My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. MURWIN. It matters little what a man selects as his life occupation, so long as it is honorable. If he is honest, upright and courteous in his intercourse with other men, and possessed of energy, determination and perseverance, he is bound to make a success of his calling. This part of Michigan has proved a mine of wealth to thousands of industrious and earnest farmers. They have come hither from the East and from foreign countries, and by dint of hard work have developed the resources which nature so liberally provided. Among these is George W. Murwin, who is now one of the successful farmers of Royalton Township.

Like many of the first-class citizens of the county, Mr. Murwin is a native of New York, born in Tompkins Township, Delaware County, August 6, 1829, and is the son of Epaphras and Rebecca Bennet Murwin. The father was also born in the Empire State, May 24, 1797, and was a soldier of the War of 1812. He was drawing a pension at the time of his death. In July, 1837, he left his native State and made a journey to Ohio, settling in Ashtabula County, where he made his home until 1864. From there he moved to Berrien County, Mich., in the fall of the last-named year, and died in Royalton Township on the 11th of October, 1872. His marriage occurred February, 17, 1827, in Tompkins Township, Delaware County, N. Y. His wife was born in Delaware County, N. Y., December 18, 1805, and died in Royalton Township, this county, February 11, 1873. They were the parents of one child besides our subject, a daughter named Sally Jane, who was born March 7, 1833, and died June 18, 1851, in Saybrook, Ohio. The scholastic training of our subject was received in the common schools, and he remained with his father, assisting with the farm work, until twenty-six years of age. This farm was at Saybrook, Ohio, and the most of it was paid for by the labor of our subject. The latter was married in Ohio, February 6, 1855, to Miss Weltha A. Converse, a native of Bainbridge, Ohio, who was born on August 1, 1836. She was the daughter of David Converse, who was a native Vermonter, born in Rutland March 3, 1804. The mother of Mrs. Murwin was formerly Miss Harmony Bell, who was a native of the old Bay State, born May 26,
1814.

To our subject have been born the following children: Elsie B., wife of George Culvern, who resides in Valparaiso, Ind.; Milford J.; Frankie B., deceased; Sally Jennie, wife of Alonzo Smith, who resides in New Troy, this county; Bertha, at home; Flora, deceased; Gracie, deceased; and Harriet, at home. Mr. Murwin has been Justice of the Peace of Royalton Township for about twenty years and is holding that position at the present time. He cast his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. In politics he was a Democrat until after 1880, and in 1884 he voted for St, John, the Prohibition candidate. He is a strong temperance man. He and Mrs. Murwin are members of the Second Advent Church and have held membership in the same for thirty years and are well liked in the community.

Mr. Murwin came to Berrien County, Mich., April 22, 1863, and located on his present farm, which then consisted of one hundred and fifty-three acres, fifteen acres being under cultivation. This farm is located six miles southeast of St. Joseph and four miles south of Benton Harbor, and the most of it Mr. Murwin cleared with his own hands. He has given his children all but one hundred and three acres. Mr. Murwin is a member of the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is a man of education and a liberal promoter of all laudable enterprises. For the past four years he has been engaged in the milk business, selling in St. Joseph.