McMurray Family Group Sheet

I have in my possession a family group sheet where my grandmother, Caroline McMurray was a child in the family. This family group sheet is especially special because it has pictures of all the people.

I have been looking at it a lot, looking at pictures, looking at dates, and I got to thinking about her siblings.

Caroline McMurray was the second youngest in a family of 10 children.  Her younger sister, Lila Leora McMurray was Aunt Lila-"with the white hair".  I don't think we called her that to her face but my sisters and I always referred to her that way because on my dad's side we had another Aunt Lila and this was a way to differentiate. Her white hair was really beautiful and she was just a lovely and gracious person. Caroline and Lila were the only children in that family who were born after them moved to Canada. the other eight siblings were born in the United States.

I also remember an Aunt Jennie, but I think as a kid I really didn't know how she was my aunt. Now I sit here looking at this picture from long ago- probably her wedding picture for 25 March 1913- I can see her face in that picture. I wish I had paid more attention.

Today, as I am holding this family group sheet in my hands and it caused me to wonder "Why don't I know or remember any of the others?"  The answer: they all died before I was born or when I was very young.

Here is a list of her family:
Father- James Stevenson McMurray   born: 13 July 1863 - died:22 June 1948
Mother- Sarah Ann Orr    born: 20 Dec 1867 - died: 29 Aug 1901
Brother- Joseph McMurray   born: 9 Feb 1887 - died 28 Sept 1958
Brother - Parley McMurray    born: 25 Sept 1888 - died:22 Nov 1940
Sister - Sadie McMurray    born: 8 Sept 1890 - died: 15 Mar 1891 - she was just a baby
Sister -Lottie McMurray    born: 2 Mar 1892 - died: 7 Oct 1916
Sister - Jennie McMurray    born: 17 Dec 1893 - died
Sister - Eva McMurray    born: 27 July 1896 - died: 19 Feb 1920
Brother - Milford McMurray    born: 15 Dec 1897 - died: 12 Sept 1950
Brother - Richard McMurray    born: 12 Oct 1900 - died: 5 Mar 1952

Self - Caroline McMurray    born: 11 March 1902 - died 3 June 1981

Sister- Lila Leora McMurray   born: 7 Apr 1909 - died        

James Stevenson McMurray 1863-1948

James Stevenson McMurray - my great-grandfather, was married to Sarah Ann Orr.  She was the third child of Richard and Caroline Orr.

My mother, Glenna Davies had these memories of him: "Grandpa McMurray made cedar chests for his daughter Carrie and Lila and for some of his granddaughters.  He didn't come to Carmangay very often, but one time he came and built some steps on the front porch ... before that time we had had quite a struggle to get up on the porch. Grandpa was a quiet man, but was always up early. He liked to exercise and he tried to eat healthy and nutritious food."

In 1946, Mable McMurray Hull helped Grandfather McMurray by scribing this short history.  These were his words:

"I was born at Grantsville, Utah, U.S.A., 13 July 1863 and lived with my parents until 1870 when they were called to settle Bear Lake Co. at Liberty, Idaho.  I also lived there with them.

In 1901, I moved to Canada.  There was an impelling feeling that prompted me to come to Canada.  Josiah Orr and family, Alfred Sillitoe, George Sillitoe, and J.T. Derricott all came together. We sent a delegation to Cardston- to Stake President Card and he told us there was not better place to settle so we got busy and settled where Orton is today. I had three quarter sections of land and had a struggle to pay for them.  We had good crops till  1909, and in 1910 it was very dry and only summer fallow was worth cutting.  I figured on 12,000 bushels and got 1,200.  In 1911, it was very wet, froze and rusted.  All my children except for my two youngest were born n the United States.

I buried my first wife, Sarah, on 28 August 1909. she died of blood poisoning brought on by Erysipelas.  Lila was the baby, just 4 months old. Lottie was about 17 and the oldest living girl.  She helped by looking after things.  There were 9 children at home."

Caroline McMurray Davies

I found this short bio on my grandmother- I don't know what it was written for, but it is just a short, concise piece:

Caroline McMurray was the 9th child of James S. McMurray and Sarah Orr. She was born on march 11, 1902 in Orton, Alberta, Canada. Her parents and seven siblings moved from Idaho in march.  It was cold and windy, they had no house, and lived in a tent for a few weeks.  Being very windy in March many times her parents and older brothers would stand outside and hold down the tent poles.

Carrie, as she was called, also had a younger sister named Lila. They were the only ones born in Canada.

When Carrie was nine her mother died of a rare disease. Lila was only four months old. Carrie was very sad and lonesome. Her older sisters helped take care of her and little Lila. Before her mother died, Carrie would stand at her side with a fan to help keep the flies from bothering her.

She attended school to sixth grade. She lived with some of her older siblings to help take care of their children. Late she worked for several different families helping with housework.  While she was doing that kind of work she met George Davies and they were married.

About 18 months after George died in 1957 she attendend Nursing School in Calgary and became a successful Nursing aid and worked at three different hospitals until she retired.

She died June 1, 1981 after being ill with Parkinson's disease.

Caroline McMurray Davies

This wonderful lady is my grandmother. All us grand-kids called her Grandma Davies, or sometimes just "Gram". She made the best sugar cookies!  Seeing her picture brings memories and stories to my mind.  Family pictures need to come out of the box so we can have our memories...