Left to Right:
Bredette Corydon Murray, Helen Murray,
Helen Evangeline Thomas, Amanda (Swisher) Murray
***Read before the Red River Historical Society held in Sherman, Texas December 11, 1926***
Bredette Corydon Murray was born in
Allegan, Michigan, January 14, 1837--the year his native state was admitted to
the Union. He was the only child of Edwin A. and Caroline Roxana West Murray(see
photos above).
His father was a Joiner by trade, and much of the inside finishing work of the
early homes in Allegan in his handiwork. His mother was a lineal descendant of
Miles Standish. He entered the printing office of Elisha Bassett, a
cousin of his mother, at the age 13 years. He graduated from the Allegan
Seminary and a business college in Kalamazoo. After graduation he held a
clerical position in the Recorder's Office in Kalamazoo. He was fond of travel
and adventure, when a lad of about 17 he volunteered to carry the mail,
horseback, from Allegan to Lancing, the Capitol, to relieve the regular mail
carrier. It was a lonesome ride through miles of country with no sign of human
habitation. One trip was enough. At the age of 20 years, he left Michigan and
went by way of New Orleans--in this city he did reportorial work for some
time-to San Antonio, Texas. Here he became associated with Dr. L.S. Owings in
the mercantile business. Later, when Dr. Owings was appointed Governor of the
territory of New Mexico, he purchased a printing press plant and freighted it by
wagon train from San Antonio to Messilla, New Mexico, and established the
Messilla Times, about 1859. At the outbreak of the Civil War, when it became
apparent the Mission would fall into the hands of the federal troops, he buried
his plant for safe keeping; after the evacuation of the troops he resurrected
the plant and resumed business at the old stand. The adobe office of the
Messilla Times was in a state of perfect preservation as late as the fall of
1919. Soon after the beginning of hostilities between the North and South, he
assisted in mobilizing a regiment of Calvery in the vicinity of Messilla and
served throughout the duration of the war on the side of the Confederacy. It was
this company which preserved order in San Antonio and vicinity after the
surrender until the arrival of the Federal troops to take charge.
At one time during the war he was compelled to swim the Rio Grande; at another
he and two or three companions became separated from their command. They had
been hiding in the brush for several days and were without food, when they saw a
commissary train approaching. Not knowing whether friends or foe, they resolved
to reach it and ask for food. As the famished men staggered into the road, the
Negro driver jumped from his seat and ran, believing them to be ghosts--as they
had been given up for dead. The train proved to be their own commissary.
After the close of the war he remained in San Antonio, and became identified
with the San Antonio Express. In that city he was united in marriage, October
07, 1866, with Miss Amanda Swisher, a grand niece of Milton and Monroe Swisher,
pioneer Texans--a distant cousin of General Sam Houston, and a
sister-in-law of Governor L. S. Owings, the later being the first mayor
of Denison in 1873-1875. Five children were born unto this union, four daughters
and one son; one daughter dying in 1903.
L. S. Owings
In 1888, he went to Topeka, Kansas, and for awhile was employed as compositor on
the Topeka Commonwealth. Not liking that cold climate, he again returned to
Texas, taking up residence in Austin where he, Mr. Charles Deffenbach and one
other gentleman bought a plant of a defunct republican paper--changing it
politics and gave it the name of The Democratic Statesman--in 1870. This was
during the administration of Gov. E. J. Davis, referred to by the Texans of
those days as the "carpetbag executive", and against whom he wielded his pen
unceasingly to the end and that gentleman was retired to civil life by an
overwhelming majority.
In the fall of 1872, having disposed of his interest in Austin, he came with his
family to Denison, the Gate City, and more often referred to as the "Infant
Wonder".
Home of The Daily News
Here he established the Denison Daily News in a small room, built of unseasoned upright boards in the 300 block Skiddy St., now known as Chestnut Street. About the only equipment he had was a few fonts of type and a Washington hand press. The family family was domiciled in a tent at the corner of Austin Ave and Morgan St. This was added to as the family increased and was the home place for over thirty years, when it was destroyed by fire of an incindiary origin after a hard fought battle of a political nature in the spring of 1907. The homestead was then moved to 1031 West Main Street.
