MURRAY & TRAINOR
Chicago, IL.
1878-1894
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The following is taken from an unidentified volume extolling the business prowess of Chicago at the end of the 19th century (1890's):
"OWEN MURRAY, wholesale and retail dealer in wines, liquors and cigars, 182 State Street; was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, January 9, 1856, and came to Chicago in 1873. After his arrival here he was for two years in the employ of P. O'Neil in the wholesale liquor business. Then engaged in the business himself, and at this time has the largest retail trade in tlie city, besides doing a large wholesale business. He occupies three spacious floors and basement. He handles a full line of foreign and domestic wines, liquors, mineral waters, etc., and controls a specially fine line of old Maryland, Scotch, Irish and Kentucky whiskies, giving particular attention to superior brands of old liquors. He is agent for more than twenty brands of standard goods of foreign manufacture, and does a business of a quarter of a million dollars annually. He also deals largely in fine imported and domestic cigars, catering mainly to the better class of trade; as in his Iiquor trade, he carries only the very best brands. Mr. Murray started in business on a small capital, but by his energy and perseverance has accumulated quite a handsome fortune. He carries a stock valued at about $150,000. He has been very successful, and has reason to be proud of his success, which is yearly enhanced by his honorable business methods, and the excellent quality of his goods."

In 1892, the company was being supplied by the Pleasure Ridge Park distillery of Kentucky's 5th district: see the distillery listing for more details.

Business name timeline:
Murray & Trainor (1878-1884), Owen Murray (1886-1894)

Business category timeline (abbreviations decoded below):
W

Years that company appeared in directories
Years directories were consulted
Chicago directory notes

Appearance in directories:
1878, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894

Directories consulted:
1860, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918

Chicago directory notes:
V= Wine & Liquor (Wholesale), V-R = Wine & Liquor (Retail), W = Whiskey (Wholesale), L = Liquors (Wholesale) D = Distiller, DA = distiller's agent

1860 - distillers page v difficult to read, 1872 unreadable, 1873 much missing, 1875 partial no DR, 1900 missing, 1903 no Wine & Liquor, 1904 J-S is unreadable, 1909: Major street renumbering with relocation of the E/W divide, 1911: minimal listing, another street renumbering, 1912 is missing, 1914: half distillers missing, 1915 no street addresses for distillers, 1917 no distillers in the business database, but includes the Telephone directory listings, 1918 no distillers and based on telephone directory only. There is some confusion on the dates of the directory - there were 4 sets variously labeled 1916-1919 but there were multiple xing out and inaccuracies. 1917 is a good bet, 1918 could be later. 1918: 5 th Ave becomes Wells

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