eBay Auction of Tintype (February 2004):2718 ". . . Subject is identified as 1st Lt. Robert McMurray, Company E 67th Ohio Infantry. Identification includes old tag with "McMurray" on silk case pad, partially torn away. The original collector wrote a pen note on backing paper of case. Records have 22 year old Robert McMurray enlisting as a 1st Lt. Company E 67th Ohio Infantry on 12/7/1861. He was promoted to field and staff as an adjutant on 11/15/1864 and made rank of captain on 3/18/1865 and returned to his Company E original unit. Robert poses 3/4 standing, the tintype plate is crispy clear as you can see. He wears a regulation frock coat with Lt. shoulder straps, a McDowell pattern bummers cap, wears his sword scabbard and sash at his waist and is leaning on his regulation model foot officer's sword." Additional information and images of Robert McMurray are available on the Robert McMurray Tintype Page.

Biographical Sketch (1917):34, p. 667. "Robert McMurray III, the elder brother, distinguished himself during the Civil war as a captain in the 67th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the close of the war he was provost marshal of five counties in Virginia, including the city of Richmond. After the war became postmaster of Wapakoneta, served two terms as recorder of Auglaize county, was admitted to the bar, was elected mayor and achieved distinction as the law-enforcing mayor of Wapakoneta."

Biographical Sketch (1917):30, v. 2, p. 721. "Robert McMurray was born in Auglaize County and at one time held the office of postmaster at Wapakoneta."

1850 U.S. Census:1773 Robert McMurray enumerated in the household of his grandfather Robert McMurray Sr. in Washington Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as a male, age 8, born in Ohio.

1860 U.S. Census:2210 Robert McMurray enumerated in the household of Lorentz Bimel, a carriage maker, in St. Marys Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as a male, age 18, blacksmith, born in Ohio. The census enumeration was made on 19 June 1860. Mother Mary McMurray was also enumerated in St. Marys township.

1861-65 Ohio 67th Volunteer Infantry Regiment:3, v. 5, p. 591. This regiment was organized in the State of Ohio, at large from October, 1861, to January, 1862, to serve three years. On the expiration of its term of service the original members (except veterans) were mustered out, and the organization, composed of veterans and recruits, retained in the service. The 62nd Regiment Ohio Infantry was consolidated with it September 1, 1865. It was mustered out December 7, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.3, v. 5, p. 563.

The official list of battles, in which this Regiment bore an honorable part, is not yet published by the War Department, but the following list has been compiled, after careful research, during the preparation of this work:

Winchester, Va. (Kearnstown) •• March 23, 1862
Strasburg, Va. •• March 27, 1862
Front Royal, Va. •• May 30, 1862
Harrison’s Landing, Va. •• July 4, 1862
Malvern Hill, Va. •• August 5, 1862
Franklin, Va. •• October 5, 1862
Blackwater, Va. •• December 5, 1862
Fort Wagner, S.C. (Siege of), •• July 10 to Sept. 6, 1863
Fort Wagner, S.C. (Second Assault) •• July 18, 1863
Chester Station, Va. •• May 9-10, 1864
Bermuda Hundred, Va. •• May 16-30, 1864
Wier Bottom Church, Va. •• May 20, 1864
Petersburg, Va. (Siege of) •• June 15, 1864 to Apr. 2, 1865
Wier Bottom Church, Va. •• June 17-18, 1864
Deep Bottom Run, Va. •• August 14-18, 1864
Petersburg, Va. (Fall of) •• April 2, 1865
Appomattox, Va. •• April 8-9, 18653, v. 5, p. 563.

Company E: Mustered in Jan. 15, at Camp Chase., O., by Marcus M. Spiegel, 1st Lieutenant; John Faskin, 2d Lieutenant; E.S. Platt, 2d Lieutenant; Chas. Hennessey, 2d Lieutenant; R. Rudolph, 2d Lieutenant, and T.M. Ward, 2d Lieutenant, and U.S.A. Mustering Officers. Mustered out on Dec. 7, at City Point, Va., by J. Remington, Captain and A.C.M. Department of Virginia.

1861/65 Military Service:3, v. 5, p. 565, 578, 592. Name: Robert McMurray; Rank: Captain; Age: 22; Date of Entering the Service: Dec. 7, 1861; Period of Service: 3 yrs.; Remarks: Appointed 1st Sergeant from Sergeant Dec. 17, 1863; promoted to 2d Lieutenant Co. C May 25, 1864, to 1st Lieutenant Sept. 26, 1864; appointed Adjutant Nov. 15, 1864; promoted from 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant March 18, 1865; mustered out with company Dec. 7, 1865; veteran.

1863 Company Muster Roll:181 Nov. & Dec., Robert McMurray, 1 Sergt. Promoted from Corp. to Sergt. Dec 1/63. Promoted to 1 Sergt. Dec 19/63.

