My Genealogy Hound

H. J. MURDOCH, one of the proprietors and business-manager of the United Presbyterian, has been a resident of Sewickley, Allegheny county, Pa., for over twenty years; is a native of Belfast, in the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage; received an academic education and acquired a limited knowledge of the printing business before leaving his native land, which, however, was afterward completed in the printing and publishing establishment of W. S. Young, Esq., Philadelphia, Pa., where he had for his companions and fellow-workmen such distinguished journalists and printers as John Russell Young, John Blakely, proprietor of the Evening Star, and James M. and George S. Ferguson, all of Philadelphia. Mr. Murdoch came to this country when a mere boy, and after spending a few years with relatives and friends in Norristown and Philadelphia, was induced to go to Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa., with the intention of studying for the ministry, but was so infatuated with journalism that he soon abandoned his original intention, and became connected with the Westminster Herald, a religious newspaper, as its publisher. Under his able and efficient management this paper was very successful, but was soon afterward consolidated with the United Presbyterian, as was, also, at a later period, mainly through his influence, the Presbyterian Witness, of Cincinnati, Ohio. With these additions, which gave the paper a much greater influence and largely increased circulation, his aim and purpose now being to make it, if possible, one of the ablest and best religious newspapers in the country, and although ably assisted by Rev. D. R. Kerr, D. D., as editor-in-chief, its financial success and prosperity are largely due to the shrewd and careful management of Mr. Murdoch, who now has the proud satisfaction of being one of the proprietors of a paper that can justly claim to have the largest circulation of any paper outside of New York city.

The printing of the paper is done by Murdoch, Kerr & Co., book and job printers, who also print the Christian Advocate, Methodist Recorder, Evangelical Repository, The Workman, all religious periodicals; American Manufacturer, Labor Tribune, East End Bulletin, American, and all the publications of the boards of the United Presbyterian and Methodist Protestant churches, besides carrying on a very extensive and general printing business. He was also at one time, and for many years, associated with Ferguson Brothers & Co., one of the largest and most complete electrotyping establishments in Philadelphia. Though Mr. Murdoch has been for many years, and is still, a laborious and hard working man, he has lost none of his vigor, being still in the prime of life. He is highly esteemed in the United Presbyterian Church, being a consistent member of it since the union in 1858, and in the community where he resides, as a man of undeviating probity and sterling qualities. In his business relations he is prompt and decided, and has the peculiar knack of making many friends, and, when once made, has the happy faculty of knowing how to retain them.