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PATRICK MURPHY was born in country Monaghan, Ireland, January 6, 1839, the son of Michael and Margaret Murphy.
When Patrick was eleven years old his parents emigrated to America, landing in Philadelphia in January, 1850, and
very soon located on a farm in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The son lived on the farm with his parents till about
twenty years old, attending the common school and doing farm labor. In 1859 he came west and joined in the gold
seekers' rush for Pike's Peak. In Colorado he met with reasonable success in mining, but soon turned his attention
to freighting over the mountains and across the plains. He was engaged in this business for about five years, making
his headquarters most of the time at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and during that time crossing the plains thirty one
times. Leaving Nebraska in: 186, with William P. Davis, they came first to Fort Scott, Kansas, and engaged in the
mercantile business. In August, 1866, Mr. Murphey located in Carthage, Missouri, to conduct a branch of their Fort
Scott store, and soon their entire business was located in Carthage, Mr. Davis following his partner there. The
mercantile business of Davis & Murphy was continued at Carthage until the fall of 1871. With the Joplin mining
excitement the firm moved their store to the Joplin mines. Davis & Murphy and Moffett & Sergeant laid out
the town of Murphysburg. The firm erected a lead smelter, purchased and developed mining land and carried on extensive
mining operations, later organizing, the West Joplin Mining & Smelting Company.
From the starting of Joplin until his death, Mr. Murphy was always recognized as a foremost business man of the
city, taking a leading part in public and private enterprises. At a critical time in the history of the city of
Joplin, when the lawless element were seeking to rule the city, the good order element insisted that Mr. Murphy
must become the leader of their side, and after an exciting contest he was elected mayor of the city. Under his
administration Joplin became an orderly city. In addition to his mining enterprises, he became president of the
Miners' Bank, on its organization, was for a time president of the Joplin Woolen Mill Company and vice president
and treasurer of the Joplin Water Works. He was a man of indomitable energy, of strictest integrity, kind hearted,
and a man who attracted to himself friends, and no man appreciated or valued friendship more.
November 19, 1868, at Carthage, he was married to Miss Belle Workizer, who survives him. Their children are Ida
E., Howard C., Frank J., Ninun T. (now wife of Dr. Frank Mathews) and Nettie I.
Mr. Murphy died at Joplin in October, 1900.
From:
The Biographical History of Jasper County, Missouri
By Hon. Malcolm G. McGregor
The Lewis Publishing Co.
Chiago 1901
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