Rev. Jesse Gibson MacMurphy Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by MLM, Volunteer 0000130. For the current email address, please go to http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000130 Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyright notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Surname: MacMurphy Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 760 REV. JESSE GIBSON MACMURPHY,clergyman and banker, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Derry N. H., was born in this town April 8, 1845. Beginning his education in the district school, he then attended Pinkerton Academy, after which he fitted to enter the second year class of the Chandler Department of Dartmouth College, which he did in the fall of 1865, being graduated B. S. in 1868. In 1875 he received the degree of M. S. from the same college. In 1870 he entered the Episcopal Theological School at Nashotah, Wis., and was graduated B. D. in 1873. The same year he was ordained deacon in Milwaukee, Wis., by Bishop Armitage, and advanced to the priesthood in 1874 by Bishop Whitehouse. He began his pastorial service in 1873, being placed in charge of St. Peter's Mission at Sheboygan Falls, Wis., where he remained one year. In 1874 he went to Racine, Wis., as rector of Immanuel Church, remaining until 1877, when he went to Baltimore, Md., and was chap- lain of St. Paul's School for Boys. In 1878 returned to Racine, Wis., as rector of Holy Innocents Church and priest in charge of St. Stephen's Church, which offices he filled until 1881. He then went to San Francisco, where he was associate rector of St. John's Church for three years. Returning to Racine, he again took charge of missions there and was chaplain of a girls' school until 1893, when he came to Derry, N. H. Here he has been officially connected with the Church of the Transfiguration since it was organized in 1899. While his ministerial labors have been almost continuous for more than forty years, he has engaged at times in various ther activities. Before going to college he had taught a winter school, and during his three years in col- lege he taught each winter. While at Nashota, Wis., he tutored some of the preparatory classes. At Racine College he was master of the grammar school for three years. He was teacher in St. Paul's School for Boys, in Baltimore, one year. From 1881 to 1884 he was teacher in Trinity School, San Fran- cisco. Rev. Mr. MacMurphy has published numerous original translations in metrical verse from the German, French, ltalian, Spanish and Latin. He has spent much time in genealogical research and furnished many articles for standard works. In local historical compilation he has assisted various authors and publishers, making maps from town ranges, homesteads and settle- ments, his articles appearing in newspapers, magazines and books in a form Page 763 suitable for future reference. Fonnerly he was a member of the Wisconsin Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters, and delivered a lecture before that body in 1875. Until recently he was a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and is now a member of he New Hampshire Historical Society. For over forty years he has been a member of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. He is now affiliated with the following societies: Society for the Promotion of Christianity, American Peace Society, Pomona Grange, P. of H., and the Masonic order, with which he is connected as fol- lows: Past Worshipful master of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., Derry, N. H.; Past High Priest of Bell Chapter, R. A. M., No.25, Derry, N. H.; Past T. I. M. of Mt. Nebo Council, R. & S. M., Derry, N. H.; also member of Trinity Commandery, K. T., of Manchester, N. H.; member of Ransford Chapter, 0. E. S., and Bethany White Shrine of Jerusalem lately instituted in Derry; Lodge of Perfection at Nashua; Princes of Jerusalem; Rose Croix; New Hampshire Consistory (324 degree), of Nashua, N. H.; and Becktash Temple, Concord, N. H. In business relations Mr. Mac Murphy is chiefly interested in caring for ancestral estates, some of which have come down in the same family for five or more generations. He is a director and vice president of the First National Bank of Derry; also treasurer of the Nutfield Savings Bank of Derry. Mr. Mac Murphy was married, April 23, 1870, to Miss Mary Lucy James, of Deerfield, N. H. Mrs. Mac Murphy is a graduate of the Normal School of Salem, Mass. Previous to her marriage she was a teacher in Albany, N. Y., and also in Exeter, N. H. Subsequent to marriage she was for twenty years teacher of a girl's school in Racine, Wis. For fifteen years she taught in the Robert A. Waller High School at Chicago, Ill. Some years ago she retired from educational work and is now leading a domestic life in her pleasant home in Derry. Mr. and Mrs. Mac Murphy are the parents of three children, namely: Sarah Russell, born in Fond du Lac, Wis., was teacher of music in several colleges, and is now the wife of Charles B. Chase of Derry; Alexander James, born in Racine, Wis., who is now deceased; and Jerome Chase, a graduate of the University of West Virginia, married Miss Mabel L. Pullin of.Newton, Mass., and is now a resident of River Forest, Ill. They have two children, Miriam S. and Lawrence.