PATRICK MURRAY, a wide awake farmer of Curran Township and a very popular member of society, is carrying on extensive agricultural and stock interests. His home is nine miles from Springfield and is one of the well improved farms which make this county so attractive in appearance and so valuable as the center of well developed industries. The land owned by Mr. Murray consists of two hundred and eighty-four acres on sections 9 and 10, and eighty acres on section 14, of the township before mentioned. He bought his home farm when it was but partially improved and has brought it up to its present fine condition by his personal efforts and good management.

Mr. Murray is an Irishman, born in Newcastle, County Tipperary, in 1836. His ancestors were farmers and his father held official positions in the county. The grandfather and father of our subject each bore the given name John, and spent their entire lives in their native county. The mother of our subject was born in the same county and bore the maiden name of Mary Carrigan; she is now deceased. The other members of the parental family also emigrated to America and several of them are living in this county. Mrs. Mary Kaling lives in Clear Lake Township; Morris, in Woodside Township; Mrs. Bridget Whalen, in Talkington Township, and William, in Woodside Township; John is farming in Morgan County. Two of the family - Edward and Maggie, died in Curran Township.

Our subject is the second child in the family and the oldest son. There was no free school system in Ireland during his boyhood years, and he had but limited school advantages, although his father was in quite good circumstances. After the death of the father, however, the lad was obliged to take his place as the head of the household, although he was quite young in years. Making up his mind that no headway could be made in the Emerald Isle, he determined to emigrate, hoping to better his condition in the land of whose resources he had heard such glowing accounts. In the spring of 1851, therefore, when but fifteen years old, he journeyed to Liverpool and thence took passage for Philadelphia on a slow sailing vessel. As he had not much money to spare, he came over on half rations, but gaining the favor of the Captain he did not suffer for the lack of plenty to eat. After a tedious voyage of seven weeks and three days he stepped foot on American soil with a cash capital of twenty-four cents.

Young Murray found employment on a farm in Delaware County, Pa., and so well did he discharge the duties which lay before that his employer kept him two years and gave him a man's wages. When he had been there a month, he sent three pounds home to his mother, and a few years later began to collect the family, paying their passage across at different times as he was able to save money for that purpose. He remained in the Keystone State until 1853, when he came West, making his first home in Morgan County. There he was engaged for seven years in feeding and tending cattle for Jesse Henry. He then rented land, but after operating it two years, determined to removed to this county. Hee he rented raw land and with the assistance of his brothers, broke the prairie sod and prepared the ground to bring forth good crops. He has reclaimed over twelve hundred acres o f land and paid out over $76,000 in rents in this county.

In 1876 Mr. Murray bought the farm he now owns and at once began adding to the improvements thereon. His principal crops are wheat and corn and he raises large droves of hogs, finding profit in the home consumption of a great part of his grain. He buys and ships stock in large numbers and probably carries on as extensive a trade as any man in this vicinity. The brief outline which we have given of his life's labor, is yet sufficient to indicate the indomitable will, faithfulness in whatever labor he undertakes and his affectionate nature, which are the leading characteristics in Mr. Murray's character. As a self-made man, he has been largely instrumental in the present prosperity of his brothers and sisters, and manifests a deep desire to have those arrangements made which will insure to the members of the families in this vicinity and advantages which he did not possess, but whose lack he has overcome by his perseverance and quick wit.

The wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Bridget Dalton, and was born in the same county as himself. Their marriage was solemnized in Woodside, Morgan County, March 10, 1860. Mrs. Murray has been a devoted mother and her children owe much to her loving care and good counsel, while to her husband she has been all that a faithful wife could be. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Murray includes the following named children: Mary, John, Bridget, Patrick, Maggie, Katie, Julia, Alice, Annie, Nellie and Joseph. The oldest daughter is the wife of Joseph Foley and lives in Woodside Township. The others with the exception of Julia, who is now attending the Jacksonville Illinois Institute for the deaf and Dumb, are still at home.

Mr. Murray has served four years as Deputy County Sheriff, and at the recent election was the successful candidate on the Democratic ticket for the position of Sheriff. He has served his party as a delegate to county and State conventions and as a member of the Central Committee. For a period of twelve years he was Commissioner of Highways, while his ability has been exercised for the good of the public in other official capacities, one of which was that of School Director. He is a Catholic, identified with the membership of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.