​Marshall Murdock
Doing research for a future project, I read a 2012 thesis by Carl Fenn Dittemore
about Marshall Murdock. Colonel Murdock, as he was regularly called, started
The Wichita City Eagle newspaper in 1872 and ran the business until his death in
1908. Carl argued that Wichita would not be the successful town it was without
the help and promotion of Marshall Murdock.

Murdock was in the printing business one way or another for most of his life. He
was an apprentice in Ohio. After his family moved to Kansas, he worked on the
printing staff of the Lawrence Tribune beginning in 1862.
After marrying his wife Victoria, the two set out to start a life in Burlingame and
begin his own newspaper. His paper was called the Osage Weekly Chronicle. The first
issue hit the press on Sept 26, 1863. This was a stalwart Republican newspaper
where he focused on issues of the day, such as politics in the new state of Kansas
as well as the Civil War.
During his time in Burlingame, Murdock was very active in the Kansas state
government. Among other things Murdock was elected secretary of the Kansas
State Convention of 1864, chairman of the Osage Co. Republican Party, and State
Senator from Osage and Coffey counties.
His service as newspaper editor and state politician helped him when he arrived in
Wichita. Originally located at 3rd and Main Streets before its move to the Eagle
Block on Main and Douglas, the Eagle promoted Wichita as the town to find
success, whether that be in real estate, farming, cattle, business, or any endeavor.

In addition to being editor of the Eagle, Murdock wore other hats around Wichita.
The Colonel served as post master on and off. He became a Free Mason in 1878.
Murdock was elected Director of the Wichita and Southwestern Railroad in 1880.
He even became president of trustees of Wichita Academy 1882. He poured all of
his time into making Wichita a vibrant city on the plains of Kansas.