Murther/Murtaugh MURPHY (SEE 1860 Lee Co. IL Census Info )

Note : Murther MURPHY Family was in Whitestown, Oneida Co. NY, by 1844 (perhaps as early as 1839).

The family moved to Dixon, Nelson Twp., Lee Co., IL about 1855 and is listed there in the 1860 census.

Several members of the family are listed in 1870 in Norton Twp., Kankakee Co., IL.

James, Murther Jr. MURPHY, and Margaret (married to DEVLIN at the time) moved to Red Cloud NE in 1872. James is buried there. Margaret is said to have died there, but no grave has been found.

No idea where Murther Sr. and Elisabeth died or were buried, but likely in IL.

Murther Jr. is a mystery. There is a marriage record in Dixon of a Murther MURPHY marrying an Eliza PETIT. There are further records for Eliza, but it leaves more questions than it answers. One daughter may have been born to this marriage. If this is the same Murther, then it is likely that the two were divorced as both are later married to others. Murther is later shown in Webster County, NE, as married to Johanna COMEDY. At least two children are listed for this marriage.

II. James MURPHY

Note for James MURPHY Jr. Not a very flattering reference, but it is interesting to note that James is the real life person that the author Willa Cather based her character Larry DONOVAN on for her book "My Antonia," which is set in RedCloud NE. This makes James the father of "Antonia's" illegitmate daughter. In real life, Antonia was based on Anna SADILEK 1869-1955. Her oldest daughter was Lucille born 1892 who later married Frank PAVELKA. This makes characters in Willa Cather's book relatives of mine. If you haven't read this book or this author you are in for a delightful surprise. It gives a detailed look into life in settler's nebraska, and is a lovely portrait of the people it describes. A memorable read.

This makes the character Larry DONOVAN / James MURPHY the nephew of my great-great-grandmother Margaret (MURPHY)(McGINNIS) DEVLIN (as follows) and Larry's / James' daughter, Lucille, a first cousin to my g-grandfather Thomas McGINNIS.

Here is a link to the Willa Cather Foundation's walking tours of Red Cloud, NE, which makes reference to the MURPHYs and to the grave where James is buried. It says that he died of tuberculosis .

Here's another link to a photo and text about the John and Annie Sadilek Pavelka home in RedCloud NE

III. Margaret (MURPHY) (McGINNIS) DEVLIN

probably son of Bridget b.c. 1800 IRE SEE US 1860 CENSUS

B. Thomas McGINNIS

b- Dec 1867	p- Norton Twp., Kankakee Co., IL
d- 20 Jul 1902	p- State Hospt., Topeka, KS
m- 15 Feb 1898	p- St. Elizabeth's CH, Esbon, KS

B.

3.

Ivan George McGINNIS

Frances Cecilia (LORENCE) McGINNIS, dau. of Anton and Delia (MORAVEK) LORENCE

B.

3.

b.

Darrell Dean McGINNIS

For more information on this McGINNIS Family Click HERE

b- = birth date = date de naissance

d- = death date = date de mort

p- = place of event = lieu d'evenement

div- = divorce date = date de divorce

bur- = burial place = lieu d'enterrement

ch- = children = progéniture

dau.- = daughter = fille

c. = circa (about) = circa

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