Re: John W. Murphy, grandson of Darby Murphy
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In reply to:
Re: John W. Murphy, grandson of Darby Murphy
Dixie (Jennings) Greenwood 6/19/01
Hi!here is the LONG obit for Eleanor Murphy Barr, it refers to the Murphys at different points:
DEATH OF MRS. THOMAS BARR
Another Pioneer Settler Added To The Great Majority
Mrs. Thomas Barr, relic of the late Thomas Barr, died at her residence, six miles north of Independence, at 2:08 o'clock, Friday morning, March 13, 1903.Eleanor Murphy was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Dec. 20, 1824, making her 78 years, 2 months, and 23 days old.She was the fourth of a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters; six are still living, four brothers and two sisters.Her oldest brother, Benjamin, is past 85 years old; another brother, John, is 81.He made the Conservative Office a friendly call two years ago when making a visit to the deceased.All her people, except one, are living in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.Mrs. Barr's people are noted for longevity; her great grandfather, Darby Murphy, lived 115 years.He was a brilliant Latin teacher.
When the subject of this sketch was a small girl her father, John W. Murphy, moved to Tuscarawas county, where Eleanor grew to womanhood, devoting much of her time at spinning and weaving linen and woolen fabrics, a common pursuit for girls in those days.On the 8th of Feb., 1846, she married Thomas Barr, a neighbor boy she had know from childhood, who died Jan. 7, 1893, after a happy union of over forty-seven years.They lived on his father's farm until the following autumn, suffering most of the time with fever and ague, which was so prevalent in those densely wooded countries at that time.They heard of the new territory of Iowa, and concluded to go there in order to seek their fortune.They bade farewell to dear fathers and mothers, loved brothers and sisters, kind friends, and fatherland, picked up their scanty hoard, and, with another man, Reuben Wickem, each possessing one horse, hitched to a lumber wagon, and after an uneventful journey of twenty-eight days, arrived, Nov. 19, 1846, on the farm now owned by L. D. Curtis, then claimed and occupied by Orison Wickem, brother of the aforesaid Reuben, he having been here about one year.Mr. Barr and wife wintered here, when he reared a small log cabin on the farm on which they died.
When they arrived here they had but $50 in cash.Their horse soon died, and they spent the $50 for forty acres of timber land.Mr. Barr working by day's work to support the family, obtaining work no nearer than Quasqueton, a distance of fifteen miles.This labor consisted of making fence rails at 50 cents per hundred, the rails to be made from the standing timber.Mrs. Barr, in the absence of her husband, had lonesome times, with a small babe, and the shanty often crowded full of Musquake or Winnebago Indians.The Indians were always very friendly and never molested a single thing not belonging to them, a trait that we cannot say of all white people.By industry and strict economy, they saved enough money to buy two hundred acres of government land, buying it whenever they got $50 ahead, the price of forty acres.At that time this county was full of Indians and deer, and Mr. Barr used to delight in hunting and killing deer, and it was rare in those days to be without venison in their house.It was his delight to tell of his many hunting adventures.In the spring of 1857 Mr. Barr took a team and drove with the family back to Tuscarawas county, and visited during the entire summer.
Mrs. Barr was the mother of four children: J. Newton, with whom she has lived since her widowhood, whose estimable wife was ever ready and willing to minister to her wants, at any and all times, she never could speak in too much praise of her kindness; John W., living in Oklahoma City, Okla.; Melissa A. Rogers, living in Independence, and Abner M., who died in infancy, aged 1 year, 1 month, and 6 days.
Mr. Barr and wife owned, before they divided with their children, 840 acres of land.In the summer of 1864, they built the commodious dwelling that now exists on the farm.In the fall of 1882 they built the handsome barn that adorns the farm.
The genealogist finds that Mrs. Barr's ancestors were early American pioneers into Virginia prior to the American Revolutionary war, one, William Murphy being a soldier in that heroic conflict, and losing a leg on the battlefield.Her father was born in Westmoreland County, VA.The deceased was never considered a very rugged person, more or less ills have accompanied her all through life, although she was never wholly confined to her bed at any time until the present illness, which was not more than two days.Her health and strength had been gradually failing ever since her husband's death ten years ago.She was every ready and willing to die, saying that she did not want a doctor, as she was old enough to die, and wanted nature to take its course.She grew rapidly weaker the last week, until the final summons, which was a sleepiness, and when aroused and asked how she felt, would answer, "About the same."She had no fears.She said she was going to die this time.Her faculties were normal; her intellect was good to the last; her hearing as acute as in early life.She calmly closed her eyes and life was gone.
Mrs. Barr was the last pioneer on Otter Creek, the others went, one by one, years ago.Her early neighbors ere John Obenchain, Gam(?) Walker, Jacob Minton, Isaac Sufficool, Michael Ginther, William Greely, John Kint, Isaac Hathaway, Junior and Senior, father and grandfather of Alexander Hathaway, of Independence, Wright Richie, A. G. Allen, William Bunce, the Magonnigal families, McKinney family, John Boon, Edward Brewer, Samuel Kiesley, Henry Hatch, and a few that the chronicler cannot just recall.They all are gone, except Mrs. William Bunce, to the great beyond.
Mrs. Barr lived to see the full development of Buchanan County.There was not the sign of a house where Independence now stands.Quasqueton was the only postoffice and flouring mill.Ox teams were transportation facilities.Marion and Dubuque were the market places.In those days it cost 10 cents to get a letter from Ohio to Quasqueton.The writer has in his possession one that was folded with the writing inside and tucked together and fastened with a red wax seal, no postage stamp on it, but instead, the words, "Paid 10 cents."
Mrs. Barr, like all human creatures, had her peculiarities.She never dared to ride on a railroad, and every accident heard of increased her fear.
Her many days of toil are o'er
She now rests on another shore,
Where all of us are sure to go,
For Time is fleet we all do know.
The funeral services were held at the house, on Sunday, at 2 o'clock p.m. conducted by Rev. T. E. Taylor, of the M. E. Church of Independence, who took for his text Revelation 14th chapter, 13 verse.A large concourse of old neighbors and friends were present to pay their last respects to the departed.Interment in the Otterville cemetery, by the side of her husband.Undertaker R. G. Swan of Independence, took charge of the burial.