Genesee-Ottawa County MI Archives Biographies.....Murphy, Timothy J. 1848 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 26, 2006, 5:39 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) REV. TIMOTHY J. MURPHY, of St. Michael's Catholic Church, came to this parish in June, 1880, and has since been identified with its progress. This church is an old one, having been established here in 1840, and the first edifice was reared soon after the organization of the church. The present structure which was erected in 1882-83 under the direct supervision of Father Murphy, is 50x150 feet in dimensions and has a seating capacity of eight hundred. The cost of the building was about $30,000 and it is handsomely finished throughout, a fitting place of worship. Father Murphy, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in Cork, Ireland, May 4, 1848, and is the son of Jeremiah and Margaret (Dacy) Murphy. He received his education in his native city, and after completing the course of study in the schools of that city, he attended All Hallows College, of Dublin, where his education was finished. In 1870 he crossed the Atlantic, landing in New York and coming thence to Detroit. Four months after his arrival he was ordained to the sacred office of priest in Detroit, Mich., December 30, 1870, by Bishop Borgess. After his ordination he was sent to Bay City, this State, as assistant to St. James Church, and he served in this capacity for three months. Later he was transferred to the parochial church of Grand Haven, Ottawa County, where he remained until the time he was sent to Flint. Before he left the Emerald Isle Father Murphy was an ardent admirer of all things American and is now intensely American in heart and soul. His love for this country does not in any way diminish his love for the land of his birth. He takes a lively interest in Irish affairs and by his individual efforts has enlisted hundreds of Americans in the cause, of Irish home rule. On July 4, 1876, the the Centennial of American independence, Father Murphy was selected by the citizens of Grand Haven, this State, to read the Declaration of Independence, and after doing so he expressed the wish that he may live to hear read and realized the Declaration of old Ireland's Independence. Wherever he has worked Father Murphy has displayed the same energy and zeal which has endeared him to his parishioners in Flint. Through his arduous exertions he has erected several churches, and the edifices at Grand Haven, Dennison and Berlin stand as monuments to his enthusiastic and consecrated devotion to the cause of religion. Not only has he increased the membership of the several churches with which be has been connected, but wherever he has been he has raised the standing of the church, increased its usefulness and doubled the zeal of its members. The church in Flint now has a membership of about sixteen hundred, all devoted to the religion which they profess. For a time, after coming to Flint, Father Murphy had charge of the mission at Hazleton, but the membership increased to such an extent that it was given in charge of another priest, who devoted his entire time to it. In connection with St. Michael's Church is a parochial school located near the church, where about one hundred and seventy pupils receive instruction from four sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Near the parochial school is the sisters' house, while in the close vicinity of the church the pastor's residence is located, all the buildings being on Saginaw, Fifth and Chippewa Streets. The beautiful grounds and fine buildings have been improved and decorated by the present pastor, who stands very high in the esteem and affection of the people of Flint, irrespective of creed. In every respect Father Murphy is an ideal priest and "father" to his people, whose interests are his own and whose troubles he relieves as far as lies in his power. Very near to them in sorrow and joy, it would be difficult to find a pastor more consecrated to his work or more devoted to his parishioners. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/murphy38nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb