McMurtry Family

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ROBERT OGDEN MCMURTRY and CATHERINE L. HAGER
of Green County, Wisconsin - parents of Adeline Simpson McMurtry

Killed by robbers and they "stooled" his horse!

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Robert McMurtry was born 4 Dec. 1814 in Newark, Essex Co., NJ, the son of John McMurtry and Elizabeth Simpson. He married on 23 Apr. 1835 in NJ to Catherine L. Hager. She was born 6 Apr. 1816, also in Newark, NJ. Between 1843 and 1847, they had moved to Wisconsin, and they are enumerated in the 1850 census in Green County with 7 children. This census was taken 2 years before Addie was born. Another daughter, Helen Peters McMurtry was born in 1854.

Town of Clarno, Dist. No 4, P.391

Robert McMurtry 35 MFarmer New Jersey
Catherine " 34 F "
Elizabeth " 15 F "
John " 9 M "
William " 7 M "
Steward " 6 M "
Mary A. " 3 FWisconsin
Permelia " 6/12 F "
Caroline " 11 F New York

They were still shown in the same location in the 1855 state census for Wisconsin, but by 1860, the family, as such, had disappeared. Research reveals that the family must have departed Wisconsin, heading west to Iowa. Catherine probably died in Page Co., IA in or shortly after childbirth on 11 Jan. 1857 and is buried with the child in the Braddyville Cemetery. Whether or not the family had planned to go farther west is up for debate, but with this tragic event, Robert evidently decided to return to Wisconsin with at least some of his remaining family.

We know this because of a story about Robert's death in 1860. (See Ancestors and Descendants of Thomas McMurtry (1685-1788) New York and New Jersey, Floyd Arnold McMurtry, 1994-1995; part of the McMurtry Clan Records on file in the LDS Family History Library.) He was killed in Wisconsin by robbers who stole his horse and left his body in a cave where he was discovered by his oldest son, John. The fate of the children is as follows, to the best of my knowledge (not listed in order of birth). See my complete tree on Rootsweb World Connect for more specific dates (link at bottom of page).

Daughter Elizabeth had married Isaac Haas in Green County, WI on 14 Nov. 1852. In the 1860 census, they were living just across the border in Stephenson County, IL with 2 of Elizabeth's siblings, Stewart and Mary Ann. Elizabeth and Isaac Haas lost their only son at a very young age. By 1900, Elizabeth was tragically listed in the "Illinois Northern Hospital for the Insane" aka "Watertown State Hospital" where she remained until her death on 20 Apr. 1921. Here is an obituary and death certificate for Elizabeth Haas. She, her husband and son are buried in the City Cem., Freeport (Stephenson) IL.

Mary Ann McMurtry married Charles A. Knorr on 25 Nov. 1866, probably in Freeport. She had one son, Albert C. Knorr. This obituary and death certificate show she died 20 Jul 1931 in Freeport. She and her family are buried in Oakland Cem., Freeport (Stephenson) IL.

Daughter Caroline married on 9 Nov. 1854 in Greene County, WI to Jerome Corbin; they were living in Ohio in 1860. They later moved to Benton Co., Iowa. They had 5 children. Quite a bit of information can be found about this family on IAGENWEB. They are buried in Mound Cem., Watkins (Benton) IA.

The older son, John (19) and daughter Permelia (10) were not found in the 1860 census. There is a likely census record for William in Warren Co., IN in 1860 and one possibly in New York, 1870 for Stewart. These McMurtry Clan Records, show that William was killed in the civil war and Stewart died in 1877. Permelia McMurtry has never been located as far as I know.

John Simpson McMurtry was living in Benton Co., IN in 1870-1880. He married Florence Adeline Donnely 21 Feb. 1868 in Licking Co., OH and moved to Hand Co., SD where he had a large family and died 7 Nov 1917.

The two youngest daughters were adopted or just "farmed out" to other families--neither took the name of their adopted family. Helen Peters McMurtry was taken by Emanuel and Amanda Feidt. Adaline Simpson McMurtry was taken by William and Mary Baxter. It is unknown if Addie or Helen ever had contact with their birth siblings again.

The Feidt�s were living in Stephenson Co., IL in 1860; in Green Co., WI in 1870, and in Otoe Co., NE in 1880 and 1885. By 1900, they had moved on to Grayson Co., Texas. The father, Emanuel and McMurtry daughter Helen are buried there in the Oakwood Cemetery. Helen never married.

Addie McMaster (sic) was living with the Baxters in Lucas Co., IA in 1860. The Baxters had come to Iowa from Green County, WI where they were living near the McMurtry family in 1850. It's possible they traveled to Iowa with the McMurtry family. We don't know if Addie may have remained with them after the death of her mother, or if she went there after her father died. But, by 1867, the Baxter family and Addie had returned to Clarno, Green County, WI, as Addie was married there, and they are found there in the 1870 census.

This on-line web site McMurtry Clan has more McMurtry information. This website erroneously (I believe) lists a different maiden name for Robert McMurtry's wife. Her maiden name of Hager is clearly stated on her daughter's death certificate.


Check out the graves of some of these people on my virtual "Cutler Cemetery" with Cutlers, Belyeas, Bishops, Gardners, McMurtrys and others on www.findagrave.com

Click here to view an ancestor chart of this family
Click here to view a migration map of this and related families

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