Marcus Wellington Murdock (Continued)
Farming In Venice Center After The Civil War
Partnership With His Father, Lyman Murdock
Marcus was discharged from the 111th Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers near the end of January 1865 for medical disability. He returned to the Murdock Homestead at Venice Center, Venice, Cayuga Co., New York where he engaged in farming with his father, Lyman Murdock. In the state and federal censuses of 1865, 1870, and 1875, Marcus is listed as a Farmer living in his father's household. Lyman Murdock was at this time a produce buyer as well as a farmer suggesting that Marcus contributed to that business as well (1). The following news item from 1875 illustrates Marcus's success in his farming endeavors.
Local and Miscellany. . . . Something like a dozen car loads of grain have been shipped from Venice Center, during the past week, by Mr. M. W. Murdock. . . .-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Local and Miscellany 3 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Friday, 11 June 1875), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
Marriage To Mary E. Lyman
The year 1876 marked a major change in the lives of Marcus W. Murdock and of his father, Lyman, when each married. Lyman, a widower, married the widow Charity Dean Adams of Candor, Tioga Co., New York in June, and Marcus married Mary E. Lyman on 21 September 1876 at Kingston, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. Mary was the daughter of Gustavus Lyman and Alfleda Blashfield, spending most of her youth at Little York in the Town of Homer, Cortland Co., New York. Mary and her parents had removed to Venice before 1870 so would have been known to Marcus for some years before he and Mary married.
Sources differ on how much time Lyman Murdock spent in Venice Center after his marriage to Charity; however, because Charity was Postmaster at North Candor for the next four years (2), we must presume that Lyman spent most of his time there and not at Venice Center. Marcus W. Murdock and Mary E. Lyman presumably took up the mantle of leading the Murdock enterprises at Venice Center following their marriage.
Marcus and Mary's first child was J. Madge Murdock, born 4 May 1878 at Venice Center. Madge married (1st) Clarence R. Cannon of Venice Center in 1895. Clarence went west, seemingly without Madge, ca. 1901. He died in 1903 after having remarried at Omaha, Nebraska in 1902. Madge later married a William Crouch before 1912, at which time she was residing at Richmond, Virginia. William died before 1920. Madge thereafter resided in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York and subsequently at several locations in New Jersey where she worked as an Investigator employed by one or more corporations and later worked at Raritan Arsenal. Madge died 23 February 1959.
Marcus Eugene Murdock, second child of Marcus Wellington Murdock and Mary E. Lyman, was born 14 May 1880 at Venice Center. He was known as Eugene to distinguish him from his father. Eugene died as a child on 23 June 1885.
A second son, Stanley Howard Murdock, Sr., was born to Marcus W. and Mary E. Murdock on 17 August 1882 at Venice Center. Stanley attended Auburn Academic High School at Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York from which he graduated in 1902. Stanley subsequently attended Hamilton College at Clinton, Oneida Co., New York where he soon broke his leg and three ribs in a football game. Stanley was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at Hamilton and graduated in 1906. He married Elizabeth Katherine Carter at Rye, Westchester Co., New York on 12 October 1907. The couple removed to Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio shortly after their marriage. Stanley was employed as a Civil Engineer in both the private and public sectors, including as Deputy Commissioner of Engineering by the City of Cleveland, during his career. He and Elizabeth resided at Lakewood, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio after 1918. Elizabeth died in 1964, and Stanley died in 1959.
Marcus and Mary's first child was J. Madge Murdock, born 4 May 1878 at Venice Center. Madge married (1st) Clarence R. Cannon of Venice Center in 1895. Clarence went west, seemingly without Madge, ca. 1901. He died in 1903 after having remarried at Omaha, Nebraska in 1902. Madge later married a William Crouch before 1912, at which time she was residing at Richmond, Virginia. William died before 1920. Madge thereafter resided in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York and subsequently at several locations in New Jersey where she worked as an Investigator employed by one or more corporations and later worked at Raritan Arsenal. Madge died 23 February 1959.
