Charles C. Murray
There is no one feature that tends so much to give a city a reputation for progress as the facilities afforded both residents and visitors for transacting business and thus adding pleasure to convenience. Prominent among the establishments of Washington Court House may be mentioned that owned and managed by Mr. Murray, and located at No. 228 East Court Street. The dimensions of the building are 110x22 feet, the first floor being stocked with a complete line of furniture, while the second story contains a well-selected stock of carpets. In addition to furniture and carpets, Mr. Murray carries on an uudertaking business, for which he has excellent facilities in his establishment.
Mr. Murray was born in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, June 5, 1853, the son of Samuel C. and Emma (Allen) Murray. His father was born in Ross County, three miles from the village of Greenfield, of which Grandfather Murray was a pioneer. He was a prominent citizen of the place, and there engaged in the harness and saddlery business for many years. He and his wife reared a large family of children, concerning whom the following is recorded: Frank was a resident of Washington Court House for twenty years, but died at Topeka, Kan., in 1885; Owen, formerly a resident of Washington Court House, is deceased; Carrie married Fay Baldwin, who is Cashier of the Highland County Bank; Russell is engaged in business as an undertaker at Frankfort, Ross County; Samuel, who for fifteen years was a druggist at Washington Court House, now resides in Kentucky, sixty miles south of Cincinnati. Fannie is at Greenfield, and Harry resides in Cincinnati. The father and mother still survive and are esteemed throughout the community where they have spent their entire lives. They are faithfully devoted to the welfare of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are members.
An attendant for some years at the public schools of Greenfield, our subject has gained his education, however, principally through close observation and experience. After serving an apprenticeship of three years at the carriage-making trade, and later learning the cabinet-maker's trade in Greenfield, he engaged in business at Bainbridge, and was also for a time in the employ of Stewart & Meek, of Washington Court House. For six ycars, he carried on a successful business as an undertaker and dealer in furniture at Bainbridge, after which he sold out and opened a store at Washington Court House in 1884. It was not long until he had built up a successful business in the furniture and undertaking line, to which, in January, 1890, he added a carpet department. He has purchased the substantial brick building occupied by his store and expects soon to put in a fine glass front and make other improvements.
A Democrat in politics, Mr, Murray has no time to devote to public offices, although qualified to discharge oflficial duties with credit to himself. In his social connections, he is identified with Temple Lodge and Fayette Encampment, I O. O. F., and the Knights of Pythias. The lady who became the wife of our subject May 10, 1880, and who has since been his cheerful and devoted helpmate, bore the maiden name of Sina V. Logan, and was born at Washington Court House in March, 1858. Her father, Capt. Wilson Logan, was killed during active service in the late war, and her mother, who is a daughter of Judge Joel Bearman, still resides in Washington Court House. Mrs. Murray is an accomplished lady and is especially proficient in music, having been a student in the Conservatory of Music at Cincinnati. In their religious preference, Mr. and Mrs. Murray are attendants at and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are generous contributors to all charitable measures. They are the parents of two sons. Shepherd and Fay.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]