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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JAMES GAILEY MURRAY was born June 22, 1821, in Peters township, Washington county, Pa. His grandfather, George Murray, although of Scotch parentage and birth, was reared in Ireland, and intermarried with Sarah Ray, by whom he had three sons. About 1798 he came to America, locating in Lancaster county, Pa., where he remained for ten years, and thence removed to Pittsburgh, where he spent the remainder of his life. William, the eldest of his three sons, although by trade a carpenter, followed, later in life, farming in Washington county. He married Jane Gailey, of Easton; their family of four children are all now living. William died in Snowden township, Allegheny county, in 1871. Of his children James G. is the eldest. He was born in Peters township, Washington county, June 22, 1821, but, his parents removing to Allegheny City while he was a lad, was educated at the public and other schools and academies. Leaving school he assisted his father, who was then in the bakery business, and drove the first bread-wagon in Allegheny City. In 1848 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Boyer, of Snowden township, and seven children, two deceased, were born to them. Mrs. Murray died April 18, 1885. Of the five children surviving her, Albert B. is a merchant at Bridgeville; J. Frank is a broker, and resides in Oakland, Pittsburgh; George Piersol is a member of Allegheny county bar; Annie M. resides with her father, and Ulysses Grant is an iron and steel inspector. Mr. Murray has been active in politics, being intimately connected with the management of the republican party of Western Pennsylvania. He has held office continuously since 1853, in greater part, however, offices of confidence and honor. Mr. Murray was, when a young man, postmaster at Upper St. Clair. “one of the largest distributing country offices in the state; he then filled, successively, the offices of director of the poor of Allegheny county, for fourteen years; member of the prison board of Allegheny county; member of the board of managers of the Western Pennsylvania Reform School; commissioner of the county of Allegheny for two terms; treasurer of Allegheny county, while for years he has been justice of the peace and school director of his township. While not a church member, Mr. Murray attends the Presbyterian Church, of which his family are members.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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