Thompson H. Murch
Encyclopedia
Thompson Henry Murch was a nineteenth century politician, stonecutter, editor, publisher and merchant from Maine
. He was among the first trade union
ists elected to the United States Congress.
Born in Hampden, Maine, Murch attended common schools as a child and spent his early life at sea. His father was a sea-captain who died when Murch was an infant. Murch learned the trade of stonecutting and engaged in that occupation for eighteen years, living in a rented house on Dix Island, the site of a major granite quarry. He became editor and publisher of the Granite Cutters' International Journal in 1877 and was secretary of the Granite Cutters' International Association of America in 1877 and 1878.
Murch was elected a Greenbacker
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1878, serving from 1879 to 1883. Murch's election, along with fellow Greenback candidate George W. Ladd
from nearby Bangor, greatly embarrassed the state and national Republican establishments, who'd come to consider Maine safe for the party. Murch was attacked in the New York Times and other Republican papers as "the Communist candidate" and called disrespectfully "Murch, the stonecutter". A front-page New York Times article caricatured him as "an ignorant stone-cutter who was never heard of until a few months ago, a Communist, a demogogue of the lowest type".
Less biased sources described Murch as honest, decent, and a devoted family man. The Reading (Penn) Eagle suggested that even thousands of Republicans supported Murch as "the man who broke the Blaine, Hale, Hamlin Ring", referring to the three most prominent Republican politicians in Maine, one of whom (Hale) Murch had defeated.
After his defeat in the 1882 election, Murch engaged in mercantile
pursuits until his death in Danvers, Massachusetts
on December 15, 1886. He was interred in Hampden Cemetery in Hampden, Maine.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. He was among the first trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ists elected to the United States Congress.
Born in Hampden, Maine, Murch attended common schools as a child and spent his early life at sea. His father was a sea-captain who died when Murch was an infant. Murch learned the trade of stonecutting and engaged in that occupation for eighteen years, living in a rented house on Dix Island, the site of a major granite quarry. He became editor and publisher of the Granite Cutters' International Journal in 1877 and was secretary of the Granite Cutters' International Association of America in 1877 and 1878.
Murch was elected a Greenbacker
United States Greenback Party
The Greenback Party was an American political party with an anti-monopoly ideology that was active between 1874 and 1884. Its name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks," that had been issued during the American Civil War and afterward...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1878, serving from 1879 to 1883. Murch's election, along with fellow Greenback candidate George W. Ladd
George W. Ladd
George Washington Ladd was a U.S. Representative from Maine.Born in Augusta, Maine, Ladd attended the common schools and Kents Hill Seminary.He engaged in the drug business in Bangor, Maine....
from nearby Bangor, greatly embarrassed the state and national Republican establishments, who'd come to consider Maine safe for the party. Murch was attacked in the New York Times and other Republican papers as "the Communist candidate" and called disrespectfully "Murch, the stonecutter". A front-page New York Times article caricatured him as "an ignorant stone-cutter who was never heard of until a few months ago, a Communist, a demogogue of the lowest type".
Less biased sources described Murch as honest, decent, and a devoted family man. The Reading (Penn) Eagle suggested that even thousands of Republicans supported Murch as "the man who broke the Blaine, Hale, Hamlin Ring", referring to the three most prominent Republican politicians in Maine, one of whom (Hale) Murch had defeated.
After his defeat in the 1882 election, Murch engaged in mercantile
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...
pursuits until his death in Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, Danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 Salem witch trials, and for its famous asylum, the Danvers State Hospital.-17th century:The land...
on December 15, 1886. He was interred in Hampden Cemetery in Hampden, Maine.
External links
- Thompson H. Murch at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...