Jesse McCaleb Murrah (1885 - 1948)
Eva Bartley (1896 - 1971)
Jesse (Jess) McCaleb Murrah and his twin brother James Newton were born in
Grimes County, Texas on August 6, 1885. The twins, along with seven other
siblings, spent their formative years in Grimes County until sometime after
their father, Newton, died when they were only 12 years old. Eventually, they
moved to Tahoka (Lynn County), Texas with their mother. By then some of the
older children had left home.
Eva Bartley was born in Grayson County in northeastern Texas, on December 3, 1896, the fifth of twelve children of Lilburn Rushford Bartley, ten with Margaret C. Furgerson and two with Amanda Rogers. Eva's family first moved to Gainsville (Cooke County) Texas and then in 1912 they settled in Tahoka.
Jesse and Eva married in Tahoka, on January 13, 1915. After failed farming due to drought, they left Lynn County with their first child in 1917 and temporarily lived in Beckham County, Oklahoma near Erick where Jesse helped his twin brother Jim on a farm. After eight months and another child, the family moved to Iowa Park (Wichita County) Texas to work in the oil fields. Two more children were born there. In 1925, Jesse and Eva relocated their family to a farm in Bailey County, Texas near Muleshoe. In addition to farming, Jesse contracted with the Muleshoe School District to provide bus service. He and Eva drove buses until after their five sons and two daughters completed school, all seven graduating from Muleshoe High School. The youngest, Dorothy, rode the school bus even as an infant. Eva made a bed for her on top of the tool compartment next to her.
In 1947 with plans to retire from farming, Jesse and Eva purchased a vacant restaurant building in Texico, New Mexico, owned by their daughter-in-law's parents (Rackleys), had it moved some 18 miles to a site on Highway 84 three miles west of Muleshoe and converted it to a three-bedroom home. Jesse and Eva, along with their two daughters still at home, moved from the farm into the new house in January, 1948. Jesse had precious little time to enjoy his semi-retirement. He died on October 14, 1948 while helping on his son's farm. Eva remained in that house until a few years before her death in Muleshoe on July 23, 1971. Jesse and Eva are buried in the Bailey County Cemetery.
Eva Bartley was born in Grayson County in northeastern Texas, on December 3, 1896, the fifth of twelve children of Lilburn Rushford Bartley, ten with Margaret C. Furgerson and two with Amanda Rogers. Eva's family first moved to Gainsville (Cooke County) Texas and then in 1912 they settled in Tahoka.
Jesse and Eva married in Tahoka, on January 13, 1915. After failed farming due to drought, they left Lynn County with their first child in 1917 and temporarily lived in Beckham County, Oklahoma near Erick where Jesse helped his twin brother Jim on a farm. After eight months and another child, the family moved to Iowa Park (Wichita County) Texas to work in the oil fields. Two more children were born there. In 1925, Jesse and Eva relocated their family to a farm in Bailey County, Texas near Muleshoe. In addition to farming, Jesse contracted with the Muleshoe School District to provide bus service. He and Eva drove buses until after their five sons and two daughters completed school, all seven graduating from Muleshoe High School. The youngest, Dorothy, rode the school bus even as an infant. Eva made a bed for her on top of the tool compartment next to her.
In 1947 with plans to retire from farming, Jesse and Eva purchased a vacant restaurant building in Texico, New Mexico, owned by their daughter-in-law's parents (Rackleys), had it moved some 18 miles to a site on Highway 84 three miles west of Muleshoe and converted it to a three-bedroom home. Jesse and Eva, along with their two daughters still at home, moved from the farm into the new house in January, 1948. Jesse had precious little time to enjoy his semi-retirement. He died on October 14, 1948 while helping on his son's farm. Eva remained in that house until a few years before her death in Muleshoe on July 23, 1971. Jesse and Eva are buried in the Bailey County Cemetery.
Jess & Eva
(ca. 1915)
(ca. 1915)
