he again
  bravely took up the struggle for an existence, handicapped as he was oy lameness
  and approaching old age. This struggle, brave as it was, lasted but a few years,
  as he died on Thanksgiving Day, 1884.
  
    Mr. Murray married, February 27, 1855, Mary Catherine Cooper, born March 20,
  1833, a daughter of James and Rebecca (Patterson) Cooper; granddaughter of
  George and Abigail (Oakley) Cooper, of Westchester county, New York;
  great-granddaughter of James and Elizabeth (Douglas) Cooper, the latter a sister
  of Alexander Douglas, who earned fame at the battle of Trenton; and a descendant
  of "Benjamin Cooper, yeoman, late of ye Fresh Kills, Staten Island, now (1712)
  of Middletown, Monmouth county, New Jersey." Rebecca (Patterson) Cooper was the
  daughter of Judge Jehu and Hannah (Gordon) Patterson, the latter a
  great-granddaughter of Charles Gordon, one of the founders of old Tennent
  Church. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Murray: 1. Mary Crawford, became the wife of
  Dr. Ovid Allen Hyde, of Brooklyn, New York; children: Chester Ovid, and George
  Crawford, deceased. 2. Ella Cooper, became the wife of William T. Van Brunt, of
  Middletown, New Jersey; children: George Crawford, deceased; and Catherine M. 3.
  George Crawford, a practical electrician; married (first) Gertrude Whitman, of
  Brooklyn, New York; child, Gertrude Dorothy; married (second) Mary Daud, of
  Brooklyn, New York; children: Maria Daud and Anita.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  
  Extracted from:
  
  MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY
  
  UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN
  
  VOLUME III
  MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
  1917
  
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