Marvin X's Great Grandfather, Former Slave

Former Negro Slave Dies on Madera Ranch

Fresno Bee, Tuesday, December 16, 1941

Ephraim Murrill, 99, who lived the first twenty years of his life as a Negro slave in North Carolina, died yesterday in his home on a Madera district ranch. Murrill, who was highly respected by both whites and Negroes in the community, recalled having seen Abraham Lincoln when the great emancipator was campaigning for his first term as president.

Surviving him are one daughter, Mrs. J. H. Hall, Madera; a son, John Murrill, Fowler; nine grand children and three great grandchildren. He would be 100 years old had he lived until next February 13. One of his brothers lived to the age of 116.

Funeral services will be hold tomorrow afternoon in the Jay Parlors and burial will be in Arbor Vitae Cemetary.
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Epharaim Murrill is the maternal great grandfather of poet Marvin X. His mother, Marian Murrill Jackmon, was born in Fowler, about thirty miles south of Madera. Marvin X was born there as well, May 29, 1944. Marvin's parents, Owendell Jackmon and Marian published the first black newspaper in the central valley, the Fresno Voice. They were also real estate brokers who sold many blacks their first home after WWII.

The Jackmons later moved to Oakland and became florists on 7th Street. Mr. Jackmon was prominent in West Oakland's political and social life. He was a member of the Men of Tomorrow, the Elks Lodge and the American Legion. He was a member of Downs Memorial Methodist Church. Mrs. Jackmon became a Christian Scientist, follower of Mary Baker Eddy.

Mrs. Jackmon later returned to Fresno with her children and opened a real estate business. In 1969, Marvin X became the most controversial black in Fresno history when he defied Governor Ronald Reagan by continuing to teach at Fresno State University, even though the Gov. ordered the college/now university to remove him by any means necessary, especially since he had refused to fight in Vietnam.

According to my colleague, Ptah Allah El, my great grandfather is one of the legendary men of the Central Valley. He and Col. Allenworth may have been associates. After Col. Allenworth, Murrill is the most prominent black man in the central valley. Something about him crossed the line separating blacks and whites. All the Negroes in the Valley know about Epharaim Murrill. According to Ptah Allah El, my great grandfather was well known in Madera, Fresno, Fowler, Hanford, Lemoore. He was a conscious black man.

And, according to Ptah, there are conscious people throughout the valley who recognize Murrill as one of the icons. More research will reveal exactly what he did. I do know my people came to California as pioneers who were engaged in farming. My cousin Latanya Tony is researching our family history. She told me recently that our great grandfather was buried in Madera.

The reason my friend knows about Ephraim is because he traveled throughout the central valley recently selling food at events. People told him about the man named Ephraim Murrill. Ptah never made the connection between myself and my great grandfather. He didn't know my mother's maiden name was Murrill. I'm just learning of my grandfather's people. We had a family reunion in Chowchilla a few years ago, but it was mainly my grandmother's descendants.

I don't know why my mother never mentioned my great grandfather, but it appears he had more notoriety than his great grandson, Marvin X or perhaps his great grandson is only folllowing his footsteps!