John Murdoch

1842–1923
Hometown: Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York

The son of well-known teacher and abolitionist Alexander A. Murdock, John K. Murdoch (Murdock) was a good friend of fellow Marines William Gordon Johnson and George N. Angus, both from Ithaca, NY.

His father was born in Scotland and immigrated in 1834 and settled in Thompkins County, NY and taught black residents how to read at a time when there was political pressure.

Before the Civil War John was an express agent with Will Johson. Murdoch retired from this line of work in 1914. His retirement might have something to do with an inheritance from his wealthy friend, William H. Loomis, who left Murdoch 12 shares of stock from Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph upon his death in 1913.

In 1887 he was elected the vice president of the fireman company in Waverly, NY, where he died in 1923. He was one of the first officers for the fire department there.

In the 1920 Census, Murdoch he was living in Waverly with his wife, Emma, and his daughter, whose husband, like Charley Brother later in life, a Railway Postal Clerk.