Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
John Murphy
History of the Catholic Church in Indiana
Logansport: Bowen, 1898
John Murphy, a retired merchant and capitalist of Washington, Daviess county, Ind., is a native of this city, was born October 13, 1823, and is a son of John and Ellen (Campbell) Murphy, natives of the city of Cork, Ireland. John Murphy, father of subject, was a son of Michael Murphy, a miller of Cork. John was educated and married in his native city, and about 1816 came alone to America and engaged in the currying business, in Troy, N. Y., until 1821, when his wife and three children came and joined him. The family then went to Louisville, Ky., and after a short stay in that city came to Washington, Ind., and here followed tanning a number of years and then opened a general store. He was appointed postmaster during the administration of President Jackson, and held the office until his death, which occurred in 1836, in Vincennes, whither he had gone on a visit to St. Patrick's college. His widow survived him until October, 1868. They were the parents of eight children, viz: Michael, Hannah, Ann, and Mary, all deceased; John, our subject, Ellen,widow of Dr. Barton; Edward, and William, also deceased. John Murphy, the subject proper of this biographical notice, attended school in Washington until about fourteen years of age, when his father died, leaving his business in charge of his son, Michael, for whom John at once became an assistant, and so remained until sixteen years of age, when he became a clerk in a general store, continuing as such until twenty-two years old, when he embarked in the same class of trade on his own account, and this he followed with unvarying success until 1882, when he retired, possessed of an ample competency, and has since devoted his attention to the care of his realty interests in Washington and elswhere.
The marriage of Mr. Murphy took place in Cumberland, Md.,on June 15, 1869, to Miss Harriet Taylor, a native of that city, born December 11, 1838, a daughter of William and Lavinia (Hill) Taylor, natives also of Maryland. The father of this lady was of old colonial English descent, was a saddler by trade, and was the head of a highly respected family in his native state. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are members of St. Simon's congregation, of which, since 1885, Mr.Murphy has been treasurer and had charge of the funds when the new church-edifice was erected, and of which Mrs. Murphy is a member of the Altar society. Mr. Murphy has been wonderfully successful as a business man, and stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
Contributed by: John D. McMullen