Marcus Eugene Murdock, second child of Marcus Wellington Murdock and Mary E. Lyman, was born 14 May 1880 at Venice Center. He was known as Eugene to distinguish him from his father. Eugene died as a child on 23 June 1885.
A second son, Stanley Howard Murdock, Sr., was born to Marcus W. and Mary E. Murdock on 17 August 1882 at Venice Center. Stanley attended Auburn Academic High School at Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York from which he graduated in 1902. Stanley subsequently attended Hamilton College at Clinton, Oneida Co., New York where he soon broke his leg and three ribs in a football game. Stanley was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at Hamilton and graduated in 1906. He married Elizabeth Katherine Carter at Rye, Westchester Co., New York on 12 October 1907. The couple removed to Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio shortly after their marriage. Stanley was employed as a Civil Engineer in both the private and public sectors, including as Deputy Commissioner of Engineering by the City of Cleveland, during his career. He and Elizabeth resided at Lakewood, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio after 1918. Elizabeth died in 1964, and Stanley died in 1959.
Clara Louise Murdock was the second daughter of Marcus W. and Mary E. Murdock. She was born 6 May 1885 at Venice Center. Her mother would die only 4 years later, leaving her to be raised by her father. Clara Louise attended school at Sherwood, Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York and later at Auburn. She subsequently removed to Cleveland where she worked in the real estate business. By 1924, Clara had removed to California where she worked in retail clothing sales for many years, dying in 1956 in Santa Clara County.
Farming After 1876
Having returned to the Murdock Homestead by 1907, Marcus lived in Venice Center for the remainder of his life although censused as a Boarder in an unknown Venice household in 1910. He was listed as having his own income at this time, probably from his farm rent and political- or railroad-associated activities.Auctions. L. B. Norman, having purchased the entire personal property of Capt. M. W. Murdock, will sell at public auction at the farm of said Murdock, at Venice Center, on Friday, Sept. 30, at 10 o'clock, property including five good work horses, 12 head of high grade Durham cattle, 90 choice sheep, 14 hogs, farm wagons, buggies, harnesses, quantity of farming utensil, quantity of oats, barley, wheat, buckwheat, hay, apples, etc., etc. . . .-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Auctions 2 (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 30 September 1904), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com
Other Farm-Related Activities
Lyman T. Murdock, Marcus's brother, joined him in a partnership as dealers in phosphate. Phosphate is a fertilizer applied to agricultural land to improve crop productivity. This activity was noted in 1880 but may have continued for a number of years, at least until the Ithaca, Auburn & Western Railroad (operated by the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad) was acquired by the Lehigh Valley Railroad and shut down in 1889.Marcus Wellington Murdock's Political Activities Following The Civil War
Cayuga County Republican Committee
We first see Marcus involved in politics when he is listed as representing the Town of Venice at the Cayuga County Republican Convention held at the Court House in Auburn on 27 September 1873. His older brother, Lyman T. Murdock, was also in attendence and was appointed to the Cayuga County Republican Committee (3).Venice Center Postmaster
Marcus Wellington Murdock served as Postmaster at Venice Center from 3 May 1880 until 17 September 1885 when he was replaced by Charles F. Crawfoot (4) (5). Postmasters were political appointees during this era. Marcus was Postmaster was during the Republican presidential administrations of Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield (assassinated), and Chester A. Arthur. Democrat Grover Cleveland took office as President on 4 March 1885, which likely accounted for Marcus being replaced as Postmaster several months later.Marcus received a variable income in his role as Venice Center Postmaster. Postmaster income derived from a percentage of postage sales. Marcus's annual compensation was listed as $72.63 on 1 July 1881, $175.80 on 1 July 1883, and $231.16 on 1 July 1885. It may be that completion of the Ithaca, Auburn & Western Railroad (as then constituted) into Auburn in 1881 (6) brought increasing use of the Venice Center Post Office and greater sales of postage by Marcus in subsequent years.
Venice Town Supervisor (February 1892-February 1903)
In February 1892, Marcus became the Republican candidate for Supervisor of the Town of Venice. His opponent was Democrat Delos Kimball with the election scheduled for 16 February (7). Marcus was elected as Supervisor. Thus began his long-term political role overseeing governance of Venice and contributing to governance of Cayuga County through his participation on the County Board of Supervisors, the form of county government used at that time.
Marcus also represented the Town of Venice on the Republican County Committee for terms beginning in 1893, 1895, and 1897 during his time as Venice Town Superviser. Locally, he served on the Venice Board of Town Auditors in 1898. Marcus nominated Town of Genoa Supervisor Dr. Frank A. Dudley for Chair of the Cayuga County Board of Supervisors in November 1898, declining to take the position himself. In November 1902, Marcus served on three Board of Supervisors Committees: Equalization, Law and Legislation, and Military.
Marcus failed to receive the Republican nomination for Venice Town Supervisor in February 1903, losing out to Charles Wood (8) after 12 years of service. The reasons for Venice Republicans' loss of confidence in Marcus are not clear. It may be that his residence at that time, largely in the City of Auburn, made him somewhat of an absentee Supervisor. Marcus was also heavily involved in railroad promotion, which may have occupied an inordinate amount of his efforts and taken away from his role in Venice.
Republican Congressional Convention Delegate and Other Political Involvement
The Cayuga County Republican Convention for the Second District met at the Cayuga County Court House in November 1904. Marcus Wellington Murdock was chosen as a Congressional Delegate (9). During 1905 Marcus and another Republican from Auburn explored running for Cayuga County Superintendent of the Poor, but by the time of the Republican County Convention in September, both withdrew from contention in favor of County Superintendent Lee Hewitt (10).
The Republican District Convention of 1906 occurred in October. Captain Marcus W. Murdock and General MacDougal of Auburn escorted their fellow veteran of the Civil War, Dr. Frank A. Dudley of Genoa, to the podium where Dr. Dudley spoke as the Republican Nominee for the New York State Assembly (11). The Cayuga County Board of Supervisors met the following month. Although Captain Murdock was no longer a member of the Board, he was among military veterans named by the County Board of Supervisors Committee on Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines to act with the Supervisors of wards and towns regarding headstones and burials of veterans (12).
Venice Town Supervisor (February 1909-February 1911) and Chairman of the Cayuga County Board of Supervisors (1909)
Marcus Wellington Murdock was voted back into office as Venice Town Supervisor in February 1909, having defeated Fred W. Mosher with a majority of 38 votes (13). Each year the Town and Auburn Ward Supervisors of Cayuga County met during the month of November as the County Board of Supervisors and chose a Chairman before conducting the business of the County. Marcus's return to the Board in 1909 was met with its members unanimously choosing him to serve as Chairman. This honor was felt somewhat overdue in light of Marcus's previous long service as a Supervisor (14).
The Board of Supervisors session of 1909 extended to 1 January 1910. Among topics reported from the meeting were the salaries of the Supervisors. Marcus earned $275.13, a bit less than several of the other Supervisors. At the conclusion of the Board of Supervisors session, Chairman Murdock thanked his fellow Supervisors for giving him the opportunity to serve and declared that he would not serve as Chairman in the fall of 1910 but would return to his seat with other Supervisors at the rear of the chamber (15).
Venice Supervisor Murdock continued in office in 1910. One of his concerns must have been highways and bridges because he visited the office of County Superintendent of Highways J. Charles Dayton several times during the year. When the County Board of Supervisors convened as the Board of County Canvassers in November 1910, Marcus was assigned to the Committee for Assembly Sheets (16). He was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors' Committee on Physicians and Surgeons and presented a report to the Board at their session on 24 December 1910 (17). The Supervisors' business extended through 5 January 1911, at which time Marcus presented a bill totaling $286 for his recent work on the Board as a Supervisor and County Canvasser (18).
Thus, the career of Captain Marcus Wellington Murdock as a holder of political office drew to a close when he apparently did not seek re-election as Venice Town Supervisor in the election of February 1911. He had had a long run but by this time was in declining health and heavily involved in railroad matters.
Sources
(1) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Captain M. W. Murdock (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 1 August 1913), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "With the 111th, Captain Murdock participated in most of the battles in which that regiment engaged, and although wounded, he recovered and at the close of the war came home to enter into business with his father, then a produce buyer and farmer of Venice Center. . . ."(2) United States of America, Post Office Department, U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 (Washington, DC, National Archives and Records Administration, NARA Microfilm Publication M841, Record Group Number 28), Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com, "Name: Charity Murdock; Post Office Location: North Candor, Tioga, New York; Appointment Date: 19 Jul 1876; Volume #: 46; Volume Year Range: 1874-1889; Partial Transcription: 'North Candor Charity Murdock 19 July 76 Dis. [Discontinued] 13 July 1880'"
(3) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Republican County Convention 2 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Saturday, 27 September 1873), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The Convention assembled at noon to-day, in the Supervisors' chamber, at the Court House. . . . Afternoon Session. . . . On a call of the roll, the various wards and towns were found to be represented as follows. . . . Venice . . . M. W. Murdock. . . . The following gentlemen were appointed as County Committee. . . . Venice--L. T. Murdock. . . ."
(4) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Postal Matters. . . . Postmasters Appointed (Albany, Albany Co., NY, Albany Evening Journal, Monday, 10 May 1880), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "Marcus W. Murdock, Venice Centre, Cayuga Co."
(5) United States of America, Post Office Department, U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 (Washington, DC, National Archives and Records Administration, NARA Microfilm Publication M841, Record Group Number 28), Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com, "Name: Marcus W Murdock; Post Office Location: Venice Centre, Cayuga, New York; Appointment Date: 3 May 1880 [NOTE: Image shows Marcus was replaced by Charles F. Crawfoot on 17 September 1885 - R. A. Post]; Volume #: 46; Volume Year Range: 1874-1889"
(6) Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The IA&W was completed into Auburn in August, 1881 and was celebrated with much fanfare. . . ."
(7) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), County of Cayuga. News From The Several Towns. . . . [Venice] (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Argus, Friday, 12 February 1892), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "M. W. Murdock, Republican and Delos Kimball, Democrat will try titles for the office of Supervisor Feb. 16. . . ."
(8) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Murdock Beaten In Venice (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Democrat-Argus, Tuesday, 3 February 1903), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "In the Venice Republican caucus Charles Wood was nominated for supervisor over Captain M. W. Murdock, the present incumbent. . . ."
(9) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Choice Made At Auburn. . . . Special To The Post-Standard. Auburn, April 8 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co, NY, The Post-Standard, Saturday, 9 April 1904), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The Republican conventions for both the First and Second districts of Cayuga county were held at the Court House in this city to-day. . . . Second district convention. . . . Congressional Delegates . . . M. W. Murdock of Venice. . . ."
(10) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Harmony With A Big H (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Bulletin, Saturday, 23 September 1905), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "A year ago everything indicated a big fight in the Republican county convention this Fall. . . . Likewise it was originally a three cornered contest for superintendent of the poor, but when the convention met to-day Captain M. Wellington Murdock, of Venice, and John T. Blakley, of the Sixth ward, had withdrawn from the race and it was all plain sailing for County Superintendent Lee Hewitt. . . ."
(11) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Dr. Dudley Nominated (Genoa, Cayuga Co., NY, The Genoa Tribune, Friday, 5 October 1906), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The Republican district convention was called to order. . . . Judge Danforth R. Lewis . . . presented the name of Dr. F. A. Dudley of King Ferry, supervisor of the town of Genoa, as the Republican nominee for Member of Assembly for Cayuga county. . . . Escorted by General MacDougal and Captain M. W. Murdock, veterans of the rebellion, where they knew and saw him as surgeon on many a hard-fought field, Dr. Dudley walked down the aisle and standing before the convention, in most inspiring imp[r]omptu remarks, he thanked the representatives of the Republican party for this expression of their confidence and estee[m]."
