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 OHN W. MURPHY, a prosperous farmer and
stock-grower of this county, residing on section 33, Seven Hickory Township, was born
April 13, 1841, in Kentucky, and is the son
of Miles and Sibbie (O’Hair) Murphy. His greatgrandparents were natives of Ireland, who emigrated to this country at an early day, and settled
in Kentucky, making their permanent home there.
Miles Murphy was born in Kentucky in 1818,
and was the son of William and Matilda (Biles)
Murphy, who were the parents of twenty-two children, sixteen sons and six daughters. Those now
living reside in Kentucky, where there are about
500 descendants. One son, who removed to Indiana with his family, was killed by the falling of a
tree while at work cutting timber in the forest. In 1856, Miles Murphy removed with his wife and family of thirteen children, to Coles County, and settled in Seven Hickory Township, making his permanent home here. Several years prior to this removal he had come to Edgar County, and after remaining three years, returned to Kentucky. Mr. Murphy was a member of the Christian Church and a highly esteemed citizen of the township. He was industrious and energetic in business, and lived peaceably with all men, attending exclusively to his own affairs, and never becoming involved in difficulties with his neighbors. During the Civil War he was taken prisoner, and conveyed to Springfield, where he died. The family record is: William H., a resident of Texas; John W., the subject of this sketch; Calvin C., a resident of Kansas; Michael A., a resident of Seven Hickory Township; Benjamin F. died at the age of fourteen; James T., Miles T., Leander B. and Hilton N., all reside in Kansas; Eliza C., who died in 1880, was the wife of Martin McCallister, and left a family of three children; Matilda E. is the widow of John Erwood, and has a family of three children; Nancy I. is the wife of William Grimes, and has a family of three children; Diana E. is single, aud resides with her widowed sister, Matilda, in Elizabethtown, Ind. John W. Murphy was a child when his parents came to Edgar County, Ill. He returned with the family to Kentucky, and accompanied them again to Illinois when they came the second time, and settling permanently in this county, has since remained here, engaged in farming and stock-raising. His first purchase of land was 200 acres, located on section 36, Seven Hickory Township, which was part of the original homestead, bought of the Illinois Central Railroad; he owns it in partnership with his brother, Michael A. Murphy. He now resides on section 33, where he owns a fine estate, containing eighty acres of well-improved land. He is engaged in general farming, raising all the cereals, and also giving his attention to stock-growing. Dec. 28, 1864, Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Rebecca Wells. Mrs. Murphy was the daughter of William and Sally Wells, residents of Kentucky. Their married life, which opened with every prospect of future happiness, was doomed to a sudden close; on February 11 of the following year, Mrs. Murphy died at her husband’s home in Seven Hickory Township. April 5, 1867, Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Rachel Pittinger. Mrs. Murphy is the daughter of Smith and Eliza Pittinger. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, who removed to Illinois, where their daughter, Rachel, was born in Clark County. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy had a family of eight children. Their first-born died in infancy, unnamed; Lola G., born April 5, 1870; Nelson M., June 7, 1872; Maud E., Feb. 22, 1875; John T., Oct. 2, 1878; Anna E., June 24, 1880; Corsa A., born Feb. 22, 1882, died at the age of eleven months, and Jessie P., born July 14, 1885. Mr. Murphy, with his wife, belongs to the Christian Church at Rural Retreat. He is an active and enterprising citizen of this county, and in 1885 was elected Commissioner of Seven Hickory Township by the Democratic party, of which he is a member; he has been delegate to the County Conventions, and served as School Director several terms, giving general satisfaction to the people in the discharge of his public duties. |
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