My Genealogy Hound

Prof. A. B. Murray, principal of Sumner High School, is a native of Sumner County, Tenn., born in 1854, and a son of William and Mary (Bugg) Murray. The father was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in 1823, and was of Irish extraction. When eighteen years of age he left his native State and went to Natchez, Miss., and from there to New Orleans a few years after. In 1844 he became private secretary of Mr. John Armfield, of New Orleans, La., who was a member of one of the largest business firms in the South. William worked for Mr. Armfield eight years, and during the summer months would reside in Sumner County, Tenn., and pass the winter season in New Orleans. He was married in 1850, and in 1852 purchased 199 acres, which he increased to 359 acres, all lying in the Fifth District, where he located and passed the remainder of his days. He died in 1883. His father, Michael Murray, was a native of Ireland. The mother of our subject was a native of Sumner County, born in 1828 and died in 1872. She was the daughter of Anselm B. and Tobitha (Smith) Bugg, very early settlers of Sumner County. Tobitha’s grandfather, Daniel Smith, settled in the county in 1784, where Harry Smith now resides. To William and Mary (Bugg) Murray were born six children, our subject being the second. He received his academic education in the schools of Sumner County, and his collegiate education in the Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn., where he graduated June 10, 1875, receiving the degree of A. B. In 1877 he entered the teacher’s profession and purchased C. W. Callender’s interest in the Sumner High School at Hendersonville, and for the following three years was joint principal with Capt. C. S. Douglass. In 1880 Prof. Murray purchased Capt. Douglass’ interest, and from said date our subject has been principal and sole superintendent of the above mentioned institution. The school will average about ninety pupils of a ten months’ session each year. It is one of the best educational institutions of Sumner County, is a credit to the county and to the present superintendent. Prof. Murray takes an active part in the educational work of Sumner County, and is one of the leading educators of that county. He is well fitted for the position he now occupies, giving universal satisfaction as an instructor and disciplinarian. He is a Democrat in politics and cast his first presidential vote for S. J. Tilden in 1876. He is a Master Mason, a member of the Presbyterian Church, being an elder in the same, and is superintendent of the Sunday-school.