Hannah
(Minerd) Murray
(1845-1885)
Hannah
(Minerd) Murray was born in
1845 in Hexebarger, near Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, the
daughter of John and Sarah (Ansell)
Minerd. Her and her husband's untimely deaths left their seven young children as
orphans.
When Hannah was about 20, she moved with her parents to nearby Normalville, Fayette County, PA.
There, Hannah married Elijah M. Murray (1845-1885). Their seven children were Perry M. Murray, Agnes Kern, Marcellus Murray, Ida Ritenour, George M. Murray, Rachel Ruamy 'Amy' Cole and Hannah 'Lucy' Eicher.
Building a life together with their large family, the Murrays moved into a new house in Normalville in April 1881, a fact reported by the Connellsville Courier. But their family shortly was shattered by unspeakable sadness and loss.
On May 13, 1885, a day after giving birth to her seventh baby, Hannah died, at age 40. Elijah was left a widower with seven children, one of whom was just a day old.
But
grimly, Elijah was not long for this world. Eight days later, he also died, of a combination of broken heart and
typhoid fever, leaving their children as orphans. The Courier said that
"The good neighbors have taken the little ones and will care for them as
best they can."
The Uniontown Genius of Liberty eulogized that:
...The dual calamity is keenly felt in this community, and we can but commit the poor parentless orphans to the tender care of the Good Shepherd who tempers the bleak winds to the shorn lambs, and that they may find kind welcome into good households. Food, clothing and shelter is the Savior's injunction.
Hannah and Elijah are buried together at Normalville Cemetery, behind the Normalville Methodist Church, under the tall pine tree. Hannah's mother Sarah Minerd, and son Perry Murray, as well as infant nieces and nephews, all rest in the same row.
Five years later, in 1890, daughters Ida and Lucy were legally adopted by their older first cousin Richard S. and Mary Jane (Whetzel) Murray. Richard Murray went on to become Springfield Twp. tax collector.
Copyright © 2000-2001, 2005 Mark A. Miner