Tulare County Biographies

JAMES E. MURDOCK

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        James E. Murdock, proprietor of the Murdock Automobile Electric Company 
and Willard Battery Service of Tulare, California, was born in Rome, Floyd 
county, Georgia, September 16, 1879. He grew to manhood and was educated in his 
native state, where he followed agricultural pursuits for several years. He then 
went to Dallas, Texas, and took a position with the Padgent Brothers Saddlery 
Company. When the United States declared war against Spain in 1898, he enlisted 
in the Forty-third United States Volunteer Infantry, in the company commanded by 
Captain John Cook. His regiment was ordered to the Philippine Islands, where he 
served for seventeen months. In September, 1899, he was made a corporal. During 
that time he was in numerous engagements with the insurgents and on May 6, 1900, 
received a wound in the leg. He was mustered out at Manila, Philippine Islands, 
July 5, 1901, and returned to the United States.
        In 1911 Mr. Murdock came to California and during the next seven years 
was in the employ of Overholtzer & Son, undertakers in Los Angeles. The next two 
years he resided in Reno, Nevada. Returning at the end of that time to the San 
Joaquin valley, he was manager of the Wilard Battery Station in Reedley, Fresno 
county, and owned a half interest in a branch establishment in Exeter, Tulare 
county. On December 1, 1921, Mr. Murdock purchased the Willard Battery Station 
in Tulare. Subsequently he bought a half interest in the undertaking 
establishment in Tulare, which business in now conducted under the firm name of 
Murdock & Murry, and both concerns in which he is interested are doing a 
profitable business.
        Mr. Murdock has been twice married. His first wife bore him two children 
: George and Juanita. His second marriage was to Miss Estelle Taggart, a native 
of East Liverpool, Ohio. This union has been blessed by two daughters : Martha 
Elizabeth and Elsie Jane. Mr. Murdock is a member of Tulare Lodge No. 1494, 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 161