John Murray (Naperville Founder)
Encyclopedia
Married to Joseph Naper
's sister, Amy Naper, John Murray was one of the original founders of Naperville, Illinois
, with his children Sarah, Robert Nelson, Ruth, Amos and Cordelia. He was born in 15 November 1785.
Murray was a laborer for hire and a music teacher in the early 19th century, and was among the first settlers of Ashtabula, Ohio, along with Benjamin Naper, an older brother of Joseph. Benjamin's sister kept house for him, and John and Amy were married in 1809. John and Benjamin both served in the local Ohio regiment during the War of 1812
.
Amy's family soon joined them in Ohio, and her younger brothers became Great Lakes captains, ship owners and ship builders like their father and older brothers. John Naper married Betsy Goff and started his family in Ohio, but Joseph and his wife Almeda Landon moved to New York state.
In 1831, Joseph and John Naper chose a spot near the DuPage
River in Illinois where they planned to relocate. They recruited family and friends from both states to accompany them and form an instant settlement. About 60 men, women and children loaded their belongings onto the Telegraph, Joseph and John's ship, along with seeds, provisions, and the iron works to build a saw mill. Amy and the Murray children were on board, but John Murray walked cross country with the settlement's livestock. The ship took nearly two months to navigate the Great Lakes
, and John Murray arrived at Fort Dearborn
before the Telegraph did.
At the new settlement, John Murray drew up the first school subscription and ran for Justice of the Peace and Constable. Predeceased by his wife Amy, John Murray died 18 April 1868 in the home of his son Robert Nelson Murray, who was the first mayor of Kankakee, IL.
Joseph Naper
Joseph Naper was a shipbuilder, businessman, politician, and town founder.Born in Bennington, Vermont, Naper traveled with his parents during his youth to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he helped his father, who was a ship builder. The Naper ships plied the Great Lakes with Fort Dearborn on Lake Michigan...
's sister, Amy Naper, John Murray was one of the original founders of Naperville, Illinois
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
, with his children Sarah, Robert Nelson, Ruth, Amos and Cordelia. He was born in 15 November 1785.
Murray was a laborer for hire and a music teacher in the early 19th century, and was among the first settlers of Ashtabula, Ohio, along with Benjamin Naper, an older brother of Joseph. Benjamin's sister kept house for him, and John and Amy were married in 1809. John and Benjamin both served in the local Ohio regiment during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Amy's family soon joined them in Ohio, and her younger brothers became Great Lakes captains, ship owners and ship builders like their father and older brothers. John Naper married Betsy Goff and started his family in Ohio, but Joseph and his wife Almeda Landon moved to New York state.
In 1831, Joseph and John Naper chose a spot near the DuPage
DuPage River
The DuPage River is a tributary of the Des Plaines River in the U.S. state of Illinois.-Course:The river begins as two individual streams. The West Branch of the DuPage River, long, starts in Schaumburg at Campanelli Park in Cook County and continues southward through the entire county of DuPage,...
River in Illinois where they planned to relocate. They recruited family and friends from both states to accompany them and form an instant settlement. About 60 men, women and children loaded their belongings onto the Telegraph, Joseph and John's ship, along with seeds, provisions, and the iron works to build a saw mill. Amy and the Murray children were on board, but John Murray walked cross country with the settlement's livestock. The ship took nearly two months to navigate the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, and John Murray arrived at Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
before the Telegraph did.
At the new settlement, John Murray drew up the first school subscription and ran for Justice of the Peace and Constable. Predeceased by his wife Amy, John Murray died 18 April 1868 in the home of his son Robert Nelson Murray, who was the first mayor of Kankakee, IL.