Jacob H. Murdock and Mary E. Caven

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Husband Jacob H. Murdock ¹

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           Born: 25 Dec 1842 - Unity Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 1
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         Father: Daniel Murdock (1812-1876) 2
         Mother: Anna Hartman (      -      ) 1

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Mary E. Caven ³

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            AKA: Mollie M. Caven 4
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         Father: Alexander Caven (      -      ) 3
         Mother: Esther [Unk] (      -      ) 3

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Children

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1 U [Infant] Murdock ³

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           Born: 
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           Died: in infancy
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2 F Minnie M. Murdock ^{3 4}

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           Born: 5 May 1874 - Ligonier, Westmoreland Co, PA 3
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         Spouse: Orphus R. McColly (1874-      ) 4
           Marr: 1895 4

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General Notes: Husband - Jacob H. Murdock

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His education was a good one for his time and was acquired in the common schools of the district. His time after leaving school was occupied in working on the home farm until September 2, 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War. He was assigned to Company E, Captain J. C. McCurdy, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Richard Coulter, commanding. He was in a number of engagements and on August 28, 1862, at the battle of Thoroughfare Gap, Virginia, was shot through both legs just above the knees, and was left on the field, his regiment being compelled to fall back. He received kindly attention from a Confederate soldier who carried him out of the line of fire and cared for him during the following night, leaving him the next day with no shelter save the limbs of an overhanging tree and his own blanket which Mr. Murdock still preserves. Here he remained absolutely without food or medical attendance for five days. He was supplied with water by an old man, who was, however, unable to procure any food for him. On the fifth day he was placed in a bolster wagon and taken fifteen miles over a rough road to Warrentown, Virginia, and placed in a church filled with wounded confederate soldiers, which had been converted into a temporary hospital. Here he lay on a pile of hay in a corner, utterly neglected and suffering almost intolerable agony. His food and the treatment he received was of the worst possible description. At last, October 18, to his great joy, he heard shouts, cheers, and strains of martial music which could only have come from the Union army. The First Pennsylvania and the First New Jersey Cavalry had captured the town, and he, the only Union prisoner now in it, was free. He was placed in an ambulance for transportation to Washington, and after eleven days spent in this conveyance, during which time it was once overturned, at last reached that city and was placed in the hospital. There the kindly care and clean surroundings, assisted by his sturdy constitution, soon helped him to the road to health. As soon as it was possible for him to do so he rejoined his regiment. January 4, 1864, he re-enlisted for three years, and served until the close of the war. He was present when Lee surrendered at Appomattox, and marched in the "Grand Review" in Washington, at the close of the war. When mustered out, he had attained the rank of second lieutenant. Mr. Murdock was always in the foremost ranks in any engagement in which he took part, and his bravery won him commen-dation on many occasions.
At the close of the war he returned to Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and established himself in the mercantile business, the firm name being Murdock & Berkey. He was also a stockholder in the First National Bank, and became well known in financial circles as a level-headed business man. In politics he was a Republican, and for twelve years held the office of councilman of Ligonier. He was a member of Post No. 324, G. A. R., Ligonier, and of Ligonier Lodge, No. 331, F. and A. M. For thirty-eight years, with the exception of five years when he was away from the town, he was a member and chorister of the Ligonier Methodist Episcopal church, and was sometime president of the board of trustees. Mr. Murdock was a member of the building committee in charge of the erection of a beautiful new church the society completed.

1 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 314.

2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 313.

3 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 315.

4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 79.