The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-01-10
A GOOD MAN CONE
COL M M. Murdoch, Editor of the
Wichita, Kansas, Eagle,
Is Dead.
DEATH GAME WHILE ASLEEP
Col Murdoch Came to Kansas in
1856 and Has Been Prominent
in State Affairs Ever
Since

Wichita, Kan, Jan. 3.-The sleep of
everlasting peace gently closed the
life of Col. M. M. Murdoch, editor ana
owner of the Wichita Eagle, and post.
master of Wichita at 1850 o'clock
Thursday morning. Death came to
him while asleep. He had been I'M
conscious since Monday and his son.
Congressman Victor Murdoch, who
hurried to this city from Washington,
did not arrive in time to speak. to his
father before the end.
Col Murdoch undoubtedly was the
most noted man in Kansas during the
past 25 years. His powerful pen
shaped the destiny of the republican
party on many occasions. He figured
in some of the exciting scenes of the
early history of the state notably
Quantrells raid in Lawrence.
Col Murdoch was 20 years of age.
He was born in Virginia but came to
Kansas before the Civil war Before
coming to Wichita in 1871, he owned
and edited a paper at Burling@me.
He stuck to Wichita during it's dark
days when property values deprecia-
ted to nothing and this one fact made
him the foremost citizen of the south
west.
Probably there was no more bril-
liant writer in the west than Col. Muir
dock Until two months ago he took
an active part in the paper, but was
forced to retire to take RESPITE
from his duties as postmaster.
Less than two years ago he became
the sole owner of the Wichita Eagle.
purchasing the plant from his brother,
Roland p. Murdoch, who died II
months ago. Col. Murdoch is sur
vived by a wife, two sons and one
daughter, Congressman Victor Muir
dock, Marcellus NJ. Murdoch, business
manager of the Eagle, and Mrs. Paul
Eaton.
Marshall Murdoch BECAME Kan
san in 1856, his parents having
moved west. In Topeka Marshall
cast his first vote. 1t was against the
adoption of the Lecompton constitu'
ton
Mr. Murdoch was elected state sen
ator from Coffey and Usage counties
in 1868, and again in 1870. He sold
the Chronicle, which he had owned
and conducted for nine years. and per
fected arrangements for establishing
a newspaper at Wichita.
In 1872 the Wichita City Eagle was
first published as a weekly by Mr..
Murdock Since its name has besn
changed to the Wichita Eagle, now
daily Through all its years Mr.. Muir
dock continued to be its editor AS
late as Thanksgiving day he con-
tributed to the editorial columns
while he was at all times in the mar
agement.
During the fall of 1872 MI Murdoch
was elected state senator from 26
counties. He was elected president
pro tenn by the senate The follow
ing winter he presided over the joint
session in the United States senatorial
contest.
Col. Murdoch was appoiued post
master in 1874, two years after com
ing to Wichita. by Gov. Osborn, then
regent of the State Normal school
he was re-appointed postmaster By
Gov. Anthony in 1876.
Mr. Murdoch was a delegate to the
national republican convention in St.
Louis in 1896, and voted for the nom
ination of William Mckinley as presi-
dent. He was re-appolnted postmas-
ter in July, 1898 by President McKin-
ley, his position having been affirmed
by President Roosevelt in 1902, and
again in 1906.