Murphy, Ellen (McCarthy) 1826 - 1917

MURPHY, MCCARTHY, BAILLIE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 10/9/2021 at 19:22:54

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 11 Oct. 1917.

Ellen McCarthy Murphy was born in the parish of Eyries, County Cork, Ireland, Sept. 10, 1826, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Baillie, Elkader, Iowa, Oct. 8, 1917, being 91 years and 28 days.

When about nineteen years of age, or in 1845, Ellen McCarthy came to America, and was married to John G. Murphy at Fall River, Mass., in the year 1855. This couple lived in Fall River until 1857 and then came west, settling in the new country of Wisconsin.

Lead mining - surface work - was attracting many settlers to the southwestern part of the state and John G. Murphy and his wife made their home at New Diggings. Lead mining and farming were the occupations of these settlers in this new raw country. Luxuries there were none, and the lot of the miner and farmer and his wife was not marked by any of the things that the later generations consider necessary to life and its proper enjoyment.

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy lived at New Diggins during the rest of the husband's life, which ended April 12, 1901. After that the widow continued to make that her home until about ten years ago, when she came to Elkader to spend the balance of her days with her only daughter.

Seven children were born to this couple, the oldest dying in infancy. The rest are: Michael J., on the old home farm; James P., died in 1886; Daniel D., of Elkader; John G., of Revillo, S.D.; D. J., of Waukon; and Mrs. Mary A. Baillie, of Elkader.

Mrs. Murphy died Monday evening at about 6:40, the cause of her death being old age. She had been confined to her bed for the past six years.

The services were held at St, Joseph's Catholic church, Elkader, Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Burial was at Benton, Wis., on Thursday, beside the body of her husband.

A history of this life, with its problems its privations and the experiences of a pioneer woman in the new west - for it was west then - would be worth chronicling and worth reading by this generation that is forgetting what our fathers have lived and suffered to give us this country of ease and opportunity. To say that she lived an unassuming life and devoted it all to her family is sufficient eulogy.