Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 556

PHILIP J. MURPHY, a respected citizen of Muscatine, was born Dec. 11, 1841, in Wexford, Ireland, and is a son of John and Catherine ( Kehoe ) Murphy. His father died in 1879, at the age of eighty-three years, and his mother departed this life about the same time, when seventy-nine years of age. Their family numbered six children, three sons and three daughters. The two brothers of our subject are now deceased. Mary, the eldest child, married William Harper, of Muscatine County, now residing in Lake Township ; Bridget, died in Virginia City, Nevada ; Margaret, widow of Thomas Curran, makes her home with our subject ; James died at the age of thirteen years, and Walter also died at the same age.

When a lad of eight years, our subject came with his parents to America, and on Christmas Day, 1849, landed in New Orleans. The party at once continued their journey to St. Louis, where they remained during the winter of 1849-50, and the following spring came to Muscatine; the date of their arrival being May 15. His early education was received in the ward schools of Muscatine, his studies being completed in St. Matthew's School. After leaving the school-room, he worked at various employments until 1862, when he enlisted for the late war, becoming a member of Company E, 35th Iowa Infantry, under Capt. Felix W. Dorn. For two weeks the company was stationed at Camp Strong on Muscatine Island, after which it was stationed at Cairo, Ill., for five weeks. It was soon afterward sent to Island No. 10, where it remained about two months. Vicksburg was the next place to which it was ordered. It reached Jackson May 14, and eight days later arrived at Vicksburg. The forces under the command of Gen. Grant then made a charge on the fort but were repulsed after about an hour. The next order was to form a line around the fort and the siege was continued until July 4 ; when the enemy, being out of provisions, could no longer maintain their ground and Vicksburg was in the possession of Grant. The command to which Mr. Murphy belonged was then stationed for four weeks at Black River, where he was on picket duty, then took part in a little expedition, after which he returned to Black River and was on guard duty for four weeks. At the expiration of that time the forces were ordered to Memphis, Tenn., where they remained until the spring of 1864, and in March they proceeded on the Red River expedition, during which time they were engaged in the hard-fought battle at Pleasant Hill, and returned in the latter part of April. The next order was to proceed to Alexandria, but low water caused their delay for ten days. They marched through Louisiana, where they met the enemy in several skirmishes, then at the mouth of Red River took transportation, proceeded up that stream to Old River Lake, where they succeeded in routing the enemy. Continuing on to Hall's Bluff, Ark., they were landed, marched through the State, took boats at St. Louis and went to Jefferson City, Mo. They followed the rebel Gen. Price through that country, then returned to St. Louis, and thence proceeded to Nashville Tenn., where they engaged in battling with the enemy on the 15th and 16th days of September, 1864. Next they followed Hood to the Tennessee River, where, embarking on transports, they sailed down the Tennessee and Mississippi, reaching reaching New Orleans in the latter part of March. After two days they went to Mobile Bay, where they attacked the rebels, who surrendered after ten days. Next they proceeded to Montgomery, Ala., where they took the train and arrived at Davenport in August, 1865, the war having at length closed.

Returning from the scene of hostilities, Mr. Murphy spent the winter of 1865-6 at home, engaged in carpentering. In 1867 he made a contract of railroad grading with the Union Pacific Railroad at Cheyenne, Wyo., where he remained during one season, but spent the following winter at home. In the spring of 1868, he was again engaged in the same employment, and the next spring contracted with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at Oquawka, Ill., where he remained for about four months. In April he went to Carthage, Ill., and worked on that branch of the road until reaching Springfield, Mo., in 1870. At that time he went to Kirksville, Mo., in the employ of the Quincy & Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, with whom he remained about four months. He was next employed at St. Joseph, after which he was again in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy for three months. In the fall of 1872 he returned to Muscatine to spend the winter, and the next spring went to Wisconsin, working for one season in the employ of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company. The following winter he also spent at home, and subsequently purchased Mr. Snyder's outfit and engaged in the delivery business. At length he abandoned that pursuit and returned to his former occupation, in 1881, making a contract with the Northern Pacific, and was employed near Lisbon, Dak. In the fall of 1881, he once more returned to his home in Muscatine, where he spent the winter months and in the spring of 1882 went to Devil's Lake, Dak., where he spent one season. The following winter was passed in St. Paul, Minn., from which he went to LaCrosse, Wis.; and in 1884, to Corning, Iowa, where he worked for the Chicage, Burlington & Quincy. In the fall he went to Savanna, Ill., remaining in the employ of the same company until he returned home to spend the winter. In the spring of 1885, he was employed near Hazelton, on the D.& N. W., and from there went to Kansas, working on the Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska road until the 8th of August, 1888. He is the owner of twenty-five teams worth $300 each ; while his tools and other impliments he values at $ 8,000. He is an efficient and capable workman, thoroughly understanding his business, in which he has been very successful.

The wife of Mr. Murphy, in her maidenhood was Miss Katie Kelly, a daughter of John and Nora Kelly, who are now both deceased. In 1879 our subject became a member of the A.O.U.W.and, together with his wife, is also a member of the Roman Catholic Church. They are highly esteemed citizens of Muscatine, and have a large circle of friends in the city.


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