Samuel Murray

Samuel Murray was born April 1, 1806 in Huntington County, Pennsylvania. He moved with his parents to Ohio in 1812. His father died when he was 12 and the boy learned carpentry and the miller's trade to help support his family. He was married and joined a Brethren congregation in 1833. His wife died two years later. He was married four times.

Murray was called to the ministry in 1843 and moved to Indiana in 1851. He traveled widely under difficult conditions to preach for isolated Brethren in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. His proposal to establish a Brethren college eventually led to the venture to establish Salem College.

Murray died on this date, March 31, in 1906. If he had lived a few hours longer he would have been 100 years old.

Source: The Brethren Encyclopedia