The Murton Brothers

JOHN AND SUSAN JANE RICHARDS MURTON, both natives of England, made their way to Tonopah from Negaunee, Michigan, where John worked as a miner, via Butte, Montana, another well-known mining camp. Although the year they arrived is not known, it is clear that John continued working in the mining industry. Their presence in Tonopah by at least 1909 is confirmed through several newspaper accounts.

Albert “Bert” John Murton was the couple’s second son, second child, and was born in Negaunee. He also worked in the mining industry and on July 30, 1907 married Lillian Palmer in Iron Belt, Wisconsin. It was there in Iron Belt that Lillie gave birth to their only child, a daughter named Eleanor Henrietta, on October 29, 1907. The new family soon moved to Tonopah, where Bert worked for the Tonopah Belmont Mine and it was here, in September 1908, that he contracted typhoid pneumonia. Doctors treated him at the Miners’ Hospital for eight days, but he died September 25. His obituary noted that his mother had arrived recently to help nurse him and during that time, she was also stricken with typhoid. Bert’s funeral obsequies were held from the Baptist Church on September 27 and from there the body was escorted to the Old Tonopah Cemetery by a large number of friends. The Miners’ Union and the volunteer fire department—organizations of which he was a member—displayed the flag at half-staff in honor of his memory. They also adopted a Resolution of Condolence that was published in the October 4, 1908 edition of the Tonopah Daily Bonanza. A total of $298.95 (about $10,600 in today’s dollars) was contributed for the benefit of the widow and child. Bert was 21 years old.

Less than 200 days later, on Saturday, April 10, 1909 Samuel, the Murton’s oldest child, was working at the Montana Tonopah Mine and died just as he was coming off shift. He was coming to the surface in the cage with five of his co-workers and it was initially thought he was caught by the dividing timbers as a result of having allowed his body to project out too far. The cage traveled about 100 feet before the engineer became aware that something was wrong. By the time the cage was stopped, Sam had been crushed to death, his body horribly mangled. His companions rang the hoisting bell and his remains were brought to the surface. An inquest was held, but after intense deliberation, the jury declared they were unable to determine his cause of death. Through testimony, one of the miners said he heard Sam groan and immediately after that he fell to the bottom of the cage. It was assumed he was stricken by either a convulsion or heart failure and was dead before he was crushed. Sam’s funeral was held on Monday, April 12, with services conducted at the Presbyterian church. A large number of individuals followed the procession to the Old Tonopah Cemetery where he was laid to rest next to his brother, Bert. Sam was 22 years old and was single.

Fifteen months later on July 9, 1910, William Henry Murton, the third son, fourth child, was 17 years old and then working for E.G. Osborne driving an express wagon. While passing in front of the Tonopah Library, he was observed falling backward into the bed of the wagon. Several people rushed to the wagon, but it was determined that Bill was dead and his body was removed to the morgue. A coroner’s inquest held that afternoon ruled that his death was due to natural causes. His funeral services were held July 11 at the Presbyterian church. The July 12 edition of the Tonopah Daily Bonanza reported that in addition to the family, a large number of youthful playmates followed their friend’s casket to the grave. A number of local women arranged a benefit dance at the Miners’ Exchange Hall on Wednesday, July 20 with proceeds benefiting William’s parents. An article in the July 14, 1910 edition of the Tonopah Daily Bonanza noted that “The loss of three sons in as many years has been a hard blow to the parents, and since the latest death, the mother has been quite ill.”

The cause of death on William’s death certificate was listed as “unknown,” but his sudden collapse was eerily similar to that of Samuel’s. He was buried beside his brothers.

Three sons.
Three years.
Three deaths.

No parent should suffer the agony of outliving a child, much less three. Albert, Samuel, and William Murton now lie together in fenced-in silence, their lives cut short in the same town that promised the family so much opportunity. Their parents, and what was left of their family, eventually returned to Butte, Montana, carrying with them a grief that Tonopah itself could not hold.