1864 Volunteer Enlistment Statement:181 Signed February 1, 1864 at Hilton Head, South Carolina by Robert McMurray, 1st Sergeant, Co. E, 67th OVI, lists Robert as born in Dayton, age 21 years, and a carriagemaker by occupation. He is described as having blue eyes, light hair, a fair complexion, and being 6 feet 2 inches high.

1864 Company Muster Roll:181 May & June, Robert McMurray, 1 Sergt. Rec'd commission as 2 Lt. from Gov. Ohio June 1/64. Awaiting muster. Vert. Vol. Rec'd $13 advance pay . 2 inst. of bounty $50 due.

1864 Company Muster Roll:181 Sept. & Oct.: Robert McMurray, 1 Lieut. Mustered as 1 Lt. Oct. 4/64. In command of Co. since Oct. 20/64.

1865 Company Muster Roll:181 May & June, Robert McMurray, Capt. Absent. Promoted from 1 Lt. to Capt. March 27/65. Appointed Adjt. 67 Ohio Vols. March 5/65. Mustered as Capt. March 27/65 and Acting Adjt. until May/65. Detached serivce as P.M. at Louisa C., W. Va.

1865 Muster-out Roll:181 Dec. 7: Robert McMurray, Capt., Co. E, 67 Reg't Ohio Infantry, age 22 years, appears on Co. Muster-out Roll, dated City Point, Va., Dec. 7, 1865.

1870 U.S. Census:1009
Auglaize County, Ohio (Wapakoneta Village)
Enumerated 6 July 1870
Robert McMurray, Jr. •• 27 male, white, county recorder, real property value: $1,000; personal property value: $250; born in Ohio, eligible to vote
Isora •• 24 female, while, keeping house, born in Ohio
Ione •• 1 female, white, at home, born in Ohio
Listing is followed by Mary McMurray and son William McMurray.

1878 Death Record:638, p. 109 (Probate Court Death Records, v. 1, p. 93) Robert McMurray, born in Dayton, Ohio, age 36 years, 2 months, 5 days, died 29 March 1878 in Wapakoneta of pneumonia.

1878 Will:1961 Robert McMurray, in his will written 22 February 1878 and recorded 3 April 1878, left all of his real and personal property to his wife Isora, appointed her as guardian of his children (Ione, Hattie, and George), and appointed her executrix of his estate.

1878 Funeral:1304 Funeral Obsequies on Sunday Last. The largest and most showing demonstration as to funeral sites that ever took place in our city was witnessed on Sabbath last. It was principally under the direction of the Freemasons and the ceremonies were conducted by the Knights Templar, which composes the highest of that ancient and honorable honor. There were fifty Knights present — all members of Shawnee Commandry No. 14, Lima, and some three hundred Master Masons, members of the Hamer Lodge, of this place, of Mercer Lodge, St. Marys, and New Bremen Lodge, of that place; and in addition, at least one thousand other citizens together making a very imposing appearance. The Knights have their own band, which played the peculiar pieces of the Order, with good effect. Our own ‘Old Brigade Band’ was in service, really as the source of music for the Blue Lodge, and well did it do its work. This band is unrivaled in the State. The deceased being the Mayor of the town at this death, the Firemen attended the funeral services in uniform, accompanied by the "Young [film splice obscures line] good deal of proficiency in music.

The solemn, pleasing and very appropriate ceremony of the Knights charmed in a solemn way, all our people who were in attendance. The eminent Commander and Prelate were the principals in the service: the soft clear logical voice of the Prelate (Rev. Mr. Berry of Lima) was certainly a lovely feature in the service. The solemn, unique ceremonial at the grave is worth of special note, the close of which was that all the Knights in the form of a triangle, knelt upon the ground around the grave and repeated the Lord’s prayer together; the solemn simplicity of which scene amounted to grandeur.

1878 Obituary:290, v. 2, p. 38 of Wapakoneta Bee section (Wapakoneta Bee, 4 April 1878) Robert McMurray died March 29, 1878 in Wapakoneta, O. 36y 2m 5d. Born January 24, 1842 in Dayton, O. His father was Robert McMurray who came to Allen Co. in 1844 and settled on a farm in Washington Twp, now in Auglaize Co. They then moved to Campbell Co., Kentucky. Resided there 9 years until the death of his father. The widowed mother came back to Auglaize Co. and settled in St. Marys, O. Robert became a Captain in the Civil War. He married Miss Isora Holbrook on April 7, 1868 and soon after was admitted to the Bar. Was the Postmaster of Wapakoneta in 1865, become County Recorder for 2 terms and then was Mayor of Wapakoneta in 1875. Buried Evergreen Cemetery.

