Finding Aid to the William McKendree Murrell (1854-1935) Diary

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
WILLIAM McKENDREE MURRELL (1854-1935) DIARY
The diary contains brief entries (1921), mostly about the weather, and a list of daily
expenses, kept by William M. MURRELL.
WILLIAM McKENDREE MURRELL (1854-1935)
William McKendree MURRELL, son of John Cobbs MURRELL and Cornelia F.
SMITHSON, was born 20 August 1854, in Rustburg, Campbell County, Virginia, where
his father was Commonwealth's Attorney. Educated in a private school operated by his
aunt, Julia MURRELL, William M. MURRELL came to Lynchburg to attend the private
school of John MINOR. He graduated from Roanoke College in 1874 and went to law
school at the University of Virginia, where he was graduated in 1876. He worked in the
law offices of his father. His father suffered a stroke and William M. MURRELL was
appointed to fill the unexpired term of his father as Commonwealth's Attorney. He
served in that office from 1878 until 1911 and again from 1922 until 1927.
William M. MURRELL married 21 November 1883 Flora Scott WITHERS, daughter
of Col. Robert Woodson WITHERS and Blanche PAYNE, of Campbell County.
William McKendree MURRELL died 23 March 1935 at his home in Lynchburg and
was buried in the Spring Hill Cemetery.
[Obituary, Lynchburg News, 24 March 1935, p. 8 col. 7; Marriage Register, Campbell County, VA, Book
2, p. 74; Lynchburg Virginian, 22 November 1883, p. 3 col. 1.]

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