Will County IL Archives Obituaries.....Murphy, James P January 9, 1916
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2006, 10:40 pm

Herald, Jan 10, 1916
James P. Murphy, Pioneer Worker in Uplift, Dies

Father of Ex-Chief of Police, Temperance Advocate and Joliet Figure Succumbs 
to Pneumonia

Was 94 Years Old

January 10, 1916, Herald

James P. Murphy, Joliet’s “Uncle Jimmy” is dead.

This news was flashed today from the home of Mr. Murphy’s daughter, Mrs. 
Bridget Carroll, Van Buren street.  It sent sorrow into homes of thousands of 
Joliet and Will county pioneers who knew and respected Uncle Jimmy for the 
part he has played in Joliet uplift.

Was 94 Years Old

Grip claimed the pioneer, after a short illness.  He was 94 years old.  Mr. 
Murphy was stricken New Years with a slight fever combined with a cold.  Old 
age made the fight hard.  Pneumonia developed and death came at 9 o’clock last 
night.

James P. Murphy came to Joliet in 1858, three years after his arrival in the 
United States from Ireland.  Two years he spent in Chicago before coming to 
this city to engage in the tailoring trade.  And from his advent in this city 
he at once took a leading part in all movements for its welfare.

Was Temperance Champion

As early as 1870 Mr. Murphy took up the temperance fight and pushed the work 
in this vicinity.  He was an ardent champion of the Father Mathew movement and 
one of the most effective platform speakers of that day.  He acted as 
spokesman for the Reform club, a temperance society that held public meetings 
in the old court house for several years prior to 1880.  He also supported the 
famous White Ribbon movement another temperance organization.

Mr. Murphy’s reputation as a worker for civic betterment won him recognition 
not only at home, but abroad.  Among his personal friends was John Redmond, 
the Irish leader of the British parliament.  Others whom he claimed as his 
friends were John F. Finnerty, Patrick Ford, Francis Murphy, Hon. John Dillon 
of the Irish Land League, Bishop Burke, the prohibition apostle, and a host of 
others.

Old Co-Worker Survives

In Joliet his circle of acquaintanceship was broad.  It included the late 
Judge G. A. Parks, Charles G. Garnsey, George Woodruff, Sr., Judges Dibell, 
Fithian, Rev. P. W. Dunne, Rev. Joseph McNamee and the late Rev. J. Powers.  
Eugene Daly, Mr. Murphy’s old temperance co-worker is living.

Mr. Murphy was born in County Mayo, Downfeeney, Ireland, September 26, 1821.  
After coming to Joliet in 1855 Mr. Murphy served two terms as alderman.  
During his incumbency he left his mark in the progress of the city.  He served 
as a justice of the peace for sixteen years and was police magistrate on 
year.  He was noted for his “short cuts to justice”.  He believed in direct 
methods and put his beliefs into practice.  In politics Mr. Murphy was non-
partisan espousing the “best man” cause at all times.

Leaves Thirty Grandchildren

His wife died one year ago at the age of eighty-two years.  One son, two 
daughters survive.  They are Martin Murphy, former chief of police, Mrs. Mary 
O’Brien, Mrs. Bridget Carroll and Mrs. Annie Welch, all of Joliet.  There are 
fifteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at nine o’clock from the home to 
St. Mary’s church, where Mr. Murphy was a charter member.

Here is the tribute paid to Mr. Murphy by one of his old friends today.

Friend Pays Tribute

“For more than fifty years of his useful life he had been associated with men 
and women of all creeds and nations seeking to build up the moral tone of the 
community.  His fight for temperance was always a grand one.  He never swerved 
from that purpose.  His wit, his engaging personality and his frank statement 
of beliefs won him the love and admiration of his friends and the respect of 
his enemies.

“His death is a loss to Joliet and Will county.  He was the ideal type of 
man.  His friends, and he had lots of them because he was fearless in the 
cause of right, will miss him.  He was a true man of Erin.”

Crowd Church at Murphy Funeral

Despite inclement weather, St. Mary’s church capacity was taxed at 9 o’clock 
this morning when Requiem mass was sung at the funeral of James P. Murphy, 
pioneer temperance worker who died at the home of his daughter Mrs. Bridget 
Carroll Sunday night.

Among the many tributes paid the memory of the veteran civic leader the 
following from the pen of John D. Paige, life long friend and associate in 
uplift work was received.  

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