BIO: Rev. Joseph Alexander MURRAY, D.D., Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 152-154 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ REV. JOSEPH ALEXANDER MURRAY, D. D., was born in Carlisle, Pa., Oct. 2, 1815. His father, George Murray, only son of William and Susanna (Sly) Murray, born near Fort Pitt, March 17, 1762, was the first white child born within the limits of Pittsburg, Pa. Early left an orphan, he lived with his mother's parents on their farm in Westmoreland Co., Pa. At about twelve years of age, he came to Carlisle, assisting in driving cattle over the mountains and subsequently made it his residence, as an "Orphan in care of James Pollock, Thomas Alexander and George Stevenson." He learned the trade of blacksmith with Capt. Simon Boyd, whose partner and ultimate successor in an extensive business he became, as well as his brother-in-law. In 1814 he was married, by Dr. Davidson, to Mary (Polly) Denny, daughter of William and Agnes (Parker) Denny, sister of Major Ebenezer Denny, and sister-in-law of Capt. Boyd. William Denny was a prominent citizen of Carlisle, a coroner of the county, and his wife a woman of marked character. CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 153 [See Ebenezer Denny.] George Murray was a model artisan. He died in Carlisle, May 6, 1855, in his 94th year, highly esteemed for his high-toned and upright character. The subject of this sketch, Joseph Alexander Murray, the youngest of a family of four sons and one daughter, received his preparatory education in Carlisle, was for a time a student in Dickinson College and completed his college course at the Western University of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg, from which he was graduated in 1837, and at once entered the Western Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, from which he was graduated in 1840. During his student life, in college and seminary, he was a member of the family of his cousin, Hon. Harmar Denny, a prominent lawyer, mayor of Pittsburg, member of Congress, and influential in national politics of that day. The contact of young Murray with many of the leading men of the Whig school, and the associations of his home, continued into his later years, and had much to do with imparting breadth to his character and information, and the courteous manners and dignified bearing which always characterized him. His pen was frequently effectively employed, even as a young man, in the political discussions of that day. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio in October, 1840, and supplied for some time a church at Miami, Ohio, and, although cordially urged to continue his work there, during a visit to Carlisle in 1842, he accepted a call to the church at Dillsburg, Pa., where he became so attached to the church and its people that he continued with them until, by reason of impaired health, in 1858, he was obliged to give up the active pastorate. He had not only been a pastor to his charge, but as a model citizen, was interested in every enterprise promotive of the interests of the borough. He was especially active in regard to public education, and was president, for many years, of the Board of Directors of public schools. He removed to Carlisle, and although his health improved, and seemed to be quite restored, he never felt at liberty again to resume the responsibility of a charge, but was always active in pulpit ministrations and all kinds of church work. He was a member of the General Assembly in 1844, 1861, 1865 and 1875. He was appointed, with Judge H. W. Williams, to defend an important decision of his Synod before the General Assembly in 1875, and was appointed a member of the Judicial committee. In 1876 he was made moderator of the Synod of Harrisburg by acclamation. His scholarly habits and tastes led him into many fields of literary activity. He became especially known for his thorough, painstaking, intelligent research in State and National, as well as local, history, and was regarded as an authority on many historical, biographical and antiquarian questions, and accumulated a large amount of documentary material. He was readily accessible, and always ready to give information. He was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, Corresponding Member of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, and of other Historical Societies. He was the active secretary of the Hamilton Library Association, of Carlisle, from its organization to his decease, and did much to direct and encourage the accumulation of local historical literature. His contributions to literary, historical and religious periodicals have been numerous, and some of unique value. Many of his public addresses have been published. The Western 154 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. Theological Seminary conferred on him the degree of D. D. in 1869, and in 1886 he was elected a director of that institution. In April, 1843, Dr. Murray married Miss Ann Hays Blair, daughter of Andrew Blair, a prominent citizen of Carlisle. She died in 1875, leaving a daughter, their only child, Mary Elizabeth, married in 1868 to Prof. Charles F. Himes, Ph. D., of Dickinson College. In 1879 he was married to Miss Lydia Steele Foster, of Philadelphia, who survives him. He died in Carlisle, Nov. 27, 1889, in his seventy-fifth year.