John R Murphy 1845 - 1931

MURPHY, O’NEILL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/13/2019 at 22:46:18

Onawa democrat
19 November 1931

Honored Pioneer Answers Call

John R Murphy, Honored Citizen and Pioneer Died on Monday November 16

He Had Been Confined To His Home For The Past 4 Years. Was A Few Months Over 86 Years Of Age. Came To Monona County In 1857. Was Civil War Veteran

John R Murphy, one of Onawa’s most beloved citizens and 1 of Monona County early pioneer, passed away at his home at First and Iowa Street, Monday afternoon after an illness that had extended over a period of 4 years.

Mr. Murphy served a long and useful life in the community. His labors were not in vain, while building for himself he never lost sight of the fact that the community must also be built. He was interested in his efforts for better government. He was a reader and thinker and his advice was eagerly sought after. For many years he served Monona County as one of its commissioners. In this official duty he was honored time and again for his fairness and his honesty in dealing with public questions and affairs. He was a loyal democrat and believed firmly in the teachings of that party platform. John Murphy was honored and loved by all who knew him. His long years of service and brotherly kindness in this vicinity gave to him a highly honored place among our pioneers.

He was a native if Ireland born in County Limerick June 1845 and was the son of Timothy and Ellen Murphy.

In 1852 the family came to the United States where for 2 years the father was engaged in farming. At the end of that period they came to Iowa and after a short stay in Dubuque, located in Poweshiek County. There the father purchased a farm, but in 1857 he came to Monona County with his family and located in Franklin Township.

John Murphy remained at home with his parents receiving in youth such education as the time and country afforded and assisted in carrying out farming operations until the breaking out the Civil War. Being determined to enroll himself among those who marched beneath the flag and kept step to the music of the “union” he enlisted in Company 17th Iowa Infantry. He served for 3 years and 7 months having been mustered into the United States service at Keokuk, April 16, 1862 and discharged at Davenport in August 1865. He participated with that gallant and heroic regiment in the siege of Corinth, the second battle at that place, at Luke, Jackson Raymond, Champion Hill at Mission Ridge and at Tilton at the latter place most of the Regiment were taken prisoners in the Atlanta Campaign with its numerous engagements and in the March to the sea, preceding the surrender of Johnston, the last hope of the confederacy, he still followed the flag of his noble regiment during all hardships attended upon the life of a soldier.

At the close of the hostilities having been mustered out at Kentucky and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Murphy turned t his home in Monona County after attending school one term in 1860 he went to Colorado. For three years he was engaged in freighting in that territory and in Wyoming, after which he again returned to his county and in January 1870 purchased the beautiful farm in Ashton known as the Murphy farm. This he improved raising crops ad raising cattle. It was nothing to see 40 or 50 head of fine horses around the Murphy place in the early days and from 2 to 3 hundred head of fine cattle. He was industrious and successful, building up for himself considerable wealth, however suffering a various time with considerable losses.

Mr. Murphy was united in marriage to Margaret O’Neill on June 14, 1871 and to this union 8 children were born, five of whom survive the father, the mother and three children having passed away. The living are Margaret, William H, Helen, Charles and Mark.

Services were held Wednesday morning at St. John’s Catholic Church in this city with Father Gearen, assisted by other priests saying requiem high mass.

The remains were laid to rest in the Onawa Cemetery