Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Murphy, William N. 1825 - living in 1893
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 27, 2004, 1:32 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    WILLIAM N. MURPHY, planter of Henry county, is one of the most prominent
citizens of the county. He was the fifth in a family of ten children born to
Malcolm and Theresa (Pitcher) Murphy. The former was a native of South Carolina,
whose ancestors were originally from the Emerald Isle, and who settled in South
Carolina. His father was in the war of 1812. William N. Murphy's father was a
man of education, and moved to Washington county, Ga., at an early day and was
one of the first settlers in the county. In 1836 he removed to Henry county,
Ala., and remained there until his death, which occurred in 1878. While a
resident of Henry county he held the office of justice of the peace a number of
years. William N. Murphy's mother was born in Georgia, grew to womanhood and was
married in her native state, at the age of about twenty-one years. She was a
member of the Primitive Baptist church, and lived as became her profession,
finding a comfortable home with her son William until her death, which occurred
when she was seventy-two years old. William N. Murphy was born in Georgia in
1825, grew up a farmer's boy, attending, as he could, the common school. He was
married at the age of twenty-four to Miss A. L. Davidson, daughter of James and
Elizabeth Davidson, both of whom were born in and died in Georgia. Mr. Murphy's
wife was born in Monroe county, Ga., and grew to womanhood in her native state,
enjoying but meager advantages for securing an education. She was married in her
sixteenth year and became the mother of ten children, as follows: Sarah A. E.,
now the wife of John E. Ward, who resides in Leon county, Tex.; Eveline, now the
wife of John Key, who resides in Henry county; Mary A., now the wife of J. J.
Hallie of Henry county; Lulu, wife of O. B. Kelley; also residing in Henry
county; Martha, wife of G. M. Dunn, of Henry county; Christopher C., who
married, first, Miss Singletery, whose death occurred in 1884, and second, Miss
Beulah Capps, and now resides in Henry county; James, deceased; W. V., married
Miss Laura Wood, of Florida, and resides on the home farm. After Mr. Murphy was
married, he bought a small farm in Georgia, and there commenced life on his own
account; but believing that he could do better in the then new state of Alabama,
he in 1850 sold his Georgia property and removed to this state. He came at first
to Coffee county, remaining there about a year, and then removed to Henry
county, and to the farm adjoining the one on which he now resides. He commenced
in 1851 with a small tract of land, to which he has added from time to time,
till now he owns 1,010 acres of good farming and timber lands, and has much of
it in a high state of cultivation. His improvements are of the best, his
orchards are stocked with the choicest fruit the climate will permit to grow,
and everything about the premises denotes industry and thrift. Politically,
though a straight-out democrat, he has never aspired to office, preferring to
devote his attention to his own private business affairs believing that, in so
doing, he would not lose the reward of his labors. He has on his place a steam
cotton gin, a saw mill, and a flouring mill, and he finds a source of pleasure
in superintending his large plantation and in the neatness of his home.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1109-1110
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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