Biographical Sketch (1923):34, p. 665-666. "Sophia (Heywood) McMurray was born in Liverpool, England, in 1789, and died at her home in Wapakoneta on September 17, 1877, at the advanced age of 88 years. Fortunate in receiving a good education in her youth, and of a pleasing disposition and beautiful, she made many friends among all classes of people—the rich and poor alike. She toured Wales in company with well-to-do friends while still a young girl and remained in that country long enough to speak fluently the Welsh language. She was married at an early age to Robert McMurray, in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, and located at Wigton, a suburb of the city of Carlisle, England. Here they conducted a general store, and chose for their residence a house located on the banks of the river Eden, near the Carlisle bridge and in close proximity to the Carlisle Castle, famous in the history of England and Scotland. Here they lived until in the course of time they resolved to seek a home in the United States with the hope that their children might have better opportunities. They decided that it would be an act of wisdom for the husband and father, together with the eldest son, Robert, to go in advance and remain a year or two and if they thought the family could do better in America the father would send for them. This plan was carried out and the mother sold their real estate and chattels, and with eight children left Liverpool to take a sailing vessel for America. While in that city awaiting the departure of the sailing vessel two of the children became afflicted with small pox, which was epidemic in the port, and both of them died. It was many weeks before they were out of quarantine and enabled to sail, but finally the heartbroken mother and their children bid farewell to the mother country and set their faces westward, little realizing that they had other sorrows to face. During the voyage, which lasted 12 weeks, two of the remaining children took sick and she was compelled to witness their burial at sea. The father and the eldest son met the family at Castle Garden with great joy and yet with sad hearts when they learned of the deaths of four of the children."

1850 U.S. Census:1773 Sophia enumerated in the household of her husband Robert McMurray in Washington Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as a female, age 55, born in England.

1860 U.S. Census:1659 Sophia enumerated in the household of her husband Robert McMurray in Duchouquet Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as a female, age 65, born in England.

1870 U.S. Census:568 Sophia enumerated in the household of her husband Robert McMurray in Wapakoneta Village, Auglaize County, Ohio as a female, age 74, white, keeping house, born in England, mother foreign born.

1871 Death of Husband Robert:1960 At the death of her husband on 25 March 1871, Sophia inherited one half of his estate, both real and personal. The remainder of his estate was divided equally between son Joseph McMurray and daughter Sophia Cordell, with additional specific bequests being made to other surviving children and relatives.

1877 Death Record:638, p. 109 (Sophia McMurray, Probate Court Death Records, v. 1, p. 93) Sophia McMurray, born in England, age 88 years, died 16 September 1877 in Wapakoneta of old age.

1877 Obituary:290, v. 2, p. 303 (Auglaize County Democrat, 20 September 1877) Mrs. Sophia McMurray died Sept. 16, 1877 at residence of daughter, Mrs. James Cordell, Wapakoneta, O. 88y w/o Robert McMurray. Was a resident of Montgomery Co., near Dayton, O. Our Mayor is her grandson. Funeral from Lutheran Church. Buried Wapakoneta Cemetery.