MURPHY, James P. 1850-1934

MURPHY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/3/2017 at 09:10:16

J. P. Murphy Early Grundy Pioneer Is Dead

Came To Grundy County With Ox Team 65 Years Ago; Made Home In Grant Township

J. P. Murphy, recognized leader of what for many years was known as the Murphy clan of Grant township, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. G. Scallon, living near Ackley, last Saturday following a stroke of paralysis the day before. He was 84 years old.

Funeral services were held at the Catholic church in Ackley Tuesday morning. The services were in charge of the local pastor, Rev. Fr. O'Meara. Burial later in the forenoon was in the cemetery of the Catholic church of Grant township of which Mr. Murphy was one of the founders.

Came From Dubuque County With Team of Oxen
Mr. Murphy was born in Dubuque county. In the year of 1869 the large family of Murphys, consisting of five boys and two girls and the father and mother, came to Grundy county. They made the trip with an ox team in a covered wagon. They liked the looks of the then prairie land in Grant township and they secured a homestead there for $1.25 an acre. As the boys became of age, they each acquired one or more farms in Grant township. They all located in one neighborhood and their section of the county became known as the Murphy settlement. For many years they were one of the most influential families in Grundy county.

In late years the family has been reduced by death and removal to other sections of the country and the tribe of Murphys has greatly diminished.

Surviving relatives are the widow, four sons and two daughters. The sons are John J. Murphy, Waterloo; James P. Murphy, Sumner; Leo C. Murphy, Chicago; Will T. Murphy, Ackley. The daughters are Mrs. Scallon, Ackley; and Sister Mary Antonia, Wichita, Kansas.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 21 June 1934, pg 1