The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-27
". 4. MUIRHBID DEAD.
An Active and Honorable
Career Suddenly Cut
Off by Consump-
tion.
EMINENT PUBLIC SERVICES
Official Positions Based on Profess
sional Standing-nis Family
and Last Illness.

United States Commissioner William
Muirheid, late of the law firm of Bedle.
Muirheid g. MCGEE, died at his home. No.
2Sl York street, at half-past two o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
The deceased was just fifty years old
last January. He was born ia or near
Pennington. Hunterdon county. n. j., in
January, 1872 His father, Jonathan
Muirheid, lived until about one year ago.
Both his PARENTS were born in this coun-
try. For the past twenty-five or thirty
years Mr.. Muirheid had led an active
career as lawyer in this city, and held
number of official positions. the duties of
which he fulfilled with credit. He was
respected and esteemed by everybody.
He leaves widow aud three chill dren.
His widow was Miss Clara Psarsali, sis
ter of Mrs Frank jenkins and of the late
William Pearsall. The three bereft chill
young man of twety-twu years. now study
ing LAW with the firm of Bedle, MCGEE
& Bedle: Mary Muirheid. q young lady
of seventeen; Julia, child of nine years.
He also leaves two half-broJhers, both of
whom are in business In New YORK. His
father of Mrs. Benjamin Clarke, whose
husbands one of the leading figures In
Inc iron trade of America.
OPENING OF HIS CARRIER.
Mr.. Muirheid was admitted to practice
as an attorney-at-law on June Z, 1885,
Ward. 1t was his original intention to
study medicine. For this purpose he
went to New York to ralk with a we'll
known physician. The physician CHANGED
10 be out of town, and while awaiting his
return the young man changed his
legal arena. For four years he
studied law with Isaac W. Scudder. He
served with distinction during the late
civil war as Second Lieutenant of Com
pany A. Thirty-seventh Regiment. N. j.
n. g.. his commission dating from June
23 1864. On August Is OF the same year
he was promoted to be A6Jutans OF his
regiment This, by the way, was General
Grubb's regiment. He was honorably
discharged under the 100 days. service
rule on October 1, 1864. He was admit
ted to practice as an attorney in the
United States Courts ia June 1867, and
during the same year he was appointed
notary public by Governor Marcus Ward.
On March "a. 1869. he was appointed q
United States Commissioner. On October
5, 1872, he wss appointed Chief Supervisor
of Elections By the United States Circuit
Court, and the assertion is made
that in no election actively SUI
pervised by him has there been
any allegation Whatever of fraudulent
counting. He was appointed Examiner
in Chancery by Chancellor Zabriskie on
April 15 1878, and in September of the
same year he was appointed by Chan
celler Runyon as a special master in
pointed Supreme Court Commissioner,
and on March 9, 1875. he was appointed a
commissioner to take testimony in the
case of the celebrated Alabama
claims. He was frequently appointed
by the Chancellor to examine the papers
and accounts of banks in trouble, includ-
ing the old Faith Ward Bank, at Erie
street and Pavonia avenue, and the Rah-
way Savings Bank. The late Judge
Knapp appointed him as one of the Tax
Adjustment Commissioners, with E. T.
q. Young and a. @. Garretsen. and also
as one of the Boulevard Commissioners
to condemn lands on section two. with
Messrs. Voorbses, Heddin and, Garwood
Ferris. This latter position he resigned
before any action had been taken by the
Commissioners.
THE GREAT Law FIRM.
The original law firm, from which Mr..
Muirheid recently withdrew, was formed
on December l. 1869, and lasted until Nav
], 1878, 1t was thea known as Muirheid
& MoSee. About this time Ex-Governor
Bedle relinquishe1 the Office of Governor
and became the senior member of the
Muipheid & McGee. This name was con-
tinued until 1890. when J. ID. Bedle, Jr.,
was admitted as one of the partners. and
the firm name was cbanged to Beiie,
Muirheid, MCGEE & Bedie, Jr. This
name continued until May / last, when
health and Thomas B. BedIe was ad-
mirted in his place. The firm is now
known as Bedle. McGee & Bedle.
Mr.. Mfirheid joined the Palma Club
with MIR. Flavel MCGEE about year or
SO after its organization. more to help
along the club than tor its benefits. IL is
not known that he visited the clubs
headquarters when they were located in
Railroad avenue. When the CLUB
proposed the scheme of erecting
the elegant clubhouse it now oc-
cupies, Mr.. Muirheid became at
once ACTIVELY interested in the clubs
affairs. He was elected President and
held that position no to about year ago.
HIS LONG SICKNESS.
Mr.. Muirheid's ailment began prior to
the spring of 1890. At that time an
operation was performed and the patient;
was successfully relieved. Shortly there
after he was troubled with throat
affection which proved to be laryugital
tubercnlosis and latersit was found this
1nvofyed. pulmonary Tuberculosis. In the
ran OF w he supervised the elections of
his Congressional district and worked in
his Office with much pain throughout che
following winter and spring.
Last summer he spent three or four
months in Orange county, and returned
to his duties considerably Improved in
health. He grew gradually worse, how
ever, and in the latter part of March OF
this year. DR.. Alfred L. Loomis, of New
York, his physician, advised him to 60 to
Ashvllle, North Carolina. 1he patient
spent the month of April there without
any apparent reiiaf. On his return he
withdrew from the law firm with which
he had SO long been connected. He was
able to go about until about two weeks
ago. when he was suddenly confined to
his bed, from which he never arose.
The funeral service will be held at the
late home of the deceased at two O'Clock
tomorrow afternoon, and will he
conducted by the Rev. j. T.
Thompson, of Akron, Ohio, former
pastor of the Church of the Good Shep-
herd of this city. The place of interment
has not yet been definitely decided upon
by the bereaved family, but it is probable
the body will be buried in the vicinity of
Brooklyn.
napaxv 0fF IN Saa Wales