1878 Obituary:1303,290, v. 2, p. 303 (Auglaize County Democrat, 4 April 1878) The Late Robert McMurray. Robert McMurray was born in Covington, Kentucky, coming to Ohio, Auglaize County, at the age of five or six years, he lived here, except the time he was absent in the army, to the time of his death. His youth was not more than ordinarily promising and his advantages were not more than equal to such as boys usually had. At a very early age he was deprived of a father’s support and the family being without means, Robert was cared for — with such care as he got — by his grandfather, the late Robert McMurray Sr. of our place. His early education was only what was afforded by the common schools. At the age of seventeen or eighteen he was apprenticed to learn the ‘blacksmith trade’ in St. Mary’s in our county, at which he labored until the late war commenced in 1861, when he volunteered as a private and served in the summer of ’61 in the 15th Ohio Regiment commanded by Col. Andrews. In 1862 he enlisted in the 69th Regiment, commanded by Col. Voris and served as a private for several months when he was made a Sergeant and in the second year arose to be Captain, when Col. Voris, now made a Brigadier, placed him on his staff as aide-camp, with rank of Captain, where he remained until the close of the war when he returned to Wapakoneta and with his brother-in-law A. J. Morey established a blacksmith shop; but his strength was not quite equal to following that trade and we believe he never succeeded in becoming a very artistic workman; and so by the advice of a helping friend he made a move to get the Post Office of this place. The appointment was given him in June 1866. He held that office for three years and until after the election of Gen. Grant when he was relieved from the same and a Republican appointed. In the fall of the same year he was elected County Recorder on the Democratic ticket re-elected in the fall of 1872 for another term, holding the office six years. In the spring of 1875 he was elected Mayor of our town for one year, re-elected in ’76 for two years and held the position at the time of his death. He was made a Freemason in Hamer Lodge, Wapakoneta in 1866, a Chapter Mason in Lima in 1868, and a Knight Templar in Shawnee Commandry, Lima, in 1871. In 1871 he became part proprietor of the Auglaize County Democrat and continued for two years. He studied law with Hon. G. W. Andrews, commencing in 1866 and in ’70 was admitted to the Bar and made the practice of law his main aim thereafter, making other business affairs subordinate to it. He was prompt and attentive and succeeded well.

He was very energetic in all his endeavors, some times to imprudence, but usually succeeded in what he undertook.

In politics, Mr. McMurray started in life a Republican, simply because his relatives belonged to that organization and because Gen. Voris on whose staff he served for a year and a half, was a Republican; but so soon as he investigated political questions himself and began to look at the true theory of our government, he plainly avowed that he could find no political home but in the Democratic party and every after acted in its organization. For several years he was a communicant with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in our place.

Belonging as he did to the highest orders of Freemasonry and Mayor of the city at the time of his death and having ever been a good and exemplary citizen, his funeral last Sunday called more citizens to its attendance than we have seen at any other in our town. He was our friend and for a year a partner in the conduct of this paper. There was not an unpleasant word between us. Peace to his ashes.

1878 Wapakoneta Bar Resolution:2361 Meeting of the Wapakoneta Bar. The Bar met at the office of Geo. W. Andrews on March 31, 1878, to make expression of feeling on the death of Robert McMurray. Members of the Bar present: Geo. W, Andrews, W. V. M. Layton, R. D. Marshall, Philip Jackson, F. C. Van Anda, Gilbert Kennedy, L. N. Blume, F. M. Horn, and F. C. Layton. R. D. Marshall was called to the Chair and F. C. Layton made Secretary. The following committee on resolutions was appointed, Geo. W. Andrews, W. V. M. Layton and L. N. Blume. Mr. Andrews afterwards reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted.

Testimonials in memory of R. McMurray.

In this meeting of the Bar of Wapakoneta, we the members thereof, taking cognizance of the cause of coming otgether, which is the decease of Robert McMurray, Esq., late one of our members, feel like giving expression to our feelings and opinions of the life and character of the deceased and in doing so, we say

--That Robert McMurray, though one of the younger members of our Bar, had aleady impressed himself in a favorable way in judicial proceedings and the practice in our Courts.

-- That his peculiar traits of character as a lawyer were carefulness, energy and tenacity for the interests of his clients.

-- And, we say, his life is a marked illustration of success by energy and will; for Robert McMurray with slender physical health and without means, with quite limited early education, made his advent to the Bar and in seven years took his place with older members; and succeeded in that short time in making quite a competance to leave his little family rhat survive him.

And we now make public expression of our sorrow, because of his early demise, for that we feel sure that had his life been spared to the years usually allotted to men, his worth and usefulness would have been wider known and felt. We tender our sincere condolement to the widow of our late brother, and also to his relatives. A copy of this testimonial shall be presented to Mrs. McMurray, the relect of the deceased. By motion it was requested that these proceedings be spread upon the records of the Court. Thereupon the meeting adjourned sine die. R. D. Marshall, Chairman. F. C. Layton, Secretary.

1878 Tombstone:171, v. 2, bk. 1, p. 121. Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio.
Robert McMurray
1842-1878