William McMurtry

Biography

William McMurtry (1801–1875) served the state of Illinois as a public official, including a term as lieutenant governor, and earned a reputation as a practical leader devoted to the welfare of farmers and townsfolk alike. He remained committed to the frontier communities where he was raised.

Upon his death he was buried at Rice-Blue Cemetery in 1875, where visitors today can reflect on a life of civic responsibility. His legacy endures in the institutions he helped to guide during the state’s early years.