James O Murphy

MURPHY, CASWELL, DOWNING

Posted By: Deb Barker (email)
Date: 12/12/2006 at 17:36:05

Nebraska, The Land and the People, Vol. 3

James O. Murphy, M. D.Recognized as one of the very able members of his profession, Dr. James O. Murphy, of Lincoln, is a man who commands universal respect, and enjoys a large and constantly augmenting practice. He was born in Davis County, Iowa, February 9, 1883, a son of Thornton H. and Amelia (Caswell) Murphy, both of whom are living at Bloomfield, Iowa. The father is a retired farmer and merchant. The paternal grandfather, Josiah Murphy, was born in Virginia, from whence he came as far west as Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained until 1867, when he moved to Iowa, where he continued farming until the close of his useful life. His father, an Irishman by birth, came to the American colonies prior to the Revolutionary war, and when the break came with the mother country he served in the Continental army. The maternal grandfather and his wife moved from Hardin County, Kentucky, to Iowa, and it was in the latter state that Doctor Murphy's mother was born.
After he had attended the public schools of Davis County, Iowa, Doctor Murphy entered the Southern Iowa Normal College, from which he took the degree of Bachelor of Science, and he later was a student of the Northern Illinois College, Dixon, Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1900. He then spent two years at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1909 was graduated from the medical department of the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He interned in the Maternity Hospital of Chicago, and did work in the Post-Graduate College of Chicago. For nine years he was engaged in a general practice in Eldon, Iowa, and then, entering the service of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, was at Saint Joseph, Missouri, for a few months, when he enlisted for service in the World war.
First sent to Camp Greenleaf, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, Doctor Murphy remained there for about two months, when he was sent to the United States General Hospital Number 9, Lakewood, New Jersey, where he remained until June, 1919, at which time he was transferred to United States Hospital Number 32, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, continuing there until September of the same year. He was honorably discharged September 27, 1919, with the rank of captain, but he holds the rank of major in the United States Medical Reserve Corps.
Doctor Murphy is a firm believer in medical societies, and maintains membership in the county, state and national associations. He is a Blue Lodge Mason, and also belongs to the American Order United Workmen. While at Eldon, Iowa, he served as a member of the City Council and as city physician. At present he is surgeon for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad shops at Have-lock, Iowa.
The marriage of Doctor Murphy and Lettie Downing, of Iowa, occurred in Des Moines, Iowa. She is a daughter of John and Nancy Downing, the former of whom died while active in business as a merchant, but the latter is still living. Mrs. Murphy attended the public schools of Highland Park, Des Moines, Iowa, where her parents had settled upon coming to Iowa from Ohio. She belongs to the Lincoln Woman's Club, the Eastern Star, and Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln. While living at Eldon, Iowa, she served as president of its Woman's Club. Doctor and Mrs. Murphy have one child, Iva Glen Murphy, born July 6, 1905. After attending the public schools of Eldon, Iowa, Amos Hiatt College, Des Moines, Iowa, she was graduated from the Lincoln High School, and then took three years of work in the University of Nebraska, of which institution she is still a student.