Newton Murrah (1836 - 1897)
The first account of Newton in Texas (or anywhere for that matter) is the 1850 Census of Red
River County indicating he, at the age of 14, lived with his mother Martha (44) and siblings Felix
(19), Margaret (16), Luther (12) and Jefferson (9). The family name is shown as Murry, a frequent
misspelling of Murrah. Also in the household was Charles McCallay, age 39, born in Ireland. The
Census indicates Martha was born in Tennessee and worked as a seamstress.
The 1860 Census places Newton (age 23) in Walker County, Texas living in the household of C. T. and Martha Traylor and their six children. A year later, Newton enlisted in the Confederate Army on August 24, 1861. He was mustered out of Walker County on October 26, 1861 to Camp Pickett near San Antonio into Captain H. W. Fisher's Company, 3rd Regiment, Sibley's Brigade Mounted Volunteers. The unit was later designated as Captain H. W. Fisher's Company, 7th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers and finally Company G, 7th Regiment, Texas Cavalry. Newton served with this unit until the surrender of the CSA and "paroled" on July 20, 1865. Newton was wounded at least twice during the war including the Battle of Yellow Bayou in Marksville, Louisiana on May 18th, 1864. This was the final battle of the famous Red River Campaign.
It is not known the whereabouts of Newton following the Civil War until he married Ella Frances Rotten in 1871 and settled on a farm in Grimes County, Texas. Since Grimes and Walker are adjacent counties, it is assumed Newton went back to that part of Texas immediately after the war.
The 1860 Census places Newton (age 23) in Walker County, Texas living in the household of C. T. and Martha Traylor and their six children. A year later, Newton enlisted in the Confederate Army on August 24, 1861. He was mustered out of Walker County on October 26, 1861 to Camp Pickett near San Antonio into Captain H. W. Fisher's Company, 3rd Regiment, Sibley's Brigade Mounted Volunteers. The unit was later designated as Captain H. W. Fisher's Company, 7th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers and finally Company G, 7th Regiment, Texas Cavalry. Newton served with this unit until the surrender of the CSA and "paroled" on July 20, 1865. Newton was wounded at least twice during the war including the Battle of Yellow Bayou in Marksville, Louisiana on May 18th, 1864. This was the final battle of the famous Red River Campaign.
It is not known the whereabouts of Newton following the Civil War until he married Ella Frances Rotten in 1871 and settled on a farm in Grimes County, Texas. Since Grimes and Walker are adjacent counties, it is assumed Newton went back to that part of Texas immediately after the war.