My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE I. MURPHY. Both in his business success and in the position which he occupies in the community, Mr. Murphy is an example of what a man can accomplish, providing he possesses energy, pluck and good judgment, coupled with a respect for the confidence of the people among whom he may live. He is the proprietor of a large lumber-yard in Green Ridge, which he established in 1889, and possesses those qualifications which are necessary for a successful and prosperous career.

Mr. Murphy was born in Pennsylvania, May 28, 1828, and is the fifth child in the parental family. His parents, Philip and Elizabeth (Stermer) Murphy, were also Pennsylvanians, and spent their early lives in the Keystone State. When our subject was about six months old they moved to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where the father turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, but finding farming more profitable, spent his remaining years in cultivating the soil.

In 1849 the parents of our subject moved to Indiana, where they were living at the time of the father’s decease, in 1866. His good wife survived him until 1879, when she passed away, at an advanced age. George I. was educated in the country schools of the Buckeye State, and was reared on the home farm. As the father was a carpenter, our subject had more or less work in that line to do, and from his fifteenth until his nineteenth year was kept at the bench. He then started out to make his own way in life and did journeyman work as a carpenter for some time. In 1850 he went to Wabash, Ind., following his trade there through the summer months and teaching school during the winter months. This continued for several years, or until 1877, when we find him en route for the state of Kansas. In Clay Center he built a foundry and machine-shop, and successfully conducted business for the following twelve years.

In 1889 Mr. Murphy came to Green Ridge, and, as before stated, established a lumber-yard, which he is still successfully carrying on. In 1850 he was married to Miss Rebecca McConn, a daughter of Marcus and Mary (Craig) McConn, who were living in Indiana at the time of their daughter’s marriage. Mrs. Murphy was born in Ohio, and by her union with our subject became the mother of three children: Philip, who is now City Marshal of Green Ridge; Joseph, living in Kansas City; and Sarena, who is now deceased. The wife and mother died in 1857, and the lady whom our subject chose as his second companion was Miss Ellen Bradley. She was a native of Ohio, and was married on Christmas Day, 1859. To them were born two children: George, a resident of Denver, Colo.; and David, a citizen of Green Ridge. Mrs. Ellen Murphy closed her eyes in death in 1867.

In politics our subject is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, with which party he has been closely identified since its organization. He has never been an aspirant for public honors, preferring to devote his time and attention to domestic and business interests.