John B. Murray (general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John B. Murray
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From the Seneca County Courier, June 4, 1885
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| Born | August 13, 1822 Arlington, Vermont, U.S.
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| Died | October 8, 1884 (aged 62) Seneca Falls, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Attorney, Bvt. Brig. General |
John B. Murray (born August 13, 1822 – died October 8, 1884) was a lawyer and a military leader. He served as a brevet brigadier general in the United States Volunteers during the American Civil War.
John Boyce Murray is known for his connection to the founding of Memorial Day. This special holiday remembers soldiers who died in war. He worked on this idea with a druggist named Henry C. Welles.
Contents
John B. Murray's Life Story
John Boyce Murray was born in Arlington, Vermont. His parents were Edward and Phoebe Manchester Murray. In 1848, he married Angelina Savage. They had two children, William and Maud. The family lived in Bearytown, New York, which is now called Fayette.
Moving to Seneca Falls
In 1853, Murray moved to Seneca Falls, New York. There, he joined the state militia. He also started his own law practice.
Serving in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Murray joined the army. He became a Captain in the 50th New York State Engineers. He left the army for a short time in 1862. But he rejoined later that year. He became a Major in the 148th Regiment, New York Volunteers.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1863. Then, he became a Colonel in 1864. In 1865, he earned the rank of Brigadier General. This was for his excellent service during the war.
Life After the War
After the war, Murray moved to Waterloo, New York. He was elected Seneca County Clerk in 1865. It was in Waterloo that he met Henry C. Welles. Murray became very active in the Grand Army of the Republic. This was a group for Civil War veterans. He was also appointed postmaster.
In 1880, he started practicing law again. He often gave speeches at political events. He also spoke at Memorial Day services. On October 7, 1884, he became ill after a speech. He passed away the next day.
The Presidential Proclamation
In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson made an important announcement. He declared Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day. This happened after a special resolution was passed by Congress.
This decision was based on research. Eight people from Waterloo formed a committee. They wanted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Memorial Day. They believed the holiday started on May 5, 1866. They said Henry C. Welles thought of the idea. Then, he shared it with John B. Murray. Murray, as the county clerk, helped make it happen.
The Memorial Day Story: A Closer Look
Almost 50 years after the proclamation, new research came out. In 2014, authors Bellware and Gardiner published a book. It was called The Genesis of the Memorial Day Holiday in America. This book questioned the story about Waterloo.
New Evidence Emerges
The original research committee had no reports from 1866. Their earliest information was from 1882. This was 16 years after the event. However, Bellware and Gardiner found different evidence. They found a newspaper report from 1875. It described Waterloo's first Memorial Day. But it said it happened in 1868, not 1866. They also found other differences. These differences were between the historical facts and the committee's story.
The authors also noted something else. The congressional committee that made the proclamation did not discuss the evidence much. It seemed that Murray might have known about the incorrect story. During his lifetime, he was called the founder of Memorial Day. He was often asked to speak at Memorial Day events.
Who Started Memorial Day?
Bellware and Gardiner believe the true originators of Memorial Day were Mary Ann Williams and the Ladies Memorial Association. This group was from Columbus, Georgia. They found many reports from that time. These reports supported their claim.
In 2016, VFW Magazine published an article. It was about Waterloo's Memorial Day observance. The editors added a note to the article. It mentioned Bellware and Gardiner's book. It also said that an event in Columbus, Georgia, happened on April 26, 1866. This was nine days before the Waterloo event. The magazine said the article was meant to encourage more historical study.
Further Research
In 2019, Marshall S. Berdan explored this topic even more. He wrote an article in The Glastonbury Citizen. Berdan was disappointed when the National Memorial Day Museum in Waterloo could not provide clear proof for their story. He had been looking for evidence to honor Welles. Berdan's own research also helped show that the story was not accurate.
