 1831 - 1904 (73 years)
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| Name |
Kenneth Mackenzie Murchison |
| Title |
Colonel |
| Birth |
18 Feb 1831 |
Manchester, Cumberland Co., North Carolina  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
3 Jun 1904 |
Baltimore, Maryland |
| Burial |
Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Person ID |
I19736 |
Gregory Gen |
| Last Modified |
12 Aug 2023 |
| Family |
Catherine Williams, b. Abt 1837, Cumberland Co., North Carolina d. 18 Jan 1912, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., North Carolina (Age ~ 75 years) |
| Marriage |
26 Nov 1855 |
Cumberland Co., North Carolina [1] |
| Children |
| | 1. John R. Murchison, b. Abt 1871 d. 5 Mar 1873, Brooklyn, New York (Age ~ 2 years) [Father: natural] |
| | 2. Unknown Murchison, b. Abt 1856 bur. Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, North Carolina [Father: natural] |
| | 3. David Reid Murchison, b. Abt 1857, North Carolina d. 28 Jul 1881, Greenbriar, West Virginia (Age ~ 24 years) [Father: natural] |
| | 4. Luola Murchison, b. 21 Sep 1860, Fayettville, Cumberland Co., North Carolina d. Feb 1916 (Age 55 years) [Father: natural] |
| | 5. Architect Kenneth Mackenzie Murchison, Jr., b. 29 Sep 1872, New York, New York d. 15 Dec 1938, New York, New York (Age 66 years) [Father: natural] |
| | 6. Marion Elliot Murchison, b. Abt 1865 d. 16 Sep 1916, Baltimore, Maryland (Age ~ 51 years) [Father: natural] |
| | 7. Jessie S. Murchison, b. Abt 1863 [Father: natural] |
| | 8. Catherine Jennie Murchison, b. Abt 1857 [Father: natural] |
|
| Family ID |
F7297 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
12 Aug 2023 |
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| Notes |
- [Murchison Tree]
Kenneth Murchison graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1853, After which he was engaged in business and entered the military service as a Second Lieutenant he was commended for
gallantry and promoted to Colonel but was captured and held prisoner for 20 months. Kenneth later move to New York, U.S.A.
Kenneth M. Murchison, according to Ancestor Roster of Georgia Division United Daughters of the Confederacy volume 6 (M) was - Col Co. C 54th NC Infantry he had a daughter was Jeanie Murchison Ellis and a niece Clara H. Harper.
K. M. Murchison was married to Catherine Williams in Cumberland County, North Carolina on the 26th day of November 1855 according to Hunting for Bears Genealogy Society.
An article in the May 9th 1868 edition of the Wilmington Star stated "We had the pleasure of meeting in our office yesterday with Col. K. M. Murchison, a gentleman of this State, and a gallant Confederate officer,
but of late years a citizen and merchant of New York City. The Colonel appears in good health, and seems to have fattened remarkably upon New York fare."
The following article was published in the July 8th 1887 edition of the Wilmington Star...A fine pair of carriage horses arrived yesterday on the steamer "Benefactor" from New York. They belonged to Colonel K, M, Murchison.
The following article was published in the April 19th 1889 edition of the Wilmington Star... Colonel K. M. Murchison's carriage horses which were shipped on the steamer "Benefactor" for New York were both killed on the voyage. No particulars were learned. The "Benefactor" is reported as arriving at New York last Thursday. She sailed hence on Saturday, the 6th inst., and encountered the gale that day, with dangerous cross seas from Fryingpan to Hatteras, but sustained no damage. Captain Norton
reports passing through quantifies of wreckage. Colonel Murchison's horses were on deck.
The following article was published in the February 15th 1890 edition of the Wilmington Messenger... Colonel K. M. Murchison came up from his Orton Plantation yesterday.
The following article was published in the March 12th 1890 edition of the Wilmington Weekly Star... Colonel K. M. Murchison has bought part of the vacant property next east of the Star Office. This lot adjoins the Orton Property on the North side.
The following article was published in the November 27th 1890 edition of the Wilmington Star... The Orton was aglow last night, the occasion being a cotillion given by Mr. Kenneth Murchison, Jr. The guests
began to assemble about 10 o'clock, and by 11 the dining room was filled to its utmost capacity. There were between 200 and 300 ladies and gentlemen present.
About 12 o'clock all were invited to partake of supper, which was served in elegant style and was everything that one could wish for. After supper the guests returned to the ball room, where the german was commenced and continued until a late hour.
The affair throughout was a most enjoyable one, and will be long remembered with pleasure by all who attended.
The following article was published in the September 1st 1894 edition of the Wilmington Star... Business Change - A change has taken place in the firms of Williams & Murchison, Wilmington, and Murchison &
Company, New York. These houses have been in active business for the past 28 years, and have always stood among the most substantial and reliable in the country. Mr. George W. Williams now retires, and Messrs. K. M. Murchison, W. F. Sorey and H. C. McQueen will continue the Banking Cotton and Export business under the firm name of Murchison & Company, both in Wilmington and New York. It is hardly necessary to add that the new firm have an abundance of capital and all the business capacity and
experience necessary for complete success.
