A Confederate Pony

     In 1838 young Dr James Murray built a house in Owensville and opened a medical practice. His great uncle, Dr William Murray, had recently retired, leaving the village without a doctor.

Js Murray's first house (photo taken 1893)

   Tragically, in 1840, James' pregnant wife fell down the stairs to the basement and died.

  Dr William's wife Harriet described the incident in a letter:

  “Death has made his appearance lately in our neighborhood in most afflicting form...  A young Physician settled himself within a half mile of us; and in November married a lovely girl... They appeared to be at the summit of human happiness, he succeeding within his business; and she to all appearance in the vigour of health;  in which state she retired for the night.  

  “About three o’clock she complained of not being well...  five o’clock she was seized with spasms... She was a corpse at the hour of eleven.  She was six month of pregnancy.  Poor dear girl!  Her husband is the picture of despair.”

  James Murray, after 2 years, remarried and built a new house all on one floor, with no basement stairs.

Js Murray's second house "Arden", built 1842  (Hiatt photo-1974)

   

  Another few years went by,

then the outbreak of the

Civil War.  

James moved his family

to Warrenton Va and

joined the Confederate 

Army as a surgeon.

    As was common during the War, the soldiers and deserters from both Armies ransacked the countryside.  

All the Murray livestock were eventually stolen, except for one pony which belonged to the children.  They smeared it with grease and claimed it had a skin disease.  
It was saved!