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Note: [Murphy.FTW]
From Patrick Henry Murphy of California, his Antecedents, Siblings and Descendents A Genealogical Study, by Dorothy F. Murphy & William R. Murphy, M.D.
MICHAEL MILLARD MURPHY
From: History of Fayette County, Illinois. Vol. II, 1910, p. 789
MURPHY, Michael M.--To be the owner of 309 acres of beautiful farming and timber land in the State of
Illinois, is to be in a fortunate and independent position, and when this land has been acquired through
personal industry and improved through the exercise of care and discretion, its possessor may well be
justified in taking pride in the fact. Such is the case with Michael M. Murphy, who has lived for over half a century in Lone Grove Township, a very appropriate name for this section when he first took up his
residence here. Mr. Murphy was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, in October, 1834, and in childhood was
brought, with his two brothers, by their widowed mother, to America. The family landed in New Orleans,
went from there to St. Louis and from that city, two of the sons, P. H. and his younger brother, started for
California. The former reached there safely and is now a large fruit grower in that State, but the latter died
en route.
Michael M. Murphy left St. Louis on account of cholera, and by chance met George Huffaker, a farmer of
Fayette County, Ill., who permitted the lad to ride on his wagon, as he was hauling goods. He came thus to ayette County and shortly afterward found that Samuel Fogler, an old pioneer settler of Wheatland
Township, wanted a smart, willing, honest boy, of about eleven years, to work on his farm. This was just the hance young Murphy sought, and he lived with Mr. Fogler until he was twenty-one years of age. He had a comfortable home and kind treatment, but he had little chance to go to school, and even when opportunity offered, had to walk a distance of four miles. He prudently saved his money, and by the time he was wenty-one years of age, posessed (sic) sufficient capital to buy a tract of eighty acres, which was situated n the present site of St. Peter. This land he later traded for a part of his present farm, all open prairie, but the value of the later purchase was about $25 per acre, while the first he secured for $3 an acre. This trading transaction took place in 1857. Mr. Murphy soon had his property improved with a house and barn and continued to prosper through the hardest kind of work, acquiring acre after acre, until he now owns 309 acres of land, fifteen of which is in valuable timber. Mr. Murphy made a specialty of raising high grade stock and of feeding cattle. His hard work in this industry brought on rheumatism, from which he still suffers. It is a very serious affliction that would make a man like Mr. Murphy give up, and he continued to carry on his farm work until he was literally carried from the field to his home. Since that time he has been obliged to accept some help, and for the past two years has rented his land. His farm is situated three and one-half miles due west of St. Peter, and extends to the Wilberton Township line.
November 20, 1859, Mr. Murphy was married to Elizabeth Mahon, a daughter of Pliant Mahon, a near
neighbor. She died of consumption, both she and Mr. Murphy being sick at the same time. They had one
daughter, Linda Belle, who was twelve years old when her mother passed away. She grew into fair
womanhood and then married O. M. Pruitt (sic), who conducts the farm for Mr. Murphy. Mr. and Mrs.
Pruitt have four bright, intelligent children, Theresa, Mary, Kenneth and Harold.
Although Mr. Murphy has never called himself a politician, he has always taken an active part in public
matters in the township and served as Township Clerk for years. He is an advocate of temperance and has been active in the work for local option. He votes the Republican ticket. For some forty years he has been interested in raising bees, in fact has handled them ever since he was a boy, and keeps about forty stands, mainly for home use.
Following is a copy of a newspaper article, name and date of newspaper
unknown--probably a St. Peter, Ill., paper, dated after March 6, 1915.
MIKE MURPHY DEAD
Mike Murphy, a pioneer and highly esteemed farmer and stock raiser of Fayette county, died at his home
two miles west of St. Peter, Ill., on Saturday evening March 6. He was born in Killkenny (sic) county,
Ireland, in 1834, and came to this country with two brothers and two sisters and his widowed mother when about eleven years old. They came to St. Louis and Mike came to Fayette county in a wagon with a farmer and went to the home of Mr. Samuel Fogler where he lived till of age. When he was twenty-one years he purchased 60 acres of land at $3 per acre where St. Peter now stands, soon after trading it for land, a farm of 300 acres where he has since made his home. He was married in 1859 to Elizabeth Mahon, daughter of Pliant Mahon, and he has continuously lived on this farm since that time. His wife died in 1884 leaving one daughter Linda Bell (sic) who afterwards married Mr. Sam Pruett and they have made their home with her father who has been in failing health for several years. Funeral services were held Monday at the Lions church near Loogootee, conducted by Rev. Spencer and interment made in the old Loogootee cemetery.
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