The following article was published in the January 18th 1895 edition of the Wilmington Star... Colonel K. M. Murchison, Miss Marie Murchison and Mr F. S. Ellis and wife, of New York, who have been spending two months pleasantly at Orton plantation, returned home yesterday much pleased with their visit.
The following article was published in the December 3rd 1895 edition of the Wilmington Messenger... Colonel K. M. Murchison, of New York, arrived here Sunday night on his annual hunting and fishing
pilgrimage at Orton Plantation. Mr. Samuel Hopkins of the well known firm of Hopkins, Dwight & Company, accompanies him. We hear that fish and game are plentiful at Orton this fall, and it goes without saying that Colonel Murchison and Mr. Hopkins will give a good account of their outing.
The following article was published in the August 17th 1897 edition of the Wilmington Star... Colonel K. M. Murchison, Mrs Murchison, Miss Murchison and Miss Marie Murchison were passengers on the
International Navigation Company's steamship Paris, arriving in New York city last Saturday morning, having sailed from Southampton England, on August 7th.
Colonel Murchison and family, as readers of the Star will remember, sailed several months ago for Europe, and now they are returning home after having visited many of the leading towns and cities in the old country.
The following article was published in the August 25th 1896 edition of the Wilmington Messenger... (excerpt from Ashville Citizen, August 23rd) - Colonel Kenneth Murchison, of New York, and a party of his
friends passed through the city yesterday on their way to Colonel Murchison's game preserve on Caney river, Yancey county. His property in a tract of 13,000 acres of virgin forest, and the game includes bears and deer, while the stream is full of trout. In fact, this is regarded as the finest fishing ground in the United States. Gilmer Brenzer says of it that the trout are so thick and greedy to bite that the angler must get behind a tree to bait his hook.
The following article was published in the September 1st 1897 edition of the Wilmington Star and also the September 1st addition of the Wilmington Messenger... Colonel K. M. Murchison arrived in the city
yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock over the Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railroad. A few days hunting on his game preserve near Ashville greatly invigorated him and he is looking particularly well. He went to Ashville from New York City, where, with his family, he landed a couple of weeks ago after a delightful European tour of several months. Mrs Murchison, Miss Murchison and Miss Marie Murchison are now at
Narrgansett Pier.
The following article was published in the August 19th 1896 edition of the Wilmington Dispatch. - Real Estate Transfer - A. J. Marshall, commissioner, to K. M. Murchison, the John Hopkins tract of land and two
adjoining tracts, on New Bern road about 3 1/2 miles from the city; $2,102.50.
The following article was published in the September 9th 1900 edition of the Wilmington Messenger. - Colonel K. M. Murchison, who has been spending the summer at his mountain summer home on Caney river, Buncombe county, has arrived here to look after his rice crop at Orton Plantation.
The following article was published in the November 25th 1900 edition of the Wilmington Messenger, November 26th 1900 edition of the Wilmington New Dispatch, the November 26 1900 edition of the
Wilmington Star, the November 27th, 1900 edition of Wilmington Semi Weekly Messenger. - Colonel K. M. Murchison, of New York, who is in the city, received a telegram last evening from New York, conveying the intelligence that Hornpipe, a horse belonging to his daughter Miss Marie E. Murchison, was yesterday awarded the blue ribbon, the first prize, in the ladies' hunting class at new York horse show. This is a great achievement for Hornpipe, as he won over 62 competitors. This victory for Miss Murchison's horse places him in the eligible list for the championship among hunting horses in America, the decision as to which was to be rendered at the show last night. Hornpipe is a heavy hunting horse, and is southern bred. If we mistake not he is a Virginia horse.
The following article was published in the October 23rd 1901 edition of the Wilmington Messenger. - Contractor Glenn, of Charlotte, has broken ground for the handsome three story bank building for Murchison National Bank on the northeast corner of front and Chestnut Streets.
The following article was published in the April 24th 1902 edition of the Wilmington Messenger. - Real Estate transfers - Filed yesterday - by Kenneth M. Murchison and wife to W. B. McClelland and wife, two tracts of land in New Hanover county for a consideration of $3,200. The first tract is about 3 miles from Wilmington, just north of the road leading to New Bern, and is known as the Southerland Race Track tract. It contains about 60 Acres, including about ten acres at each end of the old track. The second tract consists of about 80 acres adjoining the first tract.
The following article was published in the May 7th 1902 edition of the Wilmington Star. - Major James Swann, after spending some time with his comrade of chase, Colonel K. M. Murchison, left for Atlanta
yesterday afternoon. The field editor of the Star regrets very much that he was not in when the Major called on him.
The following article was published in the August 2nd 1902 edition of the Wilmington Star. - Colonel K. M. Murchison and wife and Mr. A. B. Gwathmey and wife, who are presently known here, have returned to
Saratoga, New York, from Alexandria Bay, Thousand Islands. The fishing in those waters is reputed to be very fine and as both Colonel Murchison and Mr. Gwathmey are experts with the rod and line, it is safe to
conjecture they had great sport.
