My Genealogy Hound

James McMurtry, of the general notion store of McMurtry & Coffin, of Lamar, Mo., was born in Ireland on the 12th of April, 1853, being the ninth of eleven children (eight sons and three daughters) born to Thomas and Martha (Richey) McMurtry, the former having been born in Ireland, and the latter in Canada. Mr. McMurtry went to Canada when a young man, and engaged in the grocery business, marrying while there Miss Richey. Some time after his marriage he returned to Ireland with his family to look after some property, and in 1859 emigrated to the United States, and settled in Randolph County, Ill., where he engaged in farming. He and wife belonged to the Presbyterian Church; and he was a Republican. He died in his eightieth year, but his wife is still living, and resides with her son James in Lamar, being sixty-five years of age. James McMurtry received a common school education, and in 1882 came to Barton County, Mo., and was engaged in farming three years, after which he spent the same length of time clerking for A. G. Cessford. From that time until 1889 he was in the grocery business with William Earp, and has since been occupied in his present business, and is doing well. February 6, 1883, he was married to Pirenia Shelton, a native of Illinois, by whom he has three children: Elmer A., Ella M. and Artie. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; and he is a Democrat in his political views.