Bio-Murray, Marcellus

Marcellus Murray
(1873-1920)

Marcellus Murray was born on Sept. 19, 1873 near Normalville, Fayette County, PA the son of Elijah and Hannah (Minerd) Murray. He was 11 years old when both his parents died, leaving him an orphan. His life is not well known but is written here as a starting point.

In a short period of time, in 1893 and '94, Marcellus broke through the hazy mists of recorded history. Just before Christmas 1893, the Connellsville Courier reported that:

Marcellus Murray met with an accident, Monday, while unloading some heavy timbers. It was thought first that his arm was broken, but an examination showed that he was only badly bruised about the arm and shoulder.

In 1894, the Courier said he and his brother in law Nelson Kern were living near Reagantown, Fayette County, and were visiting at Normalville.

When the census was taken in 1900, when Marcellus was age 26, he was residing with the elderly Sarah Whipkey near Normalville. A 1902 issue of The Mountaineer reported that "Frank Clark and sister and Marcellus Murray of Hemminger's Mills, spent Saturday and Sunday as guests of David Shank."

On June 6, 1903, 30-year-old Marcellus married widow Bertha (Clark) Wilson (1876-1918), the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Clark. Bertha's first husband, Albert Wilson, died of typhus circa 1899. She brought two sons to the marriage -- Emerson Samuel Wilson and Orville Albert Wilson.

Marcellus and Bertha resided in Prittstown, Fayette County, and had two children of their own -- John William Murray and Verna Elizabeth Murray. Later, they lived at the Cross Roads, near Pennsville.

In 1917, during World War I, the 44-year-old Marcellus registered for the military draft at Local Board No. 2 in Fayette County. He resided in Scottdale at that time. He was employed as a laborer for the U.S. Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Company in nearby Scottdale, Westmoreland County. Another cousin who worked for U.S. Cast Iron Pipe in that era was Howard Campbell Miner.

Marcellus' employer, the U.S. Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry in Scottdale, billed as "the largest pipe mill in the world"

Tragedy struck the family when Bertha passed away at age 42 on May 3, 1918 in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA. Her funeral was held at the Paradise Evangelical Church, and she was buried at Stouffer Cemetery.

Marcellus married again fairly quickly, to widow Cleveland Etta (Adams) Stillwagon (1885-1968), the daughter of John and Polly (Burkett) Adams. The wedding occurred on Dec. 10, 1919. Cleveland was 12 years younger than Marcellus. (Her former husband Frank Stillwagon had died in 1913.) She brought a number of children to the marriage -- Carl Stillwagon, Edna (Stillwagon) Basinger, Caroline (Stillwagon) Lawver, Louella Saylor and Freda DeWitt. Sorting out "who was who" is still somewhat confusing.

Marcellus and Cleveland had one son of their own, Norman Murray, born in 1919. It's also possible that daughters Emma and Louella also were Marcellus's.

An old postcard view of Scottdale's Pittsburgh Street is seen here, looking west from Broadway.

The family is enumerated on the 1920 federal census of Upper Tyrone Twp., Fayette County. In that census, 46-year-old "M.C." Murray is listed as head of the household with 34-year-old wife Cleveland, and with children John (age 15), Verna (13), Freda (5), Emma (2) and infant son Norman (2 months).

Tragically Marcellus died just a few months after the marriage. He passed away on Feb. 6, 1920, at the age of 47. The Connellsville (PA) Daily Courier simply reported that he "died yesterday afternoon at his home in Kingview. He leaves a wife and family. No funeral arrangements have been made." As the United States was in the grip of a national epidemic of influenza at the time, he may have been a victim of that dreaded disease.

On May 19, 1921, twice-widowed Cleveland married her third husband, 59-year-old widower Martin F. Paes (1862- ? ). He may have adopted some of her younger children (Emma and Norman) and gave them his surname. Heartache struck again just three years later, in 1925, when Martin died, leaving the 40-year-old Cleveland as a three-time widow.

When Marcellus' cousin Agnes (Miner) Miller compiled details genealogy notes late in life, she wrote his name on a list, but stated nothing more.

Republic's fan house and coal tipple (far right)

Cleveland lived for more than 40 more years but apparently never married again. She dwelled in Republic and Brier Hill, Fayette County, communities built around coal mining operations. She also lived for a time in Clarksville, Greene County, PA.

She passed away on Jan. 20, 1968 in Brownsville (PA) General Hospital, and was laid to rest at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Bullskin Township. At the time of death, she had seven living children, 56 grandchildren, 93 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Son John William Murray (1904-1973) was married twice. His first wife was Harriet Wyant (1902-1926), the daughter of Nicholas Wyant of Everson, Westmoreland County, PA. They had one son, Frank Murray. She died at age 24 of "heart trouble and dropsy," said the Daily Courier, and was laid to rest at Scottdale Cemetery. John's second wife was Mabel Lavenia Lehman (1903-1998), the daughter of Edward G. and Betty Lehman and a native of Dunbar, Fayette County. Their marriage ceremony was performed by a distant cousin, Rev. David E. Minerd. They resided on a farm near Hopedale, Harrison County, OH. Said the Cadiz (OH) Republican, "He had been a farmer and was a former German Twp. trustee and a substitute mail carrier." John was a collector of functional antiques, such as a shed full of old crank type telephones, a field full of old automobiles from the 1930s and '40s, and many old glass insulators from telephone poles. Relatives sold their eggs and possibly other farm products to customers in nearby Weirton, WV. They are buried at Blue Ridge Cemetery near Hopedale.

Son Norman Murray (1919-1984) resided in Brier Hill. He took back his "Murray" surname at some point after temporarily adopting the "Paes" name. He married Mildred McNatt (1923-1993), the daughter of Charles and Susue (Holland) McNatt. They had seven children -- Roberta Bizik, Marlene Rapchak, Darlene Androsky, Thomas R. Murray, Terry S. Murray, Ronald C. Paes and Debi Kopec. Said the Uniontown Herald-Standard, "He was a member of UMWA District 4 and was a former employee of J&L Steel." Norman and Mildred are buried at Pleasant View Cemetery in Smock near Uniontown, Fayette County.

Daughter Verna Elizabeth Murray ( ? - ? ) married Frank Saltsman (1919-1994). Said the Steubenville Herald Star, "he "was employed in area mines for more than 50 years. He was a retired mechanic from Consol Mining in Cadiz and Moore's Company, which Consol bought out. He was ... a member of United Mine Workers Local 7451, a 50-year member of the Salineville American Legion, an Army veteran of World War II, having served in the European Theater and having been awarded four Bronze Stars."

Circa 1968, stepdaughter Caroline Stillwagon, wife of Amnie Lawver, resided in Clarksville.

Stepdaughter Edna Stillwagon married a man named Basinger and died prior to 1968.

Granddaughter Lily Murray married John E. Devore (1931-2001), who "was employed by Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., Mingo Junction, at the blast furnace," said the Steubenville Herald Star.

Kenneth E. Paes (1923-2011) married Madeline F. McNatt. They had four children -- Ronald Paes, Kenneth Paes Jr., Judy King and Richard Paes. Circa, 1968, the family lived in Brier Hill, Fayette County. Later, they moved to Grindstone, near Brownsville, Fayette County. Kenneth died on May 3, 2011 at the age of 87. He was laid to rest in LaFayette Memorial Park. At his death he was survived by a dozen grandchildren and 11 great- grandchildren.

Circa 1916, Emerson resided at Scottdale, Westmoreland County. Circa 1973, he lived in Everson, PA.