‘Footsteps of Early Alapaha Catholic Settlers’

What originated as a chronicle tracing the Catholic ancestry of Alapaha, Georgia, flourished into a colossal manuscript consisting of innumerable interviews conducted with citizens of all faiths and 80 vintage photos illustrating many previously unknown aspects of the little town with a big heart’s colorful, often checkered history as co-written by Becky Davis. In the accompanying still a scenic portrait depicts the Alapaha River near flood level in modern times, taken from the Highway U.S. 82 bridge at Sheboggy on March 3, 2013. Photography by Jeremy Roberts

Some of the first settlers in the Alapaha, Georgia area were Irish immigrants and among those were James (1809–11/23/1891) and Jane Murray (née McDonald; 1823–9/18/1896). They courageously sailed to the United States from Ireland around 1840, arriving in the Charleston, South Carolina area. They lived for two years on one of the surrounding islands until James decided to venture south. His brother, Edward (Ed) Murray, went north [Author’s Note: Evidence presented during our research process by Joanne Connell (née Akins) indicates that Bernard Murray may have been a close relative of James Murray. Bernard’s obituary, stored safely in a frame by James’ son John Murray, listed his parents as being natives of County Derry, Ireland and residing in South Carolina at the time of his death on March 9, 1875].

Left Image Credit: The Joanne Akins Connell Collection; James Murray and Jane McDonald are seen at right. Image Credit: The Darlene Jernigan Turner Collection

James eventually came to South Georgia and lived in Worth County. James and other Irish people worked for General Abbott H. Brisbane on the Brisbane Railroad, clearing the right of way from Albany to Mobley’s Bluff on the Ocmulgee River. James was an educated man and avid reader who always tried to help his neighbors. He taught school in Worth County for the Irish families and others who wanted to…