Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1908 — LAFAYETTE MILLIONAIRE DEAD. [ARTICLE]

LAFAYETTE MILLIONAIRE DEAD.

James Murdock, Well Kuewn Financier and. Prominent Demo cret, Dies Suddenly. James Murdock, one of Indiana’s most wealthy and prominent fiAhnclers, diedat, the home of his spn, Samuel T. Murdock, in Lafayette at l?|0 Saturday morning from lta|rt disease, aged 71 years. He Was apparently extremely hale and hearty for one of his age. and was Mflmtwgly in the best of health the day before his death, which came very suddenly. Two sons and one daughter are left.

Mr. Murdock was born in Ireland, and in 1850 came with his parents to Ohio, later settling near Richmond, Ind., where his father died. Soon after his father’s death James took his mother and located in Lafayette, where he went to work as a laborer in a brick yard. He saved his money and was economical in his living. ,He later farmed for a while, then engaged in the grocery business in Lafayette. He later headed several syndicates, gas, electric railroad and electric lighting, street railway, banking, etc., in all of which he most successful. At the time of Ms death he owned the Hotel Lahr and much other business and real estate property in Lafayette and the Murdock home was one of the finest in the Star City, while hie wealth is estimated at $5,000,000. . Mr. Murdock was a life long democrat and was formerly quite gve In polices, but of late years, i his increasing age, he has given e attention to political affairs. He was warden of, the Michigan City prison under Gov. Matthews.