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MURPHY, Michael 1822-1900

MURPHY, HEFFERNON, CUNNINGHAM

Posted By: Bruce Kuennen (email)
Date: 11/14/2018 at 14:55:18

A Prominent Pioneer Dead.

MURPHY - At his home in Dayton township, November 1, 1900, Michael Murphy, aged 78 years.

The deceased was born in County Kilkenney, Ireland, in 1822, in 1848 he migrated to America; he was married to Catherine Heffernon, of Chicago, in 1952; five children were born of this union, two of whom survive the deceased parents;1858 marked the advent of the deceased and family into Chickasaw county, and finding a fertile spot on the hanks of the Wapsie that gave promise of future hope and prosperity he settled there, and here he staid until the death summons found him. The wife of his early manhood died December 25, 1862; two years later he was married to Alice Cunningham, of Chicago; this wife and two sons, Thomas and William, survive him, and mourn him as only a fond and faithful wife and loving sons can mourn the death of a good husband and father.

The life history of Michael Murphy is not so different from the history of hundreds of Ireland's exiled sons, oNly that fate was more lavish in her distribution or wealth at his door. When we speak of Fate's doings in the life accomplishments of Michael Murphy we should substitute the words courage, industry, sobriety and ambition. Fifty-two years ago he was penniless wanderer in the streets of New York City, his only capital a brave heart and a strong right hand that was familiar with hard toil. Ten years later, when he came to Chickasaw county with a frail wife and two small children and purchased a farm with savings, he was one of the first to put a mortgage on the hallowed soil of his first real home that a church of his own beloved faith might be built. He not only lived to see the church built, to lift the mortgage that played so prominent a part in it building, and add hundreds of acres to the original small tract, but he lived to worship in the present grand edifice and be burled from its splendid confines.

The deceased was permitted, by virtue of righteous living to enjoy a rigorous and peaceful old age, his first sickness coming upon him last August. The joint estate of the deceased and his two sons covers about a thousand acres of Chickasaw county's wealthy soil, and marks a tract of land reaching from the corporate limits of New Hampton to the homestead four and one-half miles northwest. Besides the bountiful legacy of lands and chattel, he has bequeathed to his sons the richer inheritance of a well spent life, a life filled with human sacrifices and continued long in its purity and integrity.

The funeral was held November 3, from St. Joseph's church, Father Slattery officiating at requiem high mass, assisted by Father Gunn, of Elma, as deacon, and Father Malloy, of Ionia, as sub-deacon. The sermon was preached by Rev. Father Slattery and interment took place at St. Joseph's cemetery in the presence of a large concourse of old friends and neighbors.

Source: New Hampton Tribune, November 6, 1900 accessed at New Hampton Public Library Digital Archives

New Hampton Public Library Digital Archives
 

Chickasaw Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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