John F. Murphy Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1404-1405 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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	JOHN F. MURPHY, of Rapid City, one of the most enterprising and 
progressive of South Dakota's citizens, is a native of Ireland, born on 
June 20, 1835, and remained in his native land until he reached the age 
of eighteen years. In 1853 he came to the United States and settled at 
Cincinnati, where he served an apprenticeship in a foundry. After 
completing this he worked at his trade there and at St. Louis for a 
number of years. In 1858 he started for Pike's Peak overland, in company 
with one other man, they having a wagon and two yoke of oxen. When they 
reached Denver they found hard times and the people suffering great 
hardships. There was no work and food was extremely scarce, many persons 
being almost in a starving condition. They sold their wagon and oxen and 
Mr. Murphy tried to go down the Platte river, in a boat, but was wrecked 
near where Columbus now stands. He then took the stage for Omaha, and 
from there he went to St. Joseph, where he secured work at his trade. 
When Mr. McGregory, the discoverer of gold in Colorado, ordered 
machinery for a stamp mill Mr. Murphy cast it. This was the first stamp 
mill that went into the state, and it is much to his credit that it was 
well made and did its work in a satisfactory manner. He worked at his 
trade in St. Joseph until the beginning of the Civil war, when he went 
to Cincinnati and after working at his trade for awhile opened a foundry 
of his own there. This he continued to operate for four years. The plant 
was then destroyed by fire, and soon after that Mr. Murphy returned to 
St. Joseph and began an enterprise in the lumber business, which 
continued for a year, after which he dealt in grain and produce up and 
down the Missouri for a time, following this with pork packing at 
Brownville for four years. The winter of 1874-5 he passed on the board 
of trade in Chicago, dealing in pork. Being stricken with the gold fever 
in the spring of 1875, he started with seven others for the Black Hills. 
They proceeded as far as the Red Cloud agency, hidden in freight wagons 
so as to escape the vigilance of the soldiers who were ordered to 
prevent everybody from entering the Hills. When the agency was reached 
Mr. Murphy took a contract to furnish wood for it and enrolled his 
companions as choppers. They spent a week there cutting down trees when 
observers were looking, and at other times were busy making pack 
saddles. When everything was ready they started north over an unknown 
country; but they reached Hot Springs in safety and then went on to 
Custer City. Claims were located on French Creek and later on Spring 
Creek, but before the end of the year General Crook ordered them out of 
the country. Mr. Murphy went to Sidney and bought the Calamity Jane 
mine, which was named after the renowned woman cowboy and Indian 
fighter, and was located two miles and a half from Custer. After 
wintering at Brownville, Nebraska, he started again for the Hills, 
arriving at Custer City in February. He brought a sawmill, which had 
been brought to Custer, the first ever set up in that section, and when 
the stampede to Deadwood started he closed the mill down. He had then a 
number of oxen, and buying others and some wagons, he engaged in 
freighting between Cheyenne and Deadwood, continuing this work until 
1880, when he moved the mill to Rawhide Buttes, Wyoming. During the next 
two years he ran his sawmill and selling it in 1883, he went to Laramie, 
Wyoming, where he bought a large flock of sheep which he brought into 
the Hills, placing them on Battle creek near the site of the present 
town of Hermosa. In the spring of 1884 he took up a ranch on the creek 
about four miles from Hermosa, and since then this has been his home 
ranch. It comprises four thousand acres, for all of which he has deeds. 
Since the death of his wife, in 1891, he has lived much of the time at 
Rapid City, with his daughter, Mrs. Robert Boyd. Since starting with 
sheep in 1863 he has devoted his attention almost exclusively to this 
branch of the stock industry, and is now the oldest and most extensive 
sheep grower in the state. The Mills brothers ran sheep in this country 
before he came, but they are gone and he is now the patriarch of the 
business in this part of the world. His flocks cover one hundred and 
fifty miles of territory, north and west, many large bands being leased 
out on shares; and in addition to his home ranch he has extensive tracts 
of land elsewhere in various places. Although never taking an active 
part in partisan politics, he is public-spirited and enterprising for 
the welfare of the community, and is highly respected by all who know 
him. 

	On January 14, 1868, Mr. Murphy was married, at St. Joseph, 
Missouri, to Miss Mary Ryan, a native of Ireland, who came to this 
country with her parents in childhood. She died on April 11, 1892, 
leaving four children, Mary E., now Mrs. Robert Boyd, Paul C., Catherine 
C. and Dolly Agnes. Paul is associated with his father in business, the 
firm name being John F. Murphy & Son.