OBIT: Robert A. McMURTRIE, 1880, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

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SUDDEN DEATH OF HON. ROBERT A. McMURTRIE.
A Brief Sketch of His Life.

  The TRIBUNE yesterday morning contained a brief notice of the sudden 
and unexpected death of Hon. R. A. McMurtrie, a prominent lawyer of 
Hollidaysburg, which occurred at 5 o'clock on Sunday afternoon.  On 
Sunday morning the deceased occupied his accustomed seat in the 
Presbyterian church and listened attentively to the sermon preached by 
his pastor, Rev. D. H. Barron.  After the services he walked to his 
residence, and having rested a few moments walked almost two squares 
further to his office.  Feeling badly he returned to his home at 4 
o'clock and lay down upon a lounge, complaining of a terribly 
oppressive sensation in his head.  Dr. J. A. Landis, his physician, was 
summoned, who upon examination found the pulse almost gone, and in 
spite of the skillful attention of the physician and the loving 
ministrations of anxious friends the pulsations grew fainter and 
fainter, until, in one hour after, they ceased entirely.  Although Mr. 
McMurtrie's health has been greatly impaired for some months past he 
bore his sufferings with calm resignation and seldom uttered even the 
slightest complaint.
  Robert Allison McMurtrie was born in Petersburg, Huntingdon county, 
in the year 1812, and was consequently at the time of his death in the 
69th year of his age.  After graduating from Jefferson College with 
high honor, he entered the law office of Judge Reed at Carlisle.  In 
the year 1833 he was admitted to the Huntingdon county bar, which was 
presided over at the time by the late Judge Burnsides.  In 1840 Mr. 
McMurtrie located in Hollidaysburg, where he has since resided.  His 
brilliant talents soon gave him a prominent position at the bar of this 
county, and he has long been regarded as one of its leading members.  
Early in his career he turned his attention to politics, and was 
elected to the Legislature as a Whig in 1844.  Subsequently in 1851 he 
was returned to the same position.  Afterwards Mr. McMurtrie was 
elected to the State Senate for a term of three years.
  After the close of this Senatorial term Mr. McMurtrie devoted himself 
to the practice of his profession, with great success.  Mr. McMurtrie 
was one of a family of eleven children, of whom only two brothers, 
Messrs. David and William McMurtrie, of Huntingdon, and a sister, Mrs. 
J. A. McCahan, of Y switches, survive.  The funeral will occur from his 
late residence at 2 o'clock this (Tuesday) afternoon, and the remains 
will be interred by the side of his two wives, in the Presbyterian 
cemetery.  The Blair County Bar Association will attend the funeral, a 
meeting for that purpose having been called to convene in the Court 
Chamber at 1 o'clock P.M.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, August 31, 1880