The Home At 1031 West Main St. in
Denison, Grayson County, Texas (1910)
On December 27, 1872, the first issue of the Weekly News was printed and this
was followed on February 22, 1873, by the publication of the Daily News, and for
eight years the Daily News never failed to greet the patrons in time for
breakfast. Mr. Murray never let the plant until the last paper was off the
press, ready for the carrier. I say "carrier" advisedly as one was sufficient
for the circulation of that early paper and the editor and the printers devil,
alias the carrier, were the whole force in those prehistoric times. In 1876, the
two-story brick building at 112 West Main St. was erected and the plant of the
Daily News was removed to the second story and enlarged, both as to equipment
and force--a city editor being added; the devil being promoted to pressmen and a
new devil installed. In 1881he sold the circulation of the News to the
proprietors of the Herald, and devoted his time to job printing, which included
posters and show printing. It was about this time he established the Murray
Power Printing Plant, one of the leading printing houses of the Southwest, and
specializing in the abrical and bill-board printing, receiving and filling
orders from St. Louis and Kansas City to Houston and Galveston and San Antonio.
In the spring of1883, he began the publication of the Sunday Gazetteer, which
was referred to by the newsboys as "Your Sunday glass of Beer", a very
significant name in those days. This paper made it's regular weekly visit, not
only to the local patrons and near by towns, but across the continent to
California and across the ocean to foreign countries--China, Germany, France,
and England--until in 1913, when he sold the plant to Mr. J. E. Wall, and then
retired from active newspaper work. At the earnest solicitation of the new
purchaser, he edited a column of "reminiscences of early days" each week up to
within a few weeks of his death, which occurred at the family home, February 6,
1924, at the age of 87 years, forty of which was devoted to the up building and
basement of the community in which he lived.
He was a tireless reader and a student; even as a boy a book was his greatest
treasure, and he would find something to trade for one he had never seen before,
thinking it rare or out of the ordinary, and this hobby of book collecting
remained with him through life. He amassed an extensive library, his books
covering a large range of subjects, many of them rare and valuable, especially
to the book lover and student. His shorthand library is believed to be the
largest privately owned collection in the State and in recognition of his work
along the line, he was awarded a medal and life membership certificate in the
Willis Byrome Club of the Gregg System.
He was active in organizing the Texas Press Association, was a charter member
and remains an active member as long as he continued in business. As a member of
the Typographical Union, he held a working card as long as he lived, and
attended it's meeting regular. He was a member of Confederate Veterans Camp, and
the Sons of the Confederate Veterans named their camp in his honor.
Early in the history of the city of Denison he was elected to the City Council
and was untiring in his efforts to quell disorder and rid the city his vice. He
always kept the pages of his paper clean, refusing to print objectional matter
of all kinds; advertisements or otherwise. His columns were always open for
discussion of legitimate questions. He was always ready with his time, his space
and an open pocketbook to further the best interests of his hometown and adopted
State, and equally as ready and fearless in demouncing wrong and mismanaged in
high places. He was of a quiet, retiring disposition--loving home life and his
books.
His wife died in 1894, and he never remarried. He was a man among men, a
representative citizen and a gentleman.
Music: Grandpa by the Judds
Questions or Comments Email Me:
Copyright © 2001 by Holly Hayes. All rights reserved.
One more thing...the information contained on this page was not meant to take the place of doing your own research by using primary records such as birth certificates, census records, wills, etc . You can find a list of my sources by clicking on the hyperlink for sources on the family tree pages. I have worked very hard to ensure that I have given proper credit to every source of data on these pages. Some of my information has come from other family members, however, and I don't know their sources. In other words, everything on this page may not be completely accurate and you would be wise to verify all names, dates, etc. for yourself.