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JOHN ALEXANDER MURRAY, one of the
most successful men in the plumbers’ supplies business, was born in New
York City, June 20, 1856, son of John and Alexandrina Moodie Murray, both
of Glasgow, Scotland; Mr. Murray’s mother is still (1916) living with a
daughter, Mrs. William A. Allyn, of Holyoke, Mass. Of the other children,
a brother, William Moodie and James Naismith are living.
Mr. Murray was educated in the New
York public schools and entered the plumbing fixture business with the
late General David Morrison, of the 79th New York Highlanders. He was for
twenty years
New York representative of Henry McShane
& Co., Baltimore, Md., and since 1896 has been in business for himself.
The firm is located at 310-312 West 39th Street, and carries on one of the
largest plumbing fixture businesses in the city. Associated with him is
his son, Joseph N. Murray, who is able to relieve his father of many
details and to give him the relief to which his well-earned success
entitles him.
Mr. Murray is Vice-President of the
Commonwealth Savings Bank, New York City. He has been a member of the St.
Andrew’s Society of the State of New York for thirty years, and is a
member of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of
New York, and one of the most respected Christian business men in the
city. He has been an elder and a trustee of the North Presbyterian Church,
New York, and for the past twenty-five years, one of the oldest of its
office-holders, and beloved and revered by the congregation. He has been
honoured by New York Presbytery by being chosen as its representative to
Church Assemblies. Mr. Murray’s early Christian training has shown
throughout his business career. Honesty and persistency have been the
keynotes of his success. He began as a poor boy; his unswerving integrity
has won him an honoured name among his associates and prosperity in his
affairs. With it all he is gentle, unassuming, generous—always able and
willing to brighten the pathway of his friends and neighbours and to help
them to help themselves.
Mr. Murray married, November 2,
1884, Sarah J. Norris, daughter of James and Annie Norris, of Paisley,
Scotland. Mrs. Murray is also an earnest and devoted church worker. They
have two children: Joseph N.
Murray, in business with his father; and Rev. John A. Murray, pastor of a
Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y. Mr. Murray’s home
address is 310 Convent Avenue; his business address, 312 West 39th Street. |
