Minerd.com Biography of Alexander and Alice Ann (Simmons) McMurray of Grove City and Columbus, OH

Alexander McMurray Jr.
(1854-1924)

Alexander McMurray Jr. was born on March 18, 1854 in Ohio, the son of Alexander Blaine "Alex" and Mary (Houser) McMurray Jr.

In about 1876, at the age of about 22, he married Alice Ann Simmons (Nov. 1853-1923), the daughter of Addison and Mary E. (Bulen) Simmons of Columbus, OH.

Four children were born to the couple -- Charles McMurray, William McMurray, Dora Crabbe and Grace McMurray.

Circa 1880-1900, the family dwelled on a farm in Pleasant Township on the western outskirts of Grove City, Franklin County, OH. The census-taker of 1880 spelled their surname "McMerry." In 1906, when named in the last will and testament of his father, his address was listed in court papers as Pennsylvania, OH.

Alice suffered from gallstones, caused by stomach cancer and colon problems, and died at the age of 69 on June 19, 1923.

Skyline of Columbus, Ohio

As a widower, Alexander moved into the nearby city of Columbus, OH, and made his home at 180 South Harris Avenue. He bore the disease of diabetes, like his younger brothers.

He died a little over a year after his wife, at the age of 69, on Nov. 13, 1924. His remains were laid to rest beside his wife in Mount Sterling, Madison County.

~ Son Charles I. McMurray ~

Son Charles I. McMurray (1879-1945) was born on Feb. 18, 1879 in Georgesville, Franklin County, OH.

He followed his father's occupation of farming and in 1903 lived in the community of his birth. Charles was of medium height and build, with blue eyes and black hair.

On Oct. 15, 1903, he was united in matrimony with 22-year-old Georgesville resident Caroline S. Bukey (Sept. 11 or 30, 1881-1968), daughter of Edward Morgan and Anna (Sked) Bukey. The wedding was held in Franklin County, by the hand of Rev. J.E. Walter of Harrisburg, OH.

Three known offspring of this union were Mary "Elizabeth" Brown, Ruth Landes, Paul Melvin McMurray and Josephine McMurray.

When required to register for the military draft during World War I, he marked his occupation as farmer and post office address as Grove City in Pleasant Township, Franklin County. Census records for 1920 list the family in nearby Harrisburg, OH.

They are known to have attended the Bulen family reunion on Aug. 26, 1920, held "at the pleasant rural home of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Bulen west of town," said the Richwood (OH) Gazette. They "spent a most enjoyable day together. All came with well filled baskets and at the noon hour an elaborate picnic dinner was enjoyed."

Grief blanketed the family when daughter Josephine, born prematurely, died after only a few hours of life on Aug. 7, 1921. Her tender remains were interred in Mount Sterling Cemetery.

Then in 1942, when again registering for the military draft, they remained on a farm in Pleasant Township.

Sadly, stricken with liver cancer, Charles died at the age of 66 in their home on the London-Groveport Road on March 3, 1945.

Caroline outlived him by 23 years. She died at the age of 86, in Columbus, on March 23, 1968. Burial was in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling.

Daughter Mary "Elizabeth" McMurray (1904-1973) was born on Aug. 27, 1904 in Franklin County. She resided in Grove City in young adulthood. On Nov. 27, 1923, at the age of 21, she married 21-year-old Lester N. Brown (Jan. 4, 1901-1945) of Lilly Chapel, OH and the son of John M. and Anna D. (Lawrence) Brown..The marriage was conducted by Rev. W.H. Harble. Five offspring were born to this union -- Donald Brown, Charles Brown, Ruth Eleanor Welch, Carolyn Wilson and Frances Pickering. The family lived at Lilly Chapel in the 1930s and often spent Sundays visiting at the home of Elizabeth's parents. Then in about 1941, they moved to a home at 8321 Harrisburg Pike in rural Pickaway County, OH. Lester earned a living as an attendant at the Institute for the Feeble-Minded, formed in 1898 as a farming community of the Columbus State School for "idiotic and imbecile youth." Sadly, Lester was burdened with heart disease and bronchial asthma. At the age of 42, he died on Sept. 20, 1945, bringing to a close their union of 22 years. Elizabeth supported herself as a widow through employment at her husband's workplace, now known as the Orient State Institute. She retired in about 1973 after working there for 30 years. In early 1973, with her health in decline, she was admitted to the Monterey Nursing Home in Grove City and was there for her final five months oflife. Sadly, at the age of 69, she died on Aug. 28, 1973. Her obituary was published in the Washington Court House Record-Herald. The headcount of her survivors was 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Burial was in Pleasant Cemetery.

