Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Mrs. Sophia (MURRAY) DEMMOND, Joliet; was born in Petersburg, N. Y., July 26, 1804; 
she is a daughter of John MURRAY, who was formerly from Bennington, Vt., her mother, 
Cynthia WEAVER, was a native of Rhode Island; Mrs. DEMMOND's parents removed to near 
Auburn, N. Y., when she was a child, and after five years to Sharon, in the same State, 
where they resided till their death. Her marriage with the late Martin H. DEMMOND 
occurred in Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y., on April 10, 1831. Mr. DEMMOND was a native 
of Massachusetts, and was born March 4, 1803; he went with his parents to Sangerfield, 
N. Y., where he was apprenticed to the tanner and currier's trade; he, however, did not 
find this business congenial, and having a taste for mercantile pursuits, he soon 
afterward engaged in merchandising in various places, in which he was quite successful, 
he first married, soon after becoming of age, Miss Adelia WOODRUFF, a daughter of Theodore 
WOODRUFF, of Clinton, N. Y., and a sister of George H. WOODRUFF, of this city; she, 
however, died during their first year of their marriage. While in business in Frankfort, 
he married Miss MURRAY, as above stated, and, in 1834, removed, to Joliet; he was so 
intimately identified with early history and growth of this city, and his connection therewith 
is so fully recorded in the historical portion of this work, that any further allusion 
here is unnecessary. He was a man of pure morals and sterling integrity; "his word was as 
good as his bond." He died of cholera July 18, 1854, leaving a wife, but no children. A niece 
of Mrs. DEMMOND's, Miss Catherine MURRAY, was a member of the family, from the age of 10 
years until her marriage with Frederick BARTELSON, an attorney at law in Joliet, who afterward 
raised a company for the 100th Regiment, I. V. I., was commissioned Captain, afterward promoted 
to Colonel, and killed at Kennesaw Mountain. She is now the wife of J. R. CASSELBERRY, of 
Philadelphia. Mrs. DEMMOND continues to reside in the old homestead erected by her husband 
soon after his arrival here.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.