Edward A. McMurray, Jr. and April 12, 1924-A Very Special Day, Part 1
On this day, April 12th, in the year 1924 (98 years ago!), Edward Arthur McMurray, Jr. arrived in this world at 2am at Skiff Memorial Hospital. Skiff is a small hospital in the small town of Newton, Iowa, the county seat of the very rural Jasper County, just 30 miles east of Des Moines, the state capitol.
Ed’s mother, Edith Mae (Roberts) McMurray (1899-1982) had taken the train back to Newton before her due date, as she wanted to give birth in the town near where she grew up, and where family from both sides were living. Edith had moved to St. Louis, Missouri after she and her husband, Edward A. McMurray, Sr. (1900-1992), graduated from the State University of Iowa and he was accepted to St. Louis University Medical School. The move to St. Louis would have been exciting for an Iowa farm girl, but she surely missed her family greatly, as she was so close to her parents and siblings, and her beloved mother had passed away just two months after they married in 1921, while they were still in college. We don’t know if the new father was able to travel with Edith to Iowa, due to the overwhelming schedule of a medical student, but if not, Edward surely would have hopped on the train as soon as he was able. Edward Jr. may have made the getaway more convenient, since he was born on a Saturday. (Dr. McMurray would graduate the next year, 1925.)
To be continued…
Notes, Sources, and References:
- Family treasure chest of photos, letters, ephemera, etc.
- Wonderful biographies written by Edith M. Roberts McMurray Luck about the people she knew and loved.
“The Saga of Ed McMurray, Family and Friends,” a scrapbook put together by Ed around 1948 before he got married. Perhaps it was partially a scorecard for his soon-to-be-wife, Mary T. HELBLING, to learn all his family members? The captions are just adorable, as are the pictures he chose. It is one of those few things that give a little insight into who he was.
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