SAMUEL MURRAY, deceased, was once one of the prominent farmers of Newberry Township, and resided on a valuable property situated about one mile southeast of Covington, on the Troy turnpike road. He was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and was a son of David and Elizabeth (Kimmel) Murray.

When Samuel Murray was about seven years of age his parents moved from Montgomery County to Miami County, and settled on a farm in Newberry Township, adjoining the one later owned by Samuel Murray, and which is now the home of his widow. From boyhood he was trained in habits of industry and thrift, and he grew to manhood with all the knowledge necessary to make him an excellent farmer. He married Mary Shellebarger in 1851, and she still survives, having reached her eighty-third birthday, having been born January 24, 1826, in Pennsylvania. She was five years old when her parents, Jacob and Hannah (Mohler) Shellebarger, brought her to Miami County. The Shellebargers settled on the farm on which Sebastian Holfinger now lives, and Jacob Shellebarger entered that land from the Government, cleared it up and erected there his log house. In that home Mrs. Murray grew to womanhood. After marriage, Samuel Murray and wife first went to housekeeping on a farm situated on the Piqua turnpike road, later removing from there to the farm on which Samuel Murray lived until the time of his death, which occurred on November 10, 1895, when he was aged sixty- seven years. He was a very industrious man; not only understood all kinds of agricultural labor, but he learned brick making, and made the brick that went into the construction of the present brick residence. Mr. Samuel Murray was a prominent man in the Dunkard Church, and was a minister for many years, and finally ordained as an elder.

There were eight children born to Samuel Murray and his wife, three of whom Amelia, Martha and Hannah died in infancy. The survivors are: Owen, who resides on a part of the home farm; Mrs. Catherine Cover, who lives in Modesta County, California; Mrs. Emma Gibbon, whose home is in Artesia, California; Charles; and Mrs. Ella Colbert, who lives at Whittier, California.

Charles Murray, the younger son of the late Samuel Murray, was born on the present farm March 22, 1869, and he has always been a farmer. He was married (first) to Hettie Warner, who died without issue. He was married (second) to Lydia Beaver, who was born and reared in Shelby County, a daughter of Grant and Alice (Smith) Beaver. They have one son, Samuel Lester. This family belongs to the old order of Dunkard; or German Baptists. This religious body dates back to 1708, and was founded in the United States in 1723-4. In the passage of years divisions have come into the original order, but the Murrays are still faithful to the old tenets requiring simplicity of life and deportment.