Isaac Murphy Biography


	This biography appears on page 1883-1884 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ISAAC MURPHY, a successful contractor of Sioux Falls, was born 
July 15, 1863, at Chatfield, Minnesota. His father, who was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, died when the subject was but two years old, 
while his mother is still living. The subject attained his early 
education in the schools of Chatfield, but at the early age of 
seventeen years was compelled to start out on his own responsibility. 
He first engaged in cutting timber in Minnesota, but after three years 
he came to Dakota territory and located on a farm six miles northeast 
of Sioux Falls where he remained for one year. He then engaged in 
railroad contracting work and a short time later he located in Sioux 
Falls and engaged in his present business, house raising and moving. He 
rapidly acquired a reputation for thorough workmanship and has handled 
some very large contracts in this state, being thoroughly well equipped 
and competent in every way to handle any contract in his line. He 
raises and moves brick, stone and frame buildings and gives special 
attention to shoring up fronts. Politically Mr. Murphy is a Republican, 
though business demands have precluded his giving any special attention 
to politics. He started in life without a dollar and has made all he 
possesses by his own resources and stands today one of the 
representative men of his section of the state. Mr. Murphy has been 
twice married. On October 21, 1885, he wedded Miss Eva Marsden, the 
fruits of which union were two children, Marsden A. and Lila E. Mrs. 
Murphy died May 11, 1896, and on October 17, 1898, Mr. Murphy was 
married to Miss Agnes C. Wright and they have one child, Clifford I. 
Their home is a center of gracious hospitality and their friends are 
legion.