Capt.
Israel
B. Murdock
(1833-1890)
Israel B. Murdock was born in 1833 in Preston County, WV, the son of John S. and Rebecca (Miner) Murdock. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and one of his letters home (seen here), dated Feb. 5, 1863, is now in the custody of the National Archives.
As a teenager, Israel worked as a clerk in
Kingwood, Preston County. In 1854, when Israel was 21, his mother died. At some
point, either that same year or a decade later (sources differ), he moved to
Ironton, Lawrence County, OH. How or why he went to Ironton is unknown, though
his uncle
“W.A. Murdock” was a grocer who had come to the town a year earlier, and may
have drawn other family members to join him there.
At the time Israel moved there, Ironton was a boom town, enjoying a location along the Ohio River. Said Hardesty’s 1882 Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio, it was “in the center of the iron and coal region of this section of the State and of Kentucky, being surrounded by several score of blast furnaces, a large number of which make the city their shipping point…”
A bird's eye view of Ironton, from a rare postcard
During the Civil War, on April 22, 1861, Israel joined Company C of the 18th OH Volunteer Infantry. He served for 3 months, until Aug. 28, 1861. Just a few days after leaving the 18th Ohio, he joined Company B of the 2nd WV Cavalry, as a private. He later was promoted to sergeant major.
In the winter of 1862-1863, Israel was stationed at Fayetteville, WV. A friend recalled that Israel "caught a severe cold while on duty, which resulted in enlargement of the glands of the neck and throat, rendering him unfit for duty." He suffered from rheumatism so much that other friends, David and Howell Hopkins, "made him crutches to walk on." Yet another friend, Howell G. Hopkins, recalled that Israel "did not stay with us in the quarters and I had the impression that he was either at the hospital of the 9th Va. Infantry or at some private house. We were on detached duty at that time and had no regimental hospital of our own.... One night during a ride to Raleigh Courthouse I remember he complained of severe pains brought on by the unusually cold and wet weather."
During that time, he is known to have
written a letter to his brother Thomas,
describing his sickness. Thomas later forwarded the letter to his wife, who
returned it to Saline, who later submitted it to the federal government. The
letter is seen here.
In May 1863, Israel was stationed at Camp Pratt, located on the farm of Baylis G. and Helen (Huff) Farley in Malden, Kanawha County, WV. He held the rank of first lieutenant. While at Camp Pratt, Israel met the Farley's daughter, Saline (1837-1925). He was smitten with her, and in her words, "Our acquaintance resulted in a courtship and the courtship into marriage." She added that:
The way I came to be married in Cincinnati was this. In company with my father about Feb. 15, 1864 went to Cincinnati to make preparation for my wedding to come off some time later. But Mr. Murdock who was at home at the time in Ironton O. on sick leave ... hearing of me being in Cincinnati, came down and proposed immediate marriage. His proposition being accepted, and approved by my father, we were married.
The wedding took place on Feb. 25, 1864, performed by Rev. Maxwell P. Gaddis, a Methodist clergyman. Afterward, Saline later recalled:
After marriage we returned to Camp Pratt. I remained with my parents and Mr. Murdock upon his discharge came to our house at Camp Pratt, remained until the spring of 1865 when he came to Ironton, O., where we lived...
Israel later was promoted to captain. He was discharged on Nov. 29, 1864. He suffered from rheumatism as a result of exposure to extremely bad weather conditions. Saline recalled that "I well remember his head was drawed over to one side, and had treatment for it." During the winter of 1864-1865, she said, "he had rheumatism all over his body, and had to be waited on the same as a child, by myself & mother."
The Murdocks went on to have three children -- William F. "Billy" Murdock, Thomas Hudson Murdock and Almeda Thomas.
Israel and at least one son were employed in the wharf boating industry in the river town. He also worked as a merchant.
Steamboats and an
"every-day wharf scene" in Ironton, circa 1911
The Ironton Daily Register said that “'Aunt Saline' as she was known to everyone in the neighborhood at Sixth and Lawrence Streets, where she has resided for the past fifty years, was a true Christian character, always lending a helping hand to any in distress or trouble…. She was a devoted member of the First M.E. church always taking an active part in all the affairs of the church…”
Israel suffered from heart disease for the rest of his life. His physician for more than a quarter-century, Dr. Jonathan Morris, himself a Civil War veteran, testified that:
He was certainly a great sufferer from rheumatism sometimes confined to his room and bed for days and weeks at a time. Then for a time would hobble around with a cane appearantly comfortable, but as he always said suffering more or less and I think during all these years he was totally unable to perform manual labor. He had also several severe spell [sic] of palpitation and fluttering of the heart, with smothering.
Israel died suddenly in Ironton on April 11,
1890. He was age 58. His physician later attributed the death to rheumatism
Israel contracted while in the Army.
Saline lived in her later years at 221 North Sixth Street in Ironton. Suffering from senility in her 88th year, she passed away on July 25, 1925, and was buried at Woodland Cemetery.
Son William, who lived in Ironton, was a clerk in a
steamboat company. He was said by the Morning Irontonian to have been a
close friend of Col. Dick Pritchard, "on account of being raised from boyhood
with him and the best part of their careers was devoted to the grand Ohio
river…"
When he died on May 12,
1914, William was buried in Woodland Cemetery.
Son Thomas was just 15 years old when his father died. His fate is unknown.
Daughter Almeda married Frank Thomas and resided in Ironton.
Copyright © 2001-2002 Mark A. Miner