MURPHEY, Clarence - 1912 Bio (1861-1928)

MURPHEY, BOWER, DUTTWEILER, BALDOZIER, LARSON, BALDOSIER, MURPHY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/24/2007 at 21:01:16

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 308-309

Clarence MURPHEY, who has remained a resident of Jefferson county from his birth to the present time, has followed farming as a life work and is the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of valuable land in Round Prairie township. His birth occurred in that township on the 9th of May, 1861, his parents being Levi and Sarah (BOWER) MURPHEY, who were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Coming to Iowa, the father located at Ottumwa, Iowa, where he spent one year and ten months. On the expiration of that period he came to Jefferson county and entered a tract of forty acres in Round Prairie township, clearing and improving the land and cultivating the same until 1854. In that year he disposed of the property and purchased eighty acres of the farm which is now in possession of our subject, devoting his attention to its improvement and development. Subsequently he extended the boundaries of his place by an additional purchase of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining and during the remainder of his life was busily engaged in the operation of his farm. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he won a gratifying measure of prosperity and was widely recognized as one of the substantial and esteemed citizens of the community. During the early period of his residence here he made a trip to the Nevada gold fields, but the venture proved unprofitable and at the end of two years he returned to Iowa. His demise occurred on the 3d of July, 1902, while his wife was called to her final rest on the 29th of February, 1896.

Clarence MURPHEY acquired his education in the district schools, studying under the preceptorship of Hiram Heaton. He has always remained on the old home place and when a young man of twenty-three years started out as an agriculturist on his own account, farming on shares with his father. Subsequently he operated the entire homestead place as a renter until his father's demise, when he purchased the interest of other heirs and came into possession of property, embracing one hundred and fifty acres in Round Prairie township and in its further cultivation and improvement Mr. MURPHEY has been busily engaged to the present time. He makes a close study of agriculture and through the careful cultivation of the soil and the rotation of crops gathers abundant harvests each year.

On October 20, 1888, Mr. MURPHEY was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary J. DUTTWEILER, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (BALDOZIER)** DUTTWEILER, who are mentioned at greater length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Albert LARSON, a brother-in-law of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. MURPHEY have been born nine children, as follows: Clarence E., who operates a mill and is also engaged in the manufacture of cement blocks at Lockridge, Iowa; Frank, likewise living in Lockridge; and Chester, Hazel, Raymond, Bertha, Eddie, Ellen and Jessie, all at home.

At the polls Mr. MURPHEY casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. He is a worthy representative of our best type of American manhood, endowed by nature with admirable qualities, and commands uniform respect and good-will wherever he is known.

** [Transcriber's note: I have also seen this name spelled BALDOSIER, more often than as above. In addition, while Clarence's father Levi spelled the surname MURPHEY, Clarence's gravestone spells it MURPHY.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.