JOHN MURPHY, Gun Plain Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan

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History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, with Illustrations and 
Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers.
Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co.  1880.  Press of J. B. Lippincott & 
Co., Philadelphia.

Among the self-made men of Allegan there are none who better deserve 
the title than John Murphy, of whom this brief sketch is written.  He 
was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Oct, 19, 1794.  He was of Irish 
descent, his grandparents having first seen the light of day on the 
Emerald Isle, from whence they emigrated to America when John's father 
was an infant.  John grew to manhood in Pennfield, Genesee Co., N. Y., 
where his father owned a farm bought in its wild state.  The country 
was new and schools were few and of the most primitive kind, hence Mr. 
Murphy obtained but a limited amount of the knowledge derived from 
books, but what he lacked in education he made up in energy and natural 
ability.  Arrived at his majority, he bought a farm in Pennfield, which 
he carried on a number of years.  During this time he served as 
constable for several years, thus becoming proficient in a line of work 
that afterwards made him useful to the new county of Allegan.  After 
selling his farm in Pennfield he went to Rochester and engaged in the 
grocery business, which he followied a few years, and then went to 
Ohio, where he took jobs in building the Ohio Canal.  He also helped to 
build the Pennsylvania Canal, on which he lost a large sum through the 
dishonesty of a partner.  Having married while in Ohio, and being 
somewhat disheartened by his losses in Pennsylvania, he concluded to 
settle down, and in a new country.  He returned to Rochester and sold 
out his business there, and in the spring of 1835 came to Michigan in 
search of a home, leaving his wife and children in Ohio.  He came to 
Detroit, and thence on foot through the country to Allegan, where he 
bought 80 acres of land on section 34, in Gun Plain township.  Mr. 
Murphy stayed in Gun Plain during the summer, living with a Mr. Seeley, 
whose house he had helped to build.  In the fall he returned to Ohio 
for his family, with whom he at once returned to Mr. Seeley's where 
they remained while he built a house.  While living with Mr. Seeley's 
people Mrs. Murphy, who was an old teacher, taught her own and Mr. 
Seeley's children, they occupying seats near the spinning-wheel, which 
she ran as she taught.  This was the first school in their part of the 
town, and the lessons then learned were as valuable as those received 
in the costly schools of today.  When settled in their new home they 
found themselves with a capital of twelve dollars and fifty cents, and 
with no team, stock, or tools, but with energy and perseverance they at 
once commenced to make for themselves a home.  Fruit-trees were at once 
set out, clearings were made, and fences built.  Roads and cleared 
fields soon took the place of the forests, while on every side the 
homes of the new-comers were springing up as if by magic, and Mrs. 
Murphy say they were very happy in those days, with none of the 
jealousies and heart-burnings of the present day.  Mr. Murphy was a 
Democrat, and was often standard-bearer of his party.  He was the first 
supervisor of the town, and held other township offices.  When the 
county was organized he was elected it first sheriff, which office he 
held two terms, the first term doing the entire business on foot.  His 
popularity and the effeciency shown in the offices he had held brought 
him prominently before the public, and in the fall of 1852 he was 
elected to represent his district in the State Legislature, which 
position he filled with credit to himself and his constituents.  He was 
chairman of the committee on Indian affairs during the time of his 
service in the house.  On his return from Lansing, Mr. Murphy retired 
from political life and gave his attention to his farm, until his son 
finally took entire charge of it.  He died June 19, 1874, mourned and 
regretted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.  Mr. Murphy 
was married Jan. 4, 1825, to Miss Mary Ayers, daughter of Thomas and 
Mary (Hawkins) Ayers.  She was born in Bridgewater, Windsor Co., Vt., 
Dec. 19, 1804.  There were born to them the following children: Irving 
S., born April 16, 1827, died in California, Oct. 25, 1850; Andrew J., 
born Dec. 21, 1828; Mahala J., born June 14, 1831, died Sept. 22, 1867; 
James H., born July 4, 1833; and Mary Helen, born Nov. 14, 1839, died 
Oct. 19, 1853.  Andrew J. married Miss Anna Healy; their union has been 
blessed with two children, --Irving A., born Jan. 22, 1877, and Helen 
M., born Nov. 10, 1878.