(12) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), A Day of Business - Supervisors Found It in Plenty Without Discussion (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Citizen, Wednesday, 12 November 1906), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "Supervisor Griffin from the Committee on Soldiers, Sailors and Marines reported the following list of veterans to act with the supervisors of wards and towns in the matter of headstones and burials of veterans. . . . Venice, M. W. Murdock. . . ."
(13) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Democratic Gain of Two 2 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Democrat-Argus, Friday, 19 February 1909), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com, "The Democrats lost out in the towns of Mentz, Springport and Venice, where Calvin R. Aldrich, Fred A. Guile and Fred W. Mosher were defeated for re-election by George Newkirk, Oscar J. Spencer and Captain M. W. Murdock, respectively, all Republicans. . . . Venice. In this town Captain M. W. Murdock, Republican, trimmed Fred W. Mosher, Democrat. . . ."
(14) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Murdock Chairman. . . . (Wednesday) (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Democrat-Argus, Friday, 12 November 1909), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The Board of Supervisors of Cayuga county convened in the annual session of 1909 at the county clerk's building this morning. . . . Captain M. W. Murdock of Venice, was the unanimous choice of the Board for chairman. . . . Supervisor J. Fitch Walker of Moravia placed in nomination the name of Supervisor Marcus Wellington Murdock of the town of Venice. Mr. Walker said in nomination: 'I wish to place in nomination for the position of chairman a gentleman so well known that extended remarks are unnecessary. A gentleman of unsullied reputation, a veteran of the Civil war with a title earned in strenuous service. A noted farmer, and a man who at the end of the present term will have served his town and county faithfully for 13 years. I take great pleasure in presenting the name of Captain Marcus W. Murdock of Venice.'. . ."
(15) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Met On New Year's - Supervisors Finished Up Business With Two Sessions (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly Bulletin, Tuesday, 4 January 1910), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The members of the Board of Supervisors of Cayuga county wound up all affairs of the session of 1909 . . . on Saturday. . . . The Afternoon Session. . . . The report of salary of supervisors was as follows . . . M. W. Murdock, Venice, $275.13. . . . Chairman Murdock's Farewell. Before bringing down the final tap of the gavel Chairman Murdock said in part: 'I came to you last fall as a stranger and you took me in. Next fall, if I live, I will again come back among you, but as is often said, I will not be up here, but will go way back and sit down among you. I wish to thank each and every one of you for the many kindnesses shown.' (Applause.)"
(16) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), To Canvass Vote - Supervisors Convene With Coulling as Chairman. . . . Tuesday (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Democrat-Argus, Friday, 18 November 1910), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The members of the Board of Supervisors convened as a Board of County Canvassers this morning at the office of County Clerk Warne. . . . Chairman Pooler then announced the appointment of the following committees . . . Assembly Sheet . . . M. W. Murdock. . . ."
(17) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), To Meet On Monday - Supervisors Won't Take Advantage of Holiday (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Citizen, Saturday, 24 December 1910), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "This morning's session of the Board of Supervisors was of brief duration. Most of the discussion was over a report of the Committee on Physicians and Surgeons and the special committee on physic[i]ans' fees in coroners' cases in which it was recommended that legislation be enacted for the appointment of three physicians on salary to look after coroners' cases and that the fee for viewing remains be $5 and for post mortems with dissection $20. . . . Chairman Murdock of the Committee on Physicians and Surgeons presented a report. . . ."
(18) Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Want New Court House. . . . Thursday, Jan. 5 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Semi-Weekly Journal, Friday, 6 January 1911), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com, "The Board of Supervisors convened for the last meeting of the session this morning but were unable to finish the work during the forenoon and took a recess until 2:30 o'clock to close up the work of 1910. . . . The several Supervisors presented their bills for the work of the session as Supervisors and as County Canvassers, each one charging for eight days' service in the latter capacity. . . . The total charges follow . . . M. W. Murdock, Venice [$]286.00. . . ."
No comments:
Post a Comment