|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
History of James "Perry" Murray and Martha "Amanda" Sease
James "Perry" Murray was born 7 April 1835 in Blairesville, Union County Georgia to Johm McClain Murray and Polly Mary Bryson.
Frustrated over political issues (civil war) and refusing to fight against his neighbors, he joined the "Second Green Russell Expedition". This ox - train was on an "expedition" to Colorado in search of gold. He was hired on as a walking guard ( which was not an unusual occupation for the time). The thought of walking the greater portion of 700 miles through hostile Indian territory would scare off most individuals. "Perry" welcomed the chance to walk off his frustrations. The "expedition" left in early 1859 and arrived in Denver in late May 1859. The miners headed for the high country in search of gold. For two years, Perry drove freight wagons in and around Black Hawk and Central City. He did some prospecting but never enough to keep him going. Seeing no future in gold prospecting he decided to head for a pleasant sunny valley, by the Arkansas River, he had passed through on his trip with the "Green Russell Expedition". He figured if he couldn't make as a prospector, maybe farming would be a better idea.
In 1861 he moved to Fountain City ( Pueblo), Colorado. It was just a little more than a dusty village of adobe shacks and a few false front stores along the main street. He found employment with Mr. John A. Thatcher, a merchant from Pennsylvania. He had just arrived from Denver with his merchandise and set up a store on Santa Fe Ave. Perry became a storekeeper in that business.
Perry acquired his first land acquisition through squatters rights along the east bank of Fountain creek. He named it "Fountain Creek Ranch". He later traded Fountain Creek Ranch for land on St. Charles Mesa. This is where Perry farmed oan became acquainted with the Sease family.
Martha Amanda Sease and James Perry Murray were married in 1865. County judge, B.B. Field, rode horseback the 20 miles from his ranch to perform the ceremony in Pueblo. From this union, 6 daughters and 2 sons were born. Perry also served on the board of county commissioners while living in Pueblo.
The family moved to "Mace's hole" in 1870. Their homestead was on land just outside the valley , immediately north of "Beulah Hill". Perry's brother, William Columbus also settled in the area. However, after is wife died in 1872, he moved back to Georgia.