THE MICHAEL MURPHY FAMILY, Our Yesterdays, Jefferson Co., MT USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. "List transcribed and organized by Ellen Rae Thiel, thieljl@aol.com All rights reserved." Copyright, 1998 by Ellen Rae Thiel. This file may be freely copied for non-profit purposes. All other rights reserved. THE MICHAEL MURPHY FAMILY Michael Murphy was born and raised in Ireland. When a young man he came to the United States and lived for awhile in Scranton, Pennsylvania. About 1880, Mr Murphy came to Butte, Montana, to work in the mines, and in 1881 took out his citizen papers. Mr. Murphy left Butte with a partner named Jim Gay to go to the then booming mining town of Elkhorn. They were partners and operators of the Metropolitan Hotel and Saloon. In 1893, he purchased the ranch from Mr. and Mrs. William Mulvy of the Boulder Valley, and in 1894 married Kate Moran, who also came from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Kate came to the valley with Mrs. Sara Twohy to help wither her young family as she was spending the summer months with her parents, the Bradys. While here, she met and married Michael Murphy. Mr. Murphy died about 1912, leaving a young widow and family. Their oldest son, Frank, proceeded him in death. The other children were William, Sadie, Ann and Edward (twins), Jo and John the youngest, who passed away at quite a young age. Kate Murphy, a very gracious and wonderful person, always welcomed everyone to her home. There were good times and bad times, but everyone made the best of them. The World War I days took William to camp at Fort Lewis. The Community Dance Hall was built in about 1911 across the road from the Murphy ranch on a hill side. The ladies used to bring the lunches and prepare them in Mrs. Murphy's kitchen, later serving them in the Hall. The babies were bedded down on floors and beds at Mrs. Murphy's. In later years, the children were wrapped in coats and blankets and curled up and slept on the orchestra stand. The Weber School was a short distance from the ranch, and many times the school children would follow the Murphy children home and eat their lunches. Mrs. Murphy passed away on October 10, 1953. Sadie became a teacher. The married Ed Smyth and lives in Rawlins, Wyoming. Her family consists of two sons and a daughter Ann also was a teacher. She married Frank Mahoney and lives in Rawlins, Wyoming. They have one daughter. Joseph Murphy, a rancher and stockman, lived in Geraldine, Montana. He married Jean Clen Dennan. They had two daughters and one son (deceased). Jean died in October 1969. Later in 1971, Joe married Kathleen Dawson Dodge. The are both retired and live in Great Falls. Eddie Murphy, a rancher and stockman, purchased the Francis Ryan ranch. He married Mabel Quinn and they had two children, Mike now living in Seattle, Washington, and June, living in the Valley. Eddie passed away on January 19, 1967. Bill Murphy, also a rancher and stockman, operated the Murphy home ranch. He married Mary Ellen Carey and they had three children, Bill, Tom, and Kay. Bill and family live near Garrison, Montana, on a ranch. Tom and his family operate the home ranch in the Valley. Kay became a teacher. She married Bob Anderson. At present, Kay and her husband are in the process of moving back to the Boulder Valley. Bill Murphy, Sr. passed away on April 19, 1965. His wife Mary Ellen, still resides in Boulder Valley on the home ranch. The M. M. Brand, the original brand, is still used on the ranch. SUBMITTED BY MRS. MARY ELLEN MURPHY.