Mrs. Ella J. McPherson, widow of United States Senator John R. McPherson of New Jersey, died at her apartment3, 331 Lexington Avenue, eary yesterday morning. Mrs. McPherson was taken ill with pneumonia on Monday last, and on Thursday it was realized that she was in great danger, and Drs. Delafield and Janeway were called in consultation. Ever since the death of her husband Mrs McPherson has lived in this city. She usually made yearly trips abroad.

Mrs. McPherson was a Miss Gregory from Buffalo, NY, and her mother is still living in that city. A brother, George Gregory is living here. Mrs McPherson's only surviving child is a daughter who is married to Doctor Joseph Muir. Dr. Muir and his wife sailed for Europe last Saturday. The doctor has been appointed the Secretary of the United States Legation at Stockholm. A cable was sent to the couple, which will reach them at Queenstown, and it is expected they will return to New York on a steamship sailing next Wednesday. Until they arrive, the body of Mrs. McPherson will be placed in a receiving vault and no funeral arrangements will be made.

The marriage of the daughter, Edna Coleman McPherson, to Dr. Muir was not at first looked upon favorably by Mrs. McPherson. She had started to Europe on one of her annual trips in the summer of 1898. After Mrs. McPherson sailed Dr. Muir and her daughter were married by a Justice of the Peace in Hoboken, NJ. When Mrs. McPherson heard of this she returned home, and it was a long time before she became reconciled to the marriage. After Dr. Muir married he rented a house at 41 West Thirty-Eighth Street and began to practice medicine. Two years ago he associated himself with F. C. Whitney in the production of the play "Quo Vadis." The enterprise was very successful until the play reached this city. Later Dr. Muir backed Lawrence Ha?ley in "Near the Throne." he lost money on this venture. The doctor is known as an adept at hypnotism, and before the reconciliation took place, Mrs. McPherson ascribed the marriage of her daughter to him to undue influence of that nature. Mrs. McPherson was fifty-six years old.

Source: New York Times March 30, 1901

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