THE LINDSAY NEWS (Lindsay, Oklahoma) - Friday, April 11, 1924
PIONEER IS SUMMONED
Mrs. Alzira Murray, one of the well known, highly esteemed, pioneer citizens of this conmmunity, was born Feb. 8, 1849. She was a daughter of John and Sophie (Dibrell) McCaughey. Her father was native of Ireland and her mother was born in Mississippi and belonged to the Choctaw Indian nation. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Murray were Charles and Alzira (Mitchell) Dibrell. The latter was a daughter of Mollie Fulsom, and a sister of Israel Fulsom who was chief of the Choctaw nation.
Mrs. Murray was educated in the Mississippi Female seminary at Starksville, Miss., corming to the Indian Territory with her mother in 1865. She was married in 1867 to William Povell, who died not long after, and for her second husband Mrs. Powell married Frank Murray, the wedding being celebrated April 30, 1871. Mr. Murray followed farming and cattle raising and in his business became very successful, he becoming an extensive shipper; on one occasion he disposed of 6000 cattle at a single sale. He prospered and became owner of 8,000 acres of land, which for many years was the largest farm in the Territory. In 1883 he erected a fine mansion in Erin Springs at a cost of $12,000. Mr. Murray died in 1892.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Murray, had control of the farm and management of other extensive affairs in which she was successful, displaying superior executive force and discernment.
For many years she had been a stock holder in the First National Bank of Lindsay, and one of its vice presidents. She was also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Chickasha, also of the Chickasaw National Bank of Purcell, and a stockholder in the mill and elevator at Pauls Valley and in the Electric Light Company at Purcell.
While journing in Colorado Springs in Sept., 1919, Mrs. Murray suffered a stroke of paralysis and was brought home to remain in bed and practically helpless, the remainder of her days.
Mrs. Murray was the mother of nine children, but only two survive, viz: Mrs. Lewis Lindsay, a daughter by her first marriage, and Mrs. W. W. Winstanley, born to the second union.