Grandson Donald Lowell Brown (1924-1999) was born on Oct. 19, 1924. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Donald later moved to Albuquerque, NM. He passed away on Dec. 20, 1999, at the age of 75. Burial was in Fort Bayard National Cemetery in New Mexico.

Granddaughter Ruth Eleanor Brown (1926-2002) was born on Jan. 2, 1926. She lived in Harrisburg, OH in young womanhood. When she was 19 years of age, on Nov. 10, 1945, she married 22-year-old salesman Arthur Nathan Welch (Nov. 2, 1923-2000), a native of Toledo. News of their marriage license was printed in the Circleville (OH) Herald. Arthur had served as a gunner's mate in the U.S. Navy during World War II. One known daughter of the couple was Donna Sue Andrews. Circa 1968-1973, they dwelled in Columbus. Arthur died two days before Christmas 2000. Ruth surrendered to the spirit of death at the age of 76, in Columbus, on Nov. 10, 2002. Her remains sleep for the ages in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling. Their daughter Donna Sue is believed to have married Charles William Andrews Jr. in July 1968 but this needs to be confirmed.

Granddaughter Carolyn Brown (1929-2007) was born on May 27, 1929 in Lilly Chapel, OH. She was thrice-wed. Her first spouse is believed to have been Everett Merrill Pierce (1924-1988). They bore three known children, Marjorie Ray, Everett "Bud" Pierce and John Pierce. Her second husband was Charles Kensler ( ? - ? ). She tied the knot a third time with railroader James Asbury Wilson (Oct. 1, 1935-1996). He brought three stepchildren into the union -- Michael Wilson, Becky Grubich and Douglas Wilson. The Wilsons were in Gahanna, OH in 1973 and stayed to the end. James died at the age of 60 on March 6, 1996. The remains were lowered in to the sacred soil of Pleasant Cemetery. Carolyn survived her husband by 11 years. She held a membership in the Glenwood United Methodist Church and the local lodge of the Women of the Moose. In her free time she liked to raise her dogs, shop and read. At the age of 77, she died in the intensive care unit of Ohio State University Medical Center on May 24, 2007. Pastor Robert Alexander presided at the funeral, with burial in Pleasant Cemetery. In an obituary in the Columbus Dispatch, the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the Children's Heart Foundation-Ohio Chapter or the Stephanie Spielman Breast Cancer Foundation. Her daughter Marjorie (1947-2020) wed Donald Ray, lived in Columbus and died on Aug. 24, 2020 -- son Everett entered into marriage with Lisa and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC -- and son John married Judy and put down roots in Waterville, OH.

Grandson Charles Brown ( ? - ? ) was united in matrmony with Pam. He lived in Grove City, OH in 1973-2007. Charles was named as a "special cousin" in the 2015 obituary of his cousin Kenneth W. McMurray.

Granddaughter Frances Pauline Brown (1931-1994) was born on March 15, 1931 in Franklin Conty, OH. On Feb. 18, 1950, at the age of 18, she entered into marriage with World War II Army veteran Ralph Armour Pickering (1924-2000). One child was born in this family. Ralph made a living as a janitor. Their residence was in Derby, OH in the early 1970s. Frances filed for divorce in June 1971, citing "gross neglect and extreme cruelty," but the pair appears to have reconciled. Frances died on March 2, 1994 at the age of 62. Her remains were interred in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling. Ralph endured for another six years. The angel of death cleaved him away on Nov. 23, 2000.

Business district of London, Madison County

Daughter Ruth Alice McMurray (1906-1990) was born in 1906. Circa 1924, she married widower Francis Joseph "Frank" Landes (1898-1976), a native of Orient, Pickaway County, and the son of Thomas and Katie (Bettinger) Landes. He had been wed once before, in 1919 to Wanda Clark (1896-1920). Together, they produced at least two children, Melvin Lee Landes and Helen Louise Martin. In 1945, Ruth Alice and Frank made their dwelling-place in Lockbourne, OH. By 1973, they lived in London, OH. Frank passed away in 1976. Ruth Alice survived as a widow for another 14 years. She died in 1990. Their remains sleep in eternal repose in Pleasant Cemetery.

Grandson Melvin Lee Landes (1929-2005) was born on Jan. 12, 1929. In 1948, he tied the marital knot with Norma Lorene Archer (Dec. 31, 1929-2010), daughter of Nathan G. and Ruth (Stewart) Archer of Elkins, WV. Their trio of offspring were Kathy Liston, Kandy Deemer and Phil Landes. They were longtime dairy farmers in Groveport, OH, and at one time both Melvin and Norma were employed by the Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Landeses belonged to the Lockbourne United Methodist Church. Their final home was in Stoutsville, OH. Death spirited him away at the age of 76 on April 28, 2005. Following funeral rites led by Rev. Charles Moeller, burial was in Fernwood Cemetery in Lockbourne, Franklin County, with an obituary appearing in the Columbus Dispatch. Norma endured for five years and moved to Circleville. She passed into eternity on July 11, 2010. Rev. Moeller again was called to preside at the funeral service. As of 2005, daughter Kathy was married to Bruce Liston and dwelled in Circleville -- daughter Kandy was wed to Ralph Deemer and had put down roots in Amanda, OH -- and son, Phil was married to Nancy and resided in Groveport.

Granddaughter Helen Louise Landes ( ? - ? ) entered into marriage with (?) Martin. She lived in Columbus in 2005.

Son Paul Melvin McMurray (1920-1995) was born on June 9, 1920. He exchanged marital vows with Mary Elizabeth Rae (Jan. 12, 1919-2003), daughter of James B. Weaver and Gladys (McKinley) Rae and a native of Columbus. They lived in London, OH and were the parents of Kenneth W. McMurray. He passed away in London on March 11, 1995, at the age of 74. Mary Elizabeth relocated to New Vienna, Clinton County, OH, where her final residence was in Sharonview Nursing Home. There, she died at the age of 84 on April 19, 2003.

Grandson Kenneth W. McMurray (1939-2015) was born on Oct. 12, 1939 in Franklin County, OH. In March 1965, when he was 25 years of age, he tied the marital knot with Barbara ( ? - ? ). Their union endured for nearly half a century. Together, they produced a family of children, among them Kelly Sparks and Saundra McMurray. The McMurrays were dairy farmers in the Mount Sterling area. Kenneth also earned income for 23 years with Stanley Electric in London. He served on the Madison Plains School Board and was a member of the National Farmers Organization. Sadly, he died at home at the age of 75 on Jan. 7, 2015. Rev. Gordon Ell presided over the funeral rites, with burial following in Bethel Cemetery. Their daughter Kelly married Roger Sparks and daughter Saundra was a companion of Craig Neff.

~ Son William McMurray ~

Son William McMurray (1880-1952) was born on June 6, 1880 in Harrisburg, Franklin County, OH. He grew up assisting his father in farming chores.

When he was 22 years of age, living in Columbus, he was joined in wedlock with Carrie Elizabeth Johnson (June 26/29, 1878-1937), daughter of Peter and Martha (Dennison) Johnson. Rev. N.W. Good presided over their nuptials.

The pair of children produced by the couple were Louise Clark and Clyde McMurray.

They lived in Grove City near Columbus.

On the fateful day, while walking on the Lockbourne Harrisburg Road, Carrie was struck by an automobile which fractured her skull. She was unable to recover and succumbed to the spectre of death at the age of 64 on April 27, 1937. No newspaper accounts have been found of the tragedy.

William lived for another 15 years. Sadly, at the age of 70, on May 4, 1952, he suffered a heart attack and died at home after a long illness. His obituary appeared in the Madison County Democrat. Burial took place next to his wife in Mount Sterling, OH.

Daughter Louise McMurray wed (?) Clark. She lived with her father in Grove City in 1952.

Son William "Clyde" McMurray (1904-1962) was born in 1904. He put down roots in Columbus. He wed Helen J. Cione (July 25, 1907-2001). They do not appear to have reproduced. When the federal census enumeration was made in1940, of Columbus, Clyde's occupation was as a clerk in a stone plant. Census records for 1950 show Clyde employed as office manager in the sales and traffic department of a limestone production company. He suffered a heart attack and died in Columbus at the age of 58 on Feb. 1, 1962. Helen outlived him by nearly four decades. Their remains are in eternal sleep in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling. At the age of 93, the angel of death clipped her away on Feb. 25, 2001.

~ Daughter Dora (McMurray) Crabbe ~

Madison County Courthouse, London, OH

Daughter Dora McMurray (1884-1967) was born on March 15, 1884 in Madison County, OH.

She became a teacher in young womanhood, living in Grove City near Columbus.

On Oct. 4, 1906, in a wedding held in Franklin County, the 23-year-old Dora entered into marriage with 26-year-old farmer John "Clyde" Crabbe (March 31, 1881-1961), a resident of Big Plain, OH and the son of John Crabbe. Officiating was Rev. Leroy J. Hopper.

A trio of known children of the pair were Ethel B. Thompson, Judge Charles William Crabbe and Robert Crabbe.

The Crabbes lived for years on a farm at London, Madison County. Clyde and his family were active in politics and public affairs, with his brothers Charles serving as Attorney General of Ohio, Harvey as a prosecuting attorney in Madison County and G.W. as executive secretary of the Anti-Saloon League of America, based in Baltimore, MD. Reported the Springfield News-Sun, Clyde also "served as town marshal of London, deputy sheriff of Madison County and a guard at the London Correctional Institution."

Clyde often was in the news in his working years. One of the highlights was his questioning of a suspect in the 1927 murder case of Constable Henry Beathard, who had been attacked in his sleep.

Sadly, at the age of 81, Clyde passed away at home on June 18, 1961. Funeral services were led by Rev. R. Cochrun, with interment in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling, OH. An obituary was printed in the News-Sun.

Dora survived as a widow for nearly three years. She was gathered away by the angel of death on May 24, 1967. They sleep for eternity in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling.

Daughter Ethel B. Crabbe wed E.G. Thompson ( ? - ? ), son of John Thompson of Columbus, OH. The couple resided in Pittsburgh in 1950, Columbus in 1953, Buffalo, NY in 1953 and Pittsburgh again in 1961.

Son Charles William Crabbe ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). He received a degree from Ohio State University and then in January 1944 graduated from the Ohio Northern University College of Law. When he passed the Ohio bar examination in March 1944, the Springfield News-Sun said he was "the seventh member in his family to attain this record." In time he became a Madison County Probate Judge.

Son Robert Crabbe ( ? - ? ) dwelled in London, Madison County in 1961.

~ Daughter Grace McMurray ~

Daughter Grace McMurray (1887- ? ) was born in Nov. 1887.

Sadly, she only lived into her early teens.

Grace passed away in 1902. Her youthful remains were laid into the sleep of the ages in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling and a stone erected at the grave. The cause of her untimely death is not yet known.