My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

D. A. Murphy, ex-assessor of Polk County, Mo., was born in Greene County of the same State, in 1859, and is the son of D. R. and Lucy A. (Gore) Murphy. The father was born in Knox County, Tenn., November 24, 1802, and grew to manhood in that State. He was married there, and reared a large family of children. He emigrated to Missouri in 1839, locating in Cedar County, where he lost his first wife. He was then married to Mrs. Lucy A. (Gore) Allen who was the mother of four children by Mr. Allen. By her second marriage she became the mother of five children, D. A. Murphy being second in order of birth Mrs. Murphy is still living, and resides near Fowler City Kan., with her youngest son. D. R. Murphy was a minister in the Missionary Baptist Church, was one of the pioneer preachers of the county, was a Union man during the late war, and at that time served as chaplain in the Federal army. He died August 28, 1875. The paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, and was an officer in the Revolutionary War. He died in Polk County at an advanced age. D. A. Murphy has been a resident of Polk County since the spring of 1869, when his father moved to Humansville. During the early days he received a common school education and later engaged as clerk in the mercantile establishment of Barnett & Paxton, and remained with the firm seven years. He the embarked in the boot and shoe business for himself, and followed the same for three years, and, subsequently, was nominated for assessor on the Republican ticket in 1886, and was elected. In order to attend to his office, he closed out his boot and shoe business in the spring of 1887 and has since devoted himself to duties of assessing He received the nomination for this position without seeking it. He was married to Miss Emma Barnett, December 23, 1883, and the fruits of this union are two children: Leslie B. and Bessie Lee. Mr. Murphy is a Republican, as could have been guessed without adding this, by the above statements. He is a member of Modern Lodge No. 144, A. F. & A. M.; also of Bolivar Royal Arch Chapter No. 5.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 132 biographies included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Polk County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Polk County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.