William H. McMurtrey was the son of Samuel McMurtrey and Jean Martin. He came to Madison County Missouri in 1819 from probably Jackson County Tennessee where his youngest child Mary Magdelene was born in 1819. He purchased property on Castor River about 17 September 1819 when he purchased the Taggart Mill. William was a carpenter, journeymen and a preacher. This was two years prior to Missouri’s admission as a state. St. Louis was then a village of about 4000 people. Soon after his arrival, the Reverend William McMurtrey started out to visit the adjoining settlements and coming to Cook’s settlement found three women awaiting his appearance. One of them was Mrs. Meeke Caldwell, who later wrote about the beginning of the first Christian Church organized in what on the third Sunday in May 1822 (some say 1838) in an old log school house which was then the village of Libertyville, St Francois County Missouri. Soon after organization, the church grew from three to nine members, with only one male member. In the year 1853, John C. Farmer, who was a doctor of medicine, organized the Sunday school which has never ceased to function. In 1858, a brick permanent church building was constructed.
During the eight score years of its existence, the course of this church has been guided by many outstanding ministers, evangelists and lay people. We are deeply indebted to those who preceded us for their wisdom, ability, courage, effort, sacrifice, and steadfast faith. This material was taken from an article written in 1932 by Kenneth H. Hoffman, and from an article in the Libertyville newspaper ‘Three Sketches of the Libertyville Christian Church,” submitted by F.L. Graham. On the 3rd Sunday in May 1938, Libertyville Christian Church held the 116th reunion of the organization of the church.
The Reverend William McMurtrey also preached at old Antioch near Fredericktown.
William McMurtrey Will, Madison County, Missouri
In the name of God, Amen, I, William McMurtrey of the County of Madison in the State of Missouri, being weak of body but of sound and disposing mind, make this my last Will and Testament, that is to say: First, It is my desire that my executors hereinafter named shall pay all my just debts as soon as practicable. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah McMurtrey all my household and kitchen furniture during her natural life. I also give and bequeath to my said wife Sarah McMurtrey a certain negro woman named Milly, for and during her natural life and at the death of my wife the said slave Milly to belong and decend to my children in common. It is my will and desire that my son William M. McMurtrey for and during my natural life and for and during the natural life of my wife Sarah McMurtrey during which time the said William M. McMurtrey is to have the control and management of said slaves, shall have the benefit of their labour and services, and shall not in any wise be held accountable to any heirs or legatee in consequence in consequence of their said services, so long as myself or my said wife shall live. At my decease, and the decease of my said wife, or so soon thereafter as the situation of my estate will permit, my slaves are to be divided equally amongst my children, in which division however it is my special will and direction that my slave Sambo and Esther, his wife shall be set apart and assigned to William M. McMurtrey at their reasonable and fair valuation, such valuation to be assesed by two or more disinterested persons to be chosen by my executors and should the assesed value of Sambo and Esther exceed the portion or share of the said William M. McMurtrey arising from my estate, my said Executors will take the note in writing for the excess of the said William M. McMurtrey payable twelve months after this date thereof, and when said money shall be paid to them they will pay it to my children and heirs in the due proportions. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Jane Brown of the State of Arkansas one bay filley to be conveyed to her as soon as possible. I hereby appoint my son William M. McMurtrey and my friend William Tidwell executors of this my last Will and Testament, and hereby confer upon them full power and authority to execute and carry into effect the provisions of this my said last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my scroll as my seal, in the County aforesaid, this 3 day of July, A.D. 1839. Signed, sealed and published by the said Wm. McMurtrey as his last will and Testment in presence of the following persons as witness: George Campbell Winston Whitworth signed
Wm. McMurtrey (seal)
Will presented at County Court of Madison County,Missouri, 4 November 1839.
Following is list of slaves made 26 February 1840.
M- Sambo, age 53; $500.00 F- Esther, age 43; $350.00 F- Vicey, age 22; $600.00 F- Mary Jane, age 04; $250.00 M- Richard, age 02; $200.00 M- Robert, age 6mo; $125.00 F- Milly, age 18; $650.00 F- Jane, age 16; $650.00 F- Susan, age 12; $500.00.
List made
M- Sambo, age 70; F- Vicey, age 39; F- Mary Jane, age 21; M- Richard, age 19; M- Robert, age 17; M- Sambo, age 15, born 27 August 1841; F- Milly, age 35; M- Elijah, age 14, born 28 March 1843; F- Louease, age 11, born 20 February 1846; M- James Henry, age 09, born 28 June 1848(son of Milly) F- Sarah Ann, age 04, born 3 August 18(dau. of Milly) F- Jane, age 33; F- Francis Ann, age 11, born 21 February 1846; F- Della Jane, age 09, born 11 May 1848(dau. of Jenny) M- Akan, age 07, born 4 April 1850; M- Valentine, age 05, born 21 August 1852(son of Jenny) F- Susan, age 29; M- Lewis, age 11, born 27 October 1847; M- infant, of Susan Luke;
Esther, wife of Sambo, died 11 April 1853.
William and Sarah McMurtrey had ten children, two sons and eight daughters. Few were living in Missouri when parents died and three of the children were deceased by 1856. Possibly the eldest slaves, Sambo and Esther were with the family when they left Abbeville, SC ca 1799. The family lived in Jackson County, TN from 1800-1818. They then moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri before moving on to Madison County, Castor township, Missouri. William McMurtrey operated a mill on Castor Creek and was also an early minister of Disciples of Christ or Christian believers. It is not clear if the above slaves remained in Missouri or were sold. Son, William M. McMurtrey died intestate 27 February 1858 and most of the probate papers, concerning the slaves, were in his probate file.
