Charlie Murphy

MURPHY, COX, WHIRRETT, SCHOENI, DANIELS

Posted By: LuRee (Carlson) Runnells (email)
Date: 3/13/2005 at 15:21:35

A Spry 79 Years

SHEEP SHEARING IS THE LIFE OF CHARLIE MURPHY

Ottumwa Courier, May 19, 1964 By Chuck Hansohn, Courier Farm Editor

PULASKI--The bleat of a lamb for its mother and the steady whirr of the shears could be heard as one approaced the barn. Outside a ram watched warily for an opportunity to butt any intruder into his fenced-in kingdom.

Looking through the divided barn door at the Glen Whirret farm south of Pulaski, Charlie Murphy was busily at work shearing a ewe. Overhead the sun scorched the air. The temperature was 90 degrees.

SEVENTY-NINE years old and still wielding the shears, Murphy cradled the ewe between his legs and with swift, sure strokes removed its fleece. Glen Whirrett would take each fleece as the ewe bounded away after the last stroke removed its thick, oily coat of wool.

As whirrett baled each fleece individually, Murphy would grab another ewe or lamb from the tightly bunched group at the end of the barn and begin the methodical shearing process once again.

It was hot in the barn. Some breeze crossed the interior through the top half of the barn door. Drops of sweat glistened in the harsh light as they poured from Murphy's brow, dripping off his chin and nose as he bent to his task. His blue shirt was soaked with sweat.

This is Charlie Murphy's life. With some 50 years of sheep shearing behind him, he has no plans for retirement.

The wiry veteran of the shears has followed flocks into South Dakota, Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri, and throughout Iowa. In a season he has sheared as many as 15,000 sheep...up to 100 head in a day. During the last few years he hasn't been shearing as many, about 4,000 head.

Just last month he and three other men sheared 400 sheep in a single day for E.W. Schoeni of Douds.

The largest fleece ever clipped by Murphy was 34 pounds. That was from a sheep owned by Monte Daniels of Milton several years ago.

"I'VE DONE this all my life," said Murphy as he whipped out a bandana from his hip pocket and stepped up to the door to get a breath of fresh air. He wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned with pleasure in obvious enjoyment with his work.

He said that he also has taught three sons to do the work. Murphy and his wife, Carrie (Cox), celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary April 5 (1964) with over 350 friends wishing them well.

ASKED WHEN he plans to retire, he commented, "I'll still shear sheep as long as God gives me health and strength to work."

Submitted by LuRee Runnells: Charlie Murphy is my grandfather, he was born in Van Buren Cty. rural Keosauqua, Oct. 21, 1885, parents were Frederick and Jalina King Murphy; this news article is in my possession of family history book.