According to Oakdale Cemetery records Kenneth M. Murchison, 73 years old, married, died 6-3-1904. Born in Cumberland County, N. C. and died in Baltimore, Maryland (on his way to New York). Interment in section K., Lot No. 109 and 149 (mausoleum) owned by K. M. Murchison.
The following article was published in the June 5th 1904 edition of the Wilmington Star. - Colonel K. M. Murchison - A gloom was cast over this entire community yesterday morning by the unexpected announcement from Baltimore that Colonel Kenneth McKenzie Murchison had died suddenly the night before at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Shirley Carter in that city. The news came a a shock to Colonel Murchison's many friends in Wilmington, who had seen him on the streets apparently in the best of health and in the finest of spirits only a day or two before.
Colonel Murchison having been at the time of his death in Baltimore on his way to New York, after having spent the greater part of the winter here and at his fine Orton Plantation down the cape river. A telegram
last night gave particulars of the death. He had been engaged in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Carter until about 10 o'clock Friday night, apparently in perfect health. he retired to his room at that hour, but
within fifteen minutes was seized with severe pain in the region of his heart. He remarked to Mrs Murchison, who was with him at Baltimore, that he had never before suffered with such severe pain and almost immediately relapsed into unconsciousness, expiring with fifteen minutes from the beginning of the attack. He was then peaceful, the telegram said, and appeared to be without pain.
Immediately upon the receipt of the telegram here the news of Colonel Murchison's death spread quickly over the city and everywhere profound sorrow was expressed. Wilmington claimed him a a citizen and all Wilmington today mourns his loss. He had been prominently identified with the business interests of port for many years. He was founder of the Murchison National Bank, owner of the Orton Hotel, senior
member of the firm of Murchison & Co., one of the largest stockholders in the Coal, Cement & Supply Company and landlord of the magnificent country estate Orton Plantation. Out of respect to his memory his
businesses in Wilmington were draped in mourning yesterday.
The remains of Colonel Murchison will be brought to Wilmington and interred in the handsome Murchison mausoleum in beautiful Oakdale cemetery. the funeral will be conducted Monday from the residence of Mr. James Sprunt, No 400 South Front street. Mr. J. W. Murchison, a nephew
of Colonel Murchison will leave today to meet the remains in Richmond and accompany them here.
Colonel Kenneth McKenzie Murchison was the second son of the late Duncan Murchison, and was born at Manchester, near Fayetteville, in February, 1831. being in the 74th year of his age. His youth was spent in the city of Fayetteville but attaining young manhood, he entered the University of North Carolina and graduated from that institution in 1853, having been the classmate of Colonel John D. Taylor, Mr. Walker Meares, Colonel W. L. DeRosset and Colonel A. M. Wadell. Soon after graduation Colonel Murchison married Miss Kate Williams, daughter of Mr. Joel Williams, of Cumberland, and she with one son and four daughters survive him, the children being Mrs. James Sprunt, of Wilmington; Mrs. Frank S Ellis of Atlanta, Ga.; Mrs Shirley Carter, of Baltimore, MD.; Mr. K. M. Murchison, Jr., of New York, and Mrs. C. H. Hurkamp, of Fredricksburg, Va. Colonel Murchison is also survived by a brother Mr. I. A. Murchison, of Fayetteville and three sisters, Mrs Jackson of Texas; Mrs. Margaret McKasy, of Harnett County, and Miss L. G. Murchison of Manchester.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Colonel Murchison, in the spring of 1861, hastened back to the south and cast his lot with the confederacy.
He was an officer in Shaws Eighth North Carolina regiment, but when that command was captured at Roanoke Island he was absent on special duty. He immediately raised a company, from which he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Fifty-fourth North Carolina regiment, Hoak's Brigade. He was a brave and faithful soldier, serving from the beginning of the Civil War until he was taken prisoner, being on Johnson's Island at the close of the struggle. He was an exemplary soldier and an intrepid leader, withal, however, unassuming and retiring in disposition.
After the Civil War, Colonel Murchison returned to New York and re-engaged in Business branch connection at Wilmington and Fayetteville were under the firm names of Williams & Murchison and J. D. Williams & Company, respectively. A few years ago having amassed considerable wealth, Colonel Murchison retired from an active business life in New York and spent much of his time in Congenial and quiet atmosphere of Orton plantation, down the river. He was an important factor in the business life of Wilmington and was ever ready to lend a helping hand in the upbuilding of the city .... etc.
The following information was published in "History of North Carolina", Volume V. - North Carolina Biography.
Colonel K. M. Murchison, a Confederate officer of distinction, was commander of the 54th North Carolina Infantry, after the war removed to Wilmington and gained a successful position in business and finance. He was founder of the Murchison National Bank, accumulated a fortune, and for many years prior to his death, which occurred at Wilmington in 1904, made his home at New York City.
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| Sources |
- [S27] Marriage Index: MD, NC, VA, 1624-1915, (Name: Family Tree Maker CD # 4;).
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