Biography - Matthew McMurtry
Matthew McMURTRY, farmer, P. O. Butler, was born in Doagh, County Antrim, Ireland, December 12, 1807; son of Ezekiel Simm and Jane (McALLISTER) McMURTRY, of Thorndyke, Ballyclose, Antrim, Ireland. At the age of fourteen, our subject went to Belfast to learn the trade of millwright, and the first steam flouring mill built in Belfast was built during his apprenticeship, by his uncle. Matthew was afterward employed at mill-wrighting in this mill until he came to America, in 18831. Arriving at New Orleans, he went to Nashville, Tenn., where he remained about one year; then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to Covington, Ky., where he lived many years. In 1855, he went to St. Louis, and other points, prosecuting his business, and in 1858 moved with his family to this county, and settled on the farm which has been his home ever since. He has dealt in grain, also, to some extent, in Butler. October 8, 1827, at Strandtown, County Down, Ireland, he was married to Elizabeth SMYTH, born in 1804, daughter of Robert and Janet (LAIRD) SMYTH, resident of County Down, Ireland, and by this union they have had the following children: Jane, born July 24, 1828, at Belfast, Ireland, and died November 2, 1937, at Covington, Ky.; Sarah, wife of Robert BRYCE, born November 9, 1830, at Belfast, Ireland; Elizabeth, born February 22, 1833, near Nashville, Tenn., and died October 27, 1837, at Covington, Ky.; Mary Ann, born December 26, 1834, at Covington, Ky., and died August 2, 1855, at St. Louis, Mo.; Ezekiel James, born August 17, 1837, at Covington, Ky., and died November 1, 1837, at Covington, Ky.; Jane Elizabeth, wife of James S. McMURTRY, of St. Louis, Mo., born November 13, 1838, at Covington, Ky.; Susanna Esther, born February 10, 1841, at Covington, Ky.; James Matthew, born April 20, 1843, at Covington, Ky., and died September 17, 1877, at Davidson, Colo.; Abigail Emma Simm, born March 12, 1847, at Covington, Ky., and died April 16, 1861, near Butler, Ill. Mr. McMURTRY is a member of the Seceder Church.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 203-204.
