Murrayt
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
THOMAS M. MURRAY, who is now
numbered with the leading and progressive citizens of Okanogan county is
a man of great experience in the ways of the world, having traveled much
and wrought at various occupations in many places. He is at present
living on the homestead which he took in 1887, about one mile up the river
from where Malott stands. The farm is a good one and is skillfully
handled to general crops and fruit. Mr. Murray also raises some stock
and is known as one of the prosperous men of the valley. He has shown
real wisdom and enterprise in the fruit business, having an orchard of
over three thousand bearing trees of every variety that does well in this
latitude. He ships to various points and produces some of the finest
fruit to be seen in this part of the state.
Thomas W. Murray was born in Ireland on December
20, 1836, the son of Michael and Anna (Maloy) Murray, both natives also
of that country. The parents were descended from the true Celtic
stock and were able to talk the mother tongue. They came to Canada,
settling near Ottawa and there reared their children, who are named as
follows: John, Garrett, Bridget, Maggie, Mary and our subject, Thomas
M. On October 4, 1862, Mr. Murray was married to Miss Nora Ring,
a native of Canada. Her parents, Edmund and Ellen (Roche) Ring, are
both deceased. In 1866 Mr. Murray came to Chicago and then journeyed
to Kansas. Later he returned to Canada and then brought his family
on to Chicago. After this he removed to Duluth, Minnesota, and worked
on railroad bridge work. Soon after we find him farming the prairies
of Minnesota, but when the grasshoppers ate his crops he removed to the
vicinity of Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he had his property washed out
by a flood. Then he fitted up a team and came overland to Denver,
Colorado. After mining some time there he did construction work on
the South Park railroad, and after its completion received a free pass
to the Oregon Short Line and stopped at American Falls. Later he
came on to Boise and in 1883 he made his way to Umatilla county, Oregon.
He left Boise in January, and on account of the deep snow stopped over
in Weiser, where his youngest child was born. He located a preemption
on Camas prairie, but later sold it on account of not liking the country.
He journeyed on until he reached Okanogan county in February, 1887, and
in the following April located his present place. He was well pleased
with both the country and the climate and since those early days Mr. Murray
has constantly devoted himself to the improvement and culture of his estate.
The farm is located on the west bank of the Okanogan and is a beautiful
and valuable place. In addition to the enterprises already mentioned
Mr. Murray raises considerable stock and is a prosperous man.
To Mr. and Mrs. Murray ten children have been
born, named as follows: Michael E., at Priest River, Idaho; Clement J.,
a mining expert; Ambrose R., a miner; Sarsefield, a miner; Ellen; Mary;
Thomas J.; Angela; Teresa; and Maggie.