Thomas Murphy, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Feb. 5, 1827, a son of Patrick and Nancy Murphy. There was a family of ten children, eight of whom lived to be adults. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Pennsylvania, and when sixteen years old was apprenticed to the trade of a wagon maker. In 1855 he married Mary Jane Rettew, by whom he had one child, which died in infancy. Mrs. Murphy died in Chester, Pa., in 1859. He again married, Sarah Foreman, of Berks County, Pa. In 1859 he left Pennsylvania, and located in LaPorte County, Ind., where he followed his trade a few years; then removed to Morgan County, Ill. In 1862 he went to Prairie du Chien, Wis., where he followed his trade for seven years; thence to Clayton County, Ia., and located on the place where he now resides. He owns a farm of 145 acres, under a high state of cultivation, and valued at $60 per acre. Mrs. Sarah Murphy died in January, 1869, and for his third wife he married Mary Walk, of Clayton County. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1052-1053 |