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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

for nearly thirty years presided over a section of our business mart. He died February 5, 1892. His wife, who survived him a short time, died December 2, 1893. JACOB M. MURDOCK, an enterprising and successful young business man of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a son of John and Mary (Slater) Murdock. He was born at Ligonier, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1863.     His father is a native of eastern Pennsylvania, and was brought to Ligonier by his parents on their removal to that place in his early childhood. When he grew to manhood he engaged in business, and conducted a large general store at Ligonier for many years. In 1883 he came to Johnstown, and engaged to the lumber business, and has resided there ever since. In religion he is an earnest methodist, and is a member of the official board of the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is president of the Somerset Stone company and of the Bare Rock Railroad company.     Our subject's grandfather, Daniel Murdock, was a miller by trade, and operated a grist mill at Latrobe, Pennsylvania, for many years. His maternal grandfather, Samuel Slater, was born on the old homestead, and resided there until his death, at the age of eighty-six years, in the year 1882. His memory extended back to the time when the Indians made their raids into Ligonier valley, and chased the settlers into the fort at Ligonier. The old barn on the Slater homestead still shows the marks made by the Indians' bullets. The red man of the forest has long since disappeared from western Pennsylvania, and under the direction of the grandsons of Samuel Slater many thousands of acres of the forest itself have disappeared.

Our subject spent his boyhood with his parents at Ligonier, and was educated in the public schools of that place. In 1881 he laid the foundation of his successful business career by taking a business course in the Iron City college, at Pittsburg. He then found employment in a saw-mill in Ligonier valley and acquired a practical knowledge of his future business. In 1883 he came to Johnstown, and became secretary of the Johnstown Lumber company. He retained this position until 1889. In February of that year he went into the lumber business himself. After conducting the business by himself for a short time he took his brother, Wilbert F. Murdock, into partnership under the firm name of J. M. Murdock & Brother. They manufacture and sell lumber at wholesale to other firms. Their business has grown from a very small scale the first year, until at present they are one of the largest manufacturers of their particular line in this part of the State, and now control and market the product of a large number of portable saw-mills. They are both interested in the Somerset Stone company and the Bare Rock railroad, which was built by them. Jacob M. is treasurer, and Wilbert F. secretary, of both the above companies.     On January 25, 1887, Jacob M. Murdock was united in marriage to Miss Anna D. Young, daughter of the late Emanuel Young, who was for many years superintendent of Wood, Morrell & Co.'s extensivve slaughteries and meat market. To their union were born three daughters: Sara E., a bright child, who died in 1893; Florence Lillian and Alice.     In politics Mr. Murdock is a republican, but in no sense a politician. In religion he is a methodist, and has held various official positions in the church. He is also a very active and loyal member of the Young Men's Chris-

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