For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 644
PHILIP J. MURPHY. Philip J. Murphy, who was identified for many years with railroad construction and is now living retired in Muscatine in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, December 11, 1841, a son of John N. and Catherine (Keough) Murphy, both of whom were natives of the Emerald isle, where they were married. The father came to America in a sailing vessel which required six weeks for the voyage, arriving at New Orleans on Christmas morning of the year 1849. From this port he came up the Mississippi river to St. Louis and later to Muscatine, where he landed May 2, 1850. He continued at this place until 1856 or 1857, when he went to Iowa City, where he spent two years, returning at the end of that time to Muscatine, and here he passed away January 31, 1880. He was buried in St. Mary's cemetery. In the old country he was a farmer, but after coming to America worked as a stone-mason. The mother of our subject departed this life at Muscatine, January 11, 1880. There were seven children in the family: James, who died at the age of thirteen years; Philip J., our subject; Walter, who also departed this life at the age of thirteen; Mary, deceased; Bridget; Margaret, deceased; and Johanna, now living at No. 101 Iowa avenue, Muscatine.Philip J. Murphy attended school under G. B. Denison, but the most important part of his education he considers was acquired during the Civil war under Captain W. F. Doron. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company E., Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for a period of three years in behalf of the Union and he served three years to a day, being honorably discharged as corporal of his company August 15, 1865. He participated in many of the leading battles and campaigns of the Army of the West, among which were the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou, Louisiana, Old River Lake, Tennessee, Tupelo, Mississippi, Nashville, Tennessee, and in inmumerable minor engagements, always performing his duty in such a way as to meet the hearty approval of the officers of his company.
In 1867 Mr. Murphy entered the service of the Union Pacific Railway and in 1869 purchased eight teams in Muscatine and began railway construction work between Burlington and Fort Madison. He next went to Red Oak, Iowa, where he continued about eight months, and then to Carthage, Illinois, for the summer of 1870. His next operations in railway construction were carried on between Quincy, Illinois, and Hannibal, Missouri. He spent one season at Edina, Missouri, being connected with the Missouri Pacific Railway, and from there went to St. Joseph, Missouri, on construction work for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road. He spent one season at Winthrop, Missouri, returning to Muscatine in 1872. The year following he went to Wisconsin, where he met with financial disaster and, returning to Muscatine, engaged in the street sprinkler business. However, in 1882 he again entered railroad construction work near Fargo, North Dakota, on the Northern Pacific road which was then being built by J. J. Hill, and with which he continued for two years, at the conclusion of which period he spent one year near Hazelton, Iowa. He was next identified with the construction of the Rock Island lines in Kansas as far south as the South Canadian river. His next contract was with the Pittsburg, Akron & Western Railroad near Akron, Ohio, for the season of 1890. In the spring of 1891 he spent four months grading for the Rock Island near Doss, Texas, and later operated near Harrington, Kansas; Harvard, Iowa; Mercer, Missouri; and Centerville, Iowa, during successive seasons. Mr. Murphy has since lived retired and is the owner of sixteen houses in Muscatine.
On January 28, 1868, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Kelly, who is a native of Ireland and a lady of many excellent traits of mind and heart. He and his wife are both consistent members of St. Mathias Catholic church. Politically Mr. Murphy is independent and socially he holds membership in the Knights of Columbus and the Grand Army Post at Muscatine. He has seen a great deal of life in his contact with the world, from the time of the Civil war and also during the period of railway construction which was in progress on a great scale in various parts of the country for nearly forty years. He has been active, energetic, efficient and ever faithful in the discharge of his obligations, being always true to a sense of honor which has been one of his prominent characteristics. As a citizen he has nobly performed his duty and he is greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
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