1505
HUGH VINCENT MURRAY.
A well known lawyer of Clinton county, now serving as state's attorney, Hugh Vincent Murray, of Carlyle, is the possessor of good mental abilities, well trained, and through close application and persistent attention to his business has gained a high standing in his profession. He was born September 2, 1870, in Carlyle, Illinois, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Matthew P Murray.
The paternal grandfather of Hugh Vincent Murray, Peter Murray, was born June 27, 1812, and bred in Ireland. In early manhood he came to America, the promised land for many immigrants, and for a while after arriving here lived in the east. Subsequently, following the pathway of civilization westward, he located in Illinois, and for a time was the owner of a tract of land that is now included within the very heart of the city of Chicago. The land being seemingly of little value, he traded it for a steamboat and a poor farm a short distance north of Carlyle. He finally settled permanently in Clinton county, Illinois, and was here a resident until his death, which occurred November 3, 1873, when he was sixty-one years of age. He was twice married and his second wife is still living. Of the seven children of his first marriage, Matthew P. Murray was the fifth child in order of birth. By his second marriage Peter Murray was the father of nine children.
Matthew P. Murray's birth occurred January 31, 1847, in Carlyle, Illinois, and his early days were spent on the farm. Receiving a limited education in the rural schools, he subsequently continued his studies as opportunity occurred, thus through his own efforts acquiring a substantial foundation for his future professional knowledge. When he was a youth of eighteen years he left home, and during the summer seasons worked as a farm laborer, while in the winters he taught school. In the meantime he read law under G. Van Hoorebecke, and in 1871 was admitted to the bar. Immediately beginning the practice of his profession in Carlyle, he tutored Robert Andrews, a Carlyle school teacher, who had been admitted to the Indiana bar and desired to prepare himself for admission to the Illinois bar. When Mr. Andrews was finally admitted to the Illinois bar, Mr. Matthew P. Murray formed a partnership with him which lasted until 1880, when Mr. Murray was elected state's attorney for Clinton county, the partnership, however, continuing until 1885, when Mr. Andrews was appointed land attorney in the Washington land office. For sixteen years Mr. Murray served as state's attorney, and in 1896 was appointed master in chancery, a position which he filled several years. In 1902 he went to St. Louis, where he became general counsel of the Missouri Trust Company, later the Missouri-Lincoln Trust Company, and in that city he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of law. While living in Carlyle he had the reputation of being one of the best lawyers in Southern Illinois, and he now ranks high in his profession in St. Louis. He is a sound Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic church.
In 1869 Matthew P. Murray married Mary Ann McGaffigan, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and died in Carlyle, Illinois, in 1901. Their union was blessed by a large family of children, as follows: Hugh Vincent; Julia Mary; Nano Agnes; Cecelia, the wife of R. E. Christian; Matthew P., Jr., who is connected with the East St. Louis Union Trust & Savings Bank; Mark D., deceased; Andrew P., also deceased; Richard L., cashier of the State Savings Bank of Prairie Du Rocher, Illinois; Irene, the wife of Dr. W. J. Schneider, of Chicago; George E. and P. E. Dolor, both of whom are studying law.
Receiving his elementary education in the parochial schools, Hugh Vincent Murray was graduated with the degree of A. B. from
1506
St. Joseph's College in Teutopolis, Illinois, in 1889. He afterwards taught school two years, in the meantime studying law with his father, and in 1894 was admitted to the Illinois bar. From 1894 to 1895 he was a member of the legal firm of Murray, McHale & Murray in East St. Louis. The partnership being then dissolved, Mr. Murray came back to Carlyle and in 1896 was elected a representative to the state legislature, in which he served one term. Going to Chicago in 1897, he was employed as a clerk in law offices for two years, when in 1899 he was appointed assistant city prosecutor and formed a partnership with J. J. Feely, who was elected to Congress in 1900 over William Lorimer, and served in that capacity until 1902. Mr. Murray then returned to Carlyle to close up his father's business, but instead of going back to the busy city on the lake, he concluded to remain in Carlyle. He succeeded his father as master in chancery and held that office until 1908, when he was elected state's attorney, a position for which he is eminently fitted, and which he is filling with honor to himself and to the fullest satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Murray married on February 16, 1904, Mary Ellen Hogan, a daughter of Michael E. Hogan, of Altamont, Illinois, and into the home thus established three children made their advent, namely: Mary Ellen, Hugh Vincent, Jr., and Matthew Edward.
Mr. Murrays a Democrat in his political allegiance and has done good work for the party in various ways. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Knights of Illinois, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church.