Kittson County Historical Society
Kittson profiles and photos from the past and present
Thomas Murray, born in Northcote, Kittson county December 1882
Members: 13
Latest Activity: Aug 2, 2016
Dawn (Hutchison) Thomsen has provided some great information which reinforces the belief that Thomas is the son of Ann(ie). She found a note in her family bible that lists Bill Cone as a brother of Thomas Murray. She believes this information came from her mother, Lorna (Murray) Hutchison. Bill (William) Cone & Donald Cone are sons of Annie & Charles Cone.
As Thomas was born in 1882 and Annie married Charles Cone in 1884, it would make sense that his last name would be Murray and not Cone; he does appear to have lived his life with Donald and Isobel.
Pat, Marie, and Glenn, Please clarify with me that Grandpa was most likely the daughter of Annie but that Charles was not his father. I am not sure if she married Charles Cone two years after Grandpa birth and he was the birth father or not. Mom (Lorna Murray Hutchison) recalls a Cone family coming to visit in Medicine Hat and he was called Uncle Bill Cone. She cannot remember his wife's name but wonders if it was Ella.
Bill (William) Cone married Ella Ross in 1908 so indeed it would have been Bill and Ella.
I have done a little more homework on the people that were listed on the back of the Hampden school house photo posted earlier. While the photo had the date 1904 on the back, keep in mind it might be out by a year or two in either direction.
First of all, all the Murray children in the photo were the sons and daughters of Roderick and Christena Murray. Roderick was the son of Donald Murray Sr.
The 1900 US Federal Census lists Madaline H B Murray as age 2. She would have been 6 in 1904. Just remember to add four years to each of the following children to match up to the people in the photo.
Annie P Murray was age 4. This is not the Annie that was suggested to be the mother of Thomas Murray.
Mayme Murray is shown as Mamie Murray Boothroyd and married to Raph in the 1910 Census. Her date of birth helps identify her as Mary C. Murray who was age 14 in the 1900 census so she would be 18 in the photo. Her husband Ralph was born in Wisconsin and was about 20 in the photo. By 1910 they had a 9 month old son, also called Ralph.
Donald G Murray was age 8 in 1900 while his brother William G Murray was 7.
I am still trying to track down Bessie Moore and Clara Johnson who were also in the photo.
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Ross Cone along with his father and sister, during their visit to Kittson County. In addition to visiting the museum we also traveled to the town of Northcote, the remains of the old Murray home, and Greenwood Cemetery where many of the Murrays & Cones are buried. I was very surprised to learn that even after Thomas Murray moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta he maintained contact with his two half brothers. Ross Cone's father William (Bill) Cone advised me that when he was born his mother received a $5.00 gold coin from Thomas Murray, as a gift for William. While Thomas Murray rarely spoke of his northern Minnesota roots, he maintained a connection with the Cone family and they in turn were very connected and thought highly of him. While he was born out of wedlock, it is comforting to know he was well aware of his half brothers and had an attachment to them. More information to follow relative to the current Cone family, who are anxious to learn more of their connection with Thomas Murray and his mother Ann Murray Cone.
I believe that Ross Cone is planning to move to Vancouver, B.C., Canada some time this year and that would make it possible for him to connect with Karen Douglas, who I believe lives there. During the time I spent with Ross, he took many hundreds of photos at Northcote, the Murray house, and the Greenwood Cemetery. I can provide email addresses to any of the Thomas Murray group that are interested in communicating personally.
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