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1862 – receivership 1912
Founded: The business was established in 1862 by Kerr Murray, doing general foundry and machine work. By fall 1863 the firm traded as Murray & Bennigan; by 1872 as Murray & Baker, advertising steam engines, boilers and gas works, with works on Calhoun Street adjoining the railroad depots.
Founder: Kerr Murray, Scottish-born machinist. Murray died soon after the firm began building gas works; his son-in-law A. D. Cressler carried it on.
What it did: Foundry and machine work that specialised in gas-works machinery — gas holders, purifiers and complete gas apparatus for the town-gas industry — alongside engines and boilers.
Course: Incorporated in 1881 with capital of $100,000, A. D. Cressler president and general manager; the works stood at the northeast corner of Murray and Calhoun streets. The company became one of the country's known builders of gas holders and gas-works plant.
Fate: A receiver was appointed 27 May 1912; the receivership is documented in the Indiana Court of Appeals case U.S. Construction Co. v. Hamilton National Bank (1920).
Sources:
- Valley of the Upper Maumee River, Vol. II (1889) — business established 1862; Murray & Bennigan, 1863.
- King's Fort Wayne Directory, 1872 (Murray & Baker advertisement).
- R. L. Polk, Fort Wayne Directory, 1900 (Kerr Murray Mfg. Co., NE corner Murray & Calhoun).
- U.S. Construction Co. v. Hamilton National Bank, Indiana Court of Appeals (1920) — receiver appointed 27 May 1912.