Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

ANNIE B. MURRAY

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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

For more than half a century Mrs. Annie B. Murray has resided in Sutter County, 
where, in the early days, she endured many hardships of the pioneer�s life.  She 
was born in Chicago, Ill, January 7, 1845, a daughter of John and Anna 
(Robertson) Burnett, both natives of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who came to 
America as a newly married couple and located twelve miles out of Chicago.  
There they farmed, in the days when Indians were still numerous in the forests 
and on the plains; and later Mr. Burnett engaged in the draying and coach 
business in Chicago.  He died in 1863, at the age of fifty-six years, after a 
fairly successful business career; his wife died at the age of forty-nine years. 
 When Mrs. Murray was about eight years old, with two younger sisters, she 
returned to her grandfather�s home in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and there, three 
miles from Fraserburgh, she was reared to young womanhood.  In 1864 she made a 
visit to Chicago, but again returned to Scotland, and there lived until 1868, 
when she came to San Francisco via the Panama route.
            In San Francisco, on May 29, 1868, Miss Burnett was united in 
marriage with James Murray, also a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he 
was born on August 3, 1841, and was reared to manhood on his father�s farm.  He 
remained in his native land until 1864, when he came to California. He soon 
found employment on the ranch of 320 acres, in Sutter County, which two and a 
half years later he made his own by purchase.  In 1883 he added by purchase 160 
acres and seven years later a like amount, making in all a ranch of 660 acres. 
He was one of the organizers of Murray school district, named in his honor; and 
he gave the site for the schoolhouse and served as trustee for many years.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Murray were the parents of three sons.  William R. is married and has 
one daughter; and he and his family reside at San Bernardino, where he has been 
employed with the Santa Fe shops for nineteen years.  George A. is married and 
has one son; he is an orchardist in Sutter County.  James R. is married and has 
four children, and is also an orchardist in Sutter County.  In 1910, Mr. Murray 
purchased a home at Tierra Buena, where he resided until his death, on March 25, 
1922.  This property has since been sold, and Mrs. Murray now divides her time 
and place of residence, visiting her sons and their families.  Mr. Murray was an 
elder in the Presbyterian Church at Marysville, and was a highly esteemed 
pioneer citizen in Sutter County.  Mrs. Murray is also a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and active in its benevolences.  She is now among the few 
remaining pioneers of this region, whither she came as a bride fifty-six years 
ago.  Of a pleasing personality, she has a host of warm friends, who appreciate 
her for her integrity of character and her sterling worth.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p  319