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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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R. Murray, transfer and coal dealer, also manager and owner of the street-sprinkler system, Hot Springs, Ark. The parents of Mr. Murray, John and Christina (McCloud) Murray, were natives of Southerlandshire, Scotland, and came to Canada at an early day. They settled in County Oxford, and there the mother still resides, but the father died about 1875. He was a prominent agriculturist. The subject of this sketch was born in County Oxford, Canada, January 12, 1854, being one of eight children, four sons and four daughters: Alexander (in Michigan), Robert, James (in Michigan), Daniel (in Canada), Margaret (in Michigan), Jannette (in Michigan), Catherine and Christina (at home). Young Murray attained his growth and received his education in his native county, where he remained until 1879, when he came to the United States, subsequently working at different places (Detroit, Memphis and St. Louis). In 1883 he located at Hot Springs, Ark., and drove a wagon for some time, but in 1886 embarked in his present business, which he has carried on alone ever since. He runs eight transfer wagons and two street sprinklers, besides conducting a large coal-yard and does the most extensive business in coal traffic of any man at the Springs. He began on a very small capital, but being a thoroughgoing business man, and an excellent one at that, has placed himself in very comfortable circumstances. His marriage occurred in 1886 to Miss Mary Harrington, a native of Illinois, who bore him one child: Christina. Mr. Murray is a member of the K. of P. and a first-class citizen.

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